By visiting his former home, he must remember a time before he was entrapped! The priest is a registered sex offender, but how should he stop a child killer? As a carpenter, Keller is someone who destroys nature (trees) and uses the wood to build new things. In other mythologies, it varies. Cornton Vale I believe. Because Holly cant steal children easily on her own, fewer children go missing. Like Taylor, Alex is both influenced by his abductor and struggling to speak on something that is too terrible to express. Will Loki put 2+2 together and save Keller? But the movie as a whole is an examination of the kinds of prisons people find themselves inphysically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I think he points to the husband of Holly. They accept what their instincts tell them and both end up playing the hero. She had been jailed for trying to post 10.4g of heroin back to . Keller will take matters into his own hands too! And is still stuck in it, so to speak. The current owners would would have been creeped out. The overall rate of having been a victim was 35% for perpetrators and 11% for non-perpetrators. That kind of foreshadowing is done for a reason. And what if he does! But its also a clue from the filmmaker to treat the movie as a maze. A god who complicates things for other gods. Keller tells Ralph he isnt allowed to leave the house, he has to be an adult stay home and make sure Grace doesnt see the news. Perhaps another theme of the movie is communication. Just one question: how come the parents recognised their daughters clothes at the police station but didnt realise that they were not the ones the girls wore when they disappeared? Thank you very much for writing this I came here trying to find something about the prominence of trees in the movie, because I noticed them but could not really figure it out. The simplest answer is just Theyre in shock and that makes memory difficult. Because its actually something the girls had, how else would it get there? Back in the 80s, Holly Jones and her husband are devout Christians. Even with her husband gone, Holly doesn't stop and abducts Joy Birch and Anna Dover. Its almost as though his body forces him tobut during the chase to save Annas life, Loki was driving blind. Specific questions about an offender's status should be addressed to the institutional caseworker or the Probation and Parole field officer. Hey Mary! Its almost like the style and story carry the movie and the cast is just kind of there. The pause on Netflix is infuriating. A lot of hot-headed guys losing their minds and screwing things up in this movie. Mike Tyson made a boxing return in 2020 when he fought fellow Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr Credit: EPA. Holly secretly pulls out a pistol and begins shooting at Loki, who panics and manages to move our the way. Its a solid theory. She forces him to drink a drugged liquid, causing him to feel faint. What is the game detail? Thank you my good people and a wonderful site for films discussion. I want to watch the film again. Holly had to tell him to write his full name. Thank you for explaining this! To be fair, the idea that the clothes may have been stolen is actually never mentioned in the movie. Unfortunately, Loki doesnt know that. Political party: Democrat. Are they divine or circumstantial? Its just too confusing and I skipped some of the violent parts. Why does that trigger a flashback where she thinks he was there? Weve already discussed the importance of trees in pagan religions. I am very much amazed with the way you see things about the movie and the way you tell them.Just wanted to say thank you. This is Thesecret1070. So Alex wanted to meet he again and played the game. Staring at suspect: Just because Loki has no unsolved cases doesnt mean everything he does is perfect. I shall watch it again. Facebook gives people the power to. Maybe the newspaper article was premature (but then why show it)? I assumed that it was Bob and he was referring to when he was captured by the police in the van at the rest stop. Not what was actually going on. And they may not have had anything to go on. Especially in a building that has so many issues. Hes essentially trapped in being the caretaker for his mom. Perhaps it was intended to reflect his personality, peaceable in normal situations, but with a killer instinct ready to take over when pushed by circumstances. By leaving that choice in our hands, the film becomes a moment of reflection, of confrontation. Will Franklin and his wife have to testify against Keller for amnesty, because they were part of Alexs torture too. I believe the drug Holly was injecting into Anna was ketamine. Location: 3794 Highway 468. I am bothered by the fact that there were no traces at all of the two girls found in the camper van, although they have been abducted in that van! Chris, you have written a very good essay, and most of your explanations are sound and thoughtful. If you want to get the full picture of the story, you have to unite the fragments. So Alex was originally Barry. Finally returning to the movie and looked into this. Then brought him home and he kept waiting for Alex to come play. Keller soon realizes that Holly was the real kidnapper. This piece is wonderful contextualises and puts in words what the movie does not so Thank you bc I enjoyed the read v much. Theres a reason that scriptwriter Aaron Guzikowski and director Denis Villeneuve included the scene of Alex yanking the dog off the ground by the leash to watch it choke and kick. Kill Loki and any other interfering witnesses (failed). That idea of the maze goes beyond the characters to the structure of the story. Replace the fridge with the old car. Taylor was lucky enough to have survived (others did not), though its never explained how long he was there, or when he left, or howjust that he had been abducted, was kept by the Joneses, then was out being an adult. 127 South Second Street 919-989-5040 . OF COURSE! And they are linked with this idea of necessary violence.. Theres tension as Loki hears the whistle but dismisses it, hears it again, but dismisses it again, before hearing it another time. Glad you liked the movie! So we have two very Christian characters in Keller and Grace who are dependent on Loki, a character symbolizing non-Christian religions. Instead, it leaves a few context clues there for us to piece things together. Why didnt Alex confess to the police or Keller? Tom Brokaw Theres a second Alex in Prisoners. Great minds, Jasper. The pair began kidnapping children to turn the parents into 'demons' as they called it, forcing them to lose their mind and faith like they did. Thank you so much! Years of possible uncontrolled druggingwould lead to antisocial behavior. Details. hi Chris, enjoyed reading the above just one question: the FBI agents book about Finding the Invisible Man was that about another abductor who was obsessed with mazes and not the crimes committed by Holly and her husband? The main story of Prisoners is the kidnapping of two young girls. I especially appreciate that you explained the connection of religion & faith-I never thought much of it and Im somewhat serious about my Catholic faith myself, well, until those fundamental issues arise that you have raised ofcourse! Joel Cox, the editor, felt very strongly about it. Yeah, I had the same sense of spirituality. That way people without a doubt understood the point was for the album to have a happy ending one way and a tragic ending the other way. In-roads arent always necessary, as many artists will use more obvious devices. Just that Alex went to see his old house, which is near the Birchs house. Joy and Anna see the RV while on a walk with their siblings, Ralph and Eliza. He would not have known where to find the stuff. Alex/Barry's caretaker Alex drives his RV to the house he had been abducted from in 1987, the home of his actual parents. The fastest growing independent movie & tv news website! Also isnt the name Keller, too close to killer? I just noticed something interesting. Rather than the cast elevating in their own way. He isnt innocent here. Their pain turns to anger at God, as such tragedy must have been His will. The last shot of the movie is Loki, at night, hearing a faint whistle. The Bob Taylor detail was one I didnt include in why response. A 1987 newspaper article about Barry mentions there might be a serial child abductor and the FBI are involved in the case. While Kellers actions was clearly out of line especially considering that he was basically talking to someone who is practically a child (mentally), what I am concerned about is if Keller should be punished severely for his actions given what he has knows about Alex from being sure that Alex knows the location of his daughter from singing their song and he told him in the parking lot, along side with harming the dog, he had a very strong case of suspecting him and the police didnt seem to have made enough effort to dig more after him and seem to question Kellers sanity. But, at this point, you know better than to think its coincidence, right? Wow, I suppose Im late to the party because I only just watched it on Netflix. People need people and people need grace. -Prisons (physical, emotional, mental, spiritual)-Mazes-Religion. Diego. The other maze to be found would be that; Holly drugs her victims with a concoction that may have LSD or similarthe fbi book refers to this and she does as well, when talking to and then forcing Keller to drink. In-roads. Prisoners Norse mythologys climax is Ragnarok, where gods fight giants and everyone dies. When Lokis at the priests house, he sees the mark on the floor where the refrigerator gets moved in order to access the secret door to the hidden basement. It is mentioned, in the scene discussing the FBI agents book in Taylors house, that Taylor was abducted as a child but escaped after three weeks. How do you create a plot with supposed depth and cleverness and use so many ridiculous elements? They move the car. The best answer I can think of is its been long enough and theyre desperate enough for any lead that they dont question it. The body had been decomposing for a number of years. Obsessively drawing mazes on the walls because he cant stop reading an FBI agents book about the mysterious child abductor, known as the Invisible Man, who was never caught (and who was actually Holly and her husband). Mazes end up being a bigger deal than youd probably expect. Even though Taylor lives somewhere else, it seems all he thinks about is Holly and her husband. Check out the rest of our movie guide for Prisoners. One has the last name Dover. This would be how they have the image of the maze. Thank you! Fantino calls for "Software Developer" Data Bank. I guess the priest didnt report because it was a confession and he felt unable to tell authorities about it? The little girl was abducted, and her remains were found in gym bags a day later in May 2003. What fate for Keller do we accept? On May 12, 2003, while walking a friend home, she was kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and strangled by Michael Briere. She is also the VP of Wellness Development for . Its full of images relating to Christian iconography and references. This is a genius piece of movie analysis! Its a German version of cellar. Meaning basement, store room. Prisoners puts that concept onto how people struggle to work through and escape from their traumas. What happened? The girls would have died if Alex was home. Hes thematically relevant to Prisoners but not crucial to what happens and how it happens. Blowing a whistle in order to be heard, and thus saved from dying in the hole, is the equivalent of being saved by the bell from being buried alive. Please direct any questions regarding the information obtained on this site to the DOC . Loki hadnt been able to keep up with Keller but thought he knew Keller was going to the old apartment building. Theres the world within a book shes reading that was written by her ex (Jake Gyllenhaal, funny enough). Experienced Human Resources professional with a Law Degree focused on Labor & Employment Law coursework. Ty Chris. Loki goes to the Fathers house, discovers a secret passage behind a refrigerator, finds, in this hidden basement, the body of Mr. Jones (identity unknown to Loki). I like your version of Loki saving him from hell of his own making but in spite of wonderful reasoning by Loki, what would have happened had Keller not listened to Alex when he was released and then not imprisoned and tortured him until he said they are in the maze? Excellent insight, Jasmine! Psychological imprisonment: Alex and Bob Taylor both suffer from the trauma of their kidnapping. Today, a family and community tell how a much-loved 10-year-old brought them. We know hes still traumatized by what happened but not that hes necessarily still in contact with Holly or does Hollys bidding. So right there in the last names of the two main families, we see more religious references. Prisoners (2013) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by Denis Villeneuve Writing Credits Aaron Guzikowski . This is the father of Alex or Bob Taylor. Holly likely assumed that Joy had been able to provide enough information to reveal her location. I checked internet, your analysis is really cool and comprehensive. Yeah, Regrading Alex, I guess theres still a lot thats up in the air. Which is why he ends up taking his own life. Yeah, holding back the last part of the prayer is a huge moment. That says a lot about his mental state, the degree of Stockholm Syndrome hes experiencing. She tells him that her and her husband have been waging a war on God and shows Keller where she hid Anna. And lastly, we get flashbacks to her time with Gyllenhaal that reading the book triggers. Even though you assume thats whats probably going to happen, I like that theres a small chance that hes not going to get him out of there for whatever reason.. holly jones prisoners. Hopefully youre thinking, Thats an in-road!. These repeating elements, and a few others, add up. I just think thats the moment when the movie is ready to end. And Loki literally arresting people with the intent of sending them to prison. Take revenge on God for killing her son by kidnapping other people's children (partially succeeded).Kill Loki and any other interfering witnesses (failed). He needs someone like Loki to be there at the right place and time! Its a huge part of the religionlikea cornerstone of Christian theology. These snake-handlers believe that God will reward their faith by making them immune to snake venom And yet their son dies of cancer. Chris, what do you think or D.s explanation regarding Alex waiting in the RV and crashing into the trees: Alex said that he was waiting for a man to come back and he never did. Hes reduced to a scared child who finds it impossible to provide the logic of language to the absurdity of the life hes been forced to live. Why couldnt Loki identify the dead body as that of Hollys husband? The title is simple but that simplicity can disarm you. Inmate Search. Brilliant analysis. Denis Villeneuve's "Prisoners" does not go that route. In the largest mass commutation in US history, at least . So yes, the maze stuff in Prisoners is part of the basic plot. Absolutely brilliant analysis, I wouldnt ne surprised if it is the best lne there is. How could the FBI agent wrote a book about the murderer and even have a maze picture in it if: a. no children was ever found (alive or not); b. the murderer was never found. That would have cinched the mystery early on. Hundreds of Oklahoma inmates left prison Monday before their original sentences were over. Tired of all the brainwashed/braindead people out thereneed to know there are people out there figuring this out like RFK jr. Other than that, enjoy Villains Wiki!!! To find an inmate, please enter the name OR the ID number, and then click the SEARCH button. Taylor remembered the snakes, and it was Hollys husband who had the obsession, so it makes sense that we dont see them again in the film at Hollys house. Hi. All as a best imitation of his abductors. The next thing I remember is the detectives discussing giving Holly notice about Alex. Or, if it was still his parents, quite surprised! People are complicated. Rewatched the movie while reading this and you really nailed it. Can you explain the girls flashback when she sees Keller? . I also think that Loki foreshadowing his abuse and imprisonment and the boys school that the father ran is another situation that contributes to the prisoners idea. Alex Jones is Paul Sandow's older brother; Crimes & Criminals; Canon-Typical Violence; Implied/Referenced Sexual Assault; Alex Is A Good Brother; Alex & Loki have an unlikely partnership; Slow Burn; When we were shooting, we did shoot a version where it goes a little beyond where the fade out is. We know the girls were interested in the van. But at the start of the song, theres an intro that concludes with, We gon put it in reverse. Then near the end of the song, Kendrick raps, Pay attention, that one decision, changed both of they lives/One curse at a time/Reverse the manifest and good karmaBecause if Anthony killed Ducky, Top Dawg could be serving life/While I grew up without a father and die in a gunfight. Theres a gunshot and the sound of audio reversing with lyrics from earlier tracks playing backwards. It could also explain that Alex could not respond until days into his captivity, finally giving him a break in this regular prescription as he regained a scrap of his ability to think. When he discovers the door to the basement behind the fridge, there is no staircase (the hole under the car also has no ladder) yet he quickly drops down to investigate and finds the body, 3. Communication with everyday people would be like communicating with an alien. Search Criteria: Last Name: First Name: But they probably dont sprint like that. Villeneueve even discussed trees in an interview with Indiewire. Holly and her husband based their abductions off of the book. Also, are we sure Holly is not in the van as well? Look Up An Inmate Johnston County NC Jail. And the hidden basement with the hole in the ground. Thats really interesting. We saw him hurt the dog. Im usually pretty pedantic about things like this. Has astrological symbols tattooed on his hands. Like his sister, Jones has studied Chinese as well. We werent given any other reason for Dover Snrs death, were we? These factors lead me to believe that the two girls, especially Anna, are potential abusers-to-be, because of their limited speech, the abuse they suffered, and the nature of inevitable violence in the cyclical maze, where abuse encourages more abuse. In the hospital, Joy says to Keller, You were there, which Keller realizes means Hollys house and that Holly wasnt an innocent old lady. If you are going to edit a lot, then make yourself a user and login. I felt he was trapped moreso in the house by the news vans crowding round. Also, the first time we see the girls outside theyre wearing gloves. about what happened to these girls and you DONT TELL US, YOUR AUNT WILL GO TO JAIL too. Or in the movie Black Swan, a theme is duality, so we often see the main character, Nina, reflected in mirrors or windows. Why did Hollys husband brag/confess to him? He is unable to finish his prayer because I think he realizes that what he is doing is not according to what he believes in, but still believes that this is an act of necessary violence and he cant quite come to terms with himself on that. It asks you what you believe in. He draws mazes on walls. Let me know how the re-watch goes! It seemed to me that Holly heard Lokis car pulling up in her drive way, why would she decide to try to kill Anna with a syringe at that moment? https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/733092911. This technique is more common in artsy projects than it is mainstream ones. Her back was turned to him. It's time to celebrate #MyFlickrYear22! Thematicallybeyond mazesreligion and trees are huge motifs. Watching the movie for the first time, I noticed that Loki was also non-communicative at times, especially around the parents. When I re-watch the movie again Ill keep that in mind and see how I feel about it. Popular depiction has Loki as a trickster. It is Villeneuve's first predominantly English-language feature (his prior ones being mainly in French). But he was released in 1995 after serving less than three years of his sentence. In this film, no character will ever be the same. Itsweird. This is purposefully meta, as midway through the film the motif of the maze is introduced. I loved the movie and really appreciate you breaking it down like that. No story in-roads are necessary because the editing/plot sequencing makes obvious the parallels between the book and the relationship. She seems to think it is Kellar but thats obviously wrong. And maybe a tad under utilized. This explanation also doesnt hold together. This means the Dovers and Birches have to place their faith ina character named after a Norse God. Really insightful. So the priest left the man tied up to die. I think they were just going to notify her that he was found. I can see him being pretty off-grid. You have another piece of the puzzle with which to unlock the deeper thematic intentions and questions of Prisoners. Spiritual imprisonment: Holly and her husband found it impossible to move beyond their belief God had wronged them. Whats it mean that Keller prays to God to save him from the hole and its Loki whos there? Alex succumbs to Kellers torture and mentions a maze, so Keller goes to Hollys house to see if she will reveal something about a maze. Alias Keller would definitely not have charges pressed. Did Loki know she found her whistle? But also pagan and other spiritual iconography and references. Thanks for the analysis. There is a scene at the end of the film when Loki saves the little girl and the culprit shoots him, injuring him, then his blood flow into his eye. Is arrested as the prime suspect. How do you know the Birchs house is Alexs old house? Not saying it isnt annoying. Hobby If you consider the lessons a child would learn, being taken, taught to never speak up, an abandonment of all hope & good in the world. Youre absolutely right. Wouldnt keller have been caught red-handed? But not in terms of likeNorse vs Christianity. Im not sure about that detail. The little girls are not the same (one clings to her mother for dear life and the other is stoic)? | She clearly loved her son so much since his death broke her sanity and stripped her of any morals. That kind of goes with the idea of an intricate maze, a labyrinth, where you get lost and wonder, and keep returning to the same spot, looping around and around, as you try and find an escape. Alex Jones is Paul Sandow's older brother; Crimes & Criminals; Canon-Typical Violence; Implied/Referenced Sexual Assault; Alex Is A Good Brother; Alex & Loki have an unlikely partnership . Holly Jones We also see that Alex and Bob face a diminution in their ability to express themselves, in speech or otherwise (of which, I am convinced the actors mustve studied the behaviour of those experiencing anxiety or other trauma, as the accuracy is unnerving). They see hes down there. But giving the audience clues that Keller is facing lengthy prison and Alex is going home Well it is quite the opposite in reality. Sit in a roadway: I dont think he necessarily minded Keller seeing him. I noticed this strange bit of dialogue from Loki: You know IF YOU KNOW something And yeah, that is devastating. Blessings. This, to me is where the whistle provides significant symbolism. Lokis name means: prison, to break, to end, fire, which is also an interesting connection with he movie. You did an amazing job! Keller keeps Alex in a box thats similar to a confessional box. This really helped me make sense of what I found a disturbing and confusing film. To 247 Sports in 2016, Jones said, "I speak Chinese. Theres something being said in this collision between civilization and nature, Christianity and the Old Gods.. I expect to be returning to this site again. Alex says In the maze, and Bob simply draws it. Hey! If that was the case, Alexs They didnt cry until I left them wouldnt be meaningful or even logical. It is the key that ties the entire movie together. and if so, I guess its just coincidence that Hollys husband had a maze around his neck and that they left mazes in the locked room? It is frustrating that we dont get some more closure though. And Im pretty sure Holly Joness original kid was named Alex? So maybe in the end Loki does save Keller because Keller keeps blowing the whistle. And I also found this thread by Chris by chance. Before we talk about mazes, lets talk about in-roads. Devoid of humor, just not especially real. I thought that Holly was the best performance, a bit melodramatic, but very creepy and a smooth transition from Auntie to Killer. The lights in the derelict apartment apparently dont work but plug-in job lights do, OK. Why does no one ever check a door handle before breaking it down or crawling through a window?