Review for Caged

Caged
(Captifs) 2010

Dir: Yann Gozlan

Film

According to the press release, Caged is gaining notoriety "just like Martyrs before it". Given that the aforementioned 2008 French gob-smacker was as divisive and controversial as Raymond Domenech's managerial skills of the French national football team, that's a lofty claim indeed.

Hyperbole or not, as an admirer of Pascal Laugier's Martyrs I couldn't help but anticipate Caged, albeit somewhat nervously. Feeling that Martyrs hit me deep inside my chest like a round of l'escargot fired from a shot-gun, I was conscious that Caged may well be simply another addition into the ever-growing stock heap of shocking, overly self-conscious retro horrors on the market.

The plot is minimal and direct. Carole (played by Zoe Felix) works as a nurse in Eastern Europe. Ravaged by war, the country relies on humanitarian efforts such as hers. However on a routine drive as they depart, she and her colleagues are attacked and imprisoned. What follows is an expected round of torture, as they slowly put together why they are held captive. They each become more desperate to escape as the grim hopelessness of their situation truly becomes apparent.

Admittedly, it does become rather obvious very quickly indeed, what the intentions of the captors are. There is little point spoiling the plot developments here, but needless to say, it's the sort of sordid activity we've seen a million times before. However, Caged, is one example where such obvious plot plots are irrelevant. The real terror here is in how it unfolds, in the story being told from the point of view of a person who we can empathise with. Like us, she's probably seen the movies, and yelled at the screen when folk take shortcuts through unfamiliar back-road towns, or accept rides from strange European doctors who cackle like hyenas. But nobody ever expects to find themselves implicated in this sort of ordeal, and the wide-eyed fear is an easily relatable facet.



That said, such shenanigans do sometimes threaten to topple into the ludicrous, such was the case with Shuttle (2008). Caged, fortunately manages to tread that line expertly indeed. It helps that the violence, which could have been sickeningly gory, is actually rather fleeting. Yes, it's certainly visceral and realistic, however never does it become absurd, or excessive. At the same time, a case could be made for this film being rather rigid and straightforward.

Immediately, director Gozlan launches us into discomfort, offering a childhood flashback for the main character. It's a shocking, sudden event, and like much of French horror cinema, is thrust upon the audience with little time to prepare. In fact, all the trickery associated with modern terror pictures is present and correct. One scene, of a peaceful , relaxed nature is disturbingly overturned, exploding into violence. The manner in which it is filmed is manipulative, cruel, and extremely effective. It recalls with great effect, elements of Switchblade Romance. However, Caged is a much more reserved, less flashy variant on other recent continental efforts. That said, the film is very well paced. More vitally, one particular development towards the end brings us kicking and screaming back into the setting- the war-torn landscape, to brilliant effect. Indeed, the final fifteen minutes of this film are highly suspenseful indeed, and go some ways to redeeming what is rather an ordinary experience prior to that point.

Audio and Visual

The film is available Stereo 2.0 and Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks. The somewhat non-fussy mix sounds crisp and clear in this release, effectively capturing the mood of the film.



The 2.35;1 image is better yet, a grimy, filthy affair, nothing is presented in an any way glamorous light here. The danger with films such as this, is that they can slip into an unpleasant, murky visual palette, not in a manner that benefit's the claustrophobic nature, rather one that makes it infuriating to follow. I'm happy to report that isn't the case here. There isn't anything revolutionary in terms of picture, but it's stark, bleak, yet clear.

Extras

The only extra included is a trailer, which for my money, detracts from the appeal of the film, and reveals too many key moments.



Conclusion

Caged is nothing new. It isn't just similar to many other pictures of this nature, it's entire body is merely the basis of many other flicks that delve into wider territory or offer new ideas on top of their trademark setting. With that in mind, it should be mentioned that it is a fine foundation, unfortunately there is not much else to it.

A noble effort, this release is far more conventional than it perhaps aspires to be. Anyone seeking another Martyrs in terms of ambition, the scale of violence present in Frontiers or something akin to the bombastically bizarre depravity of The Ordeal may be disappointed. Convention though, is not necessarily a bad thing entirely, and throughout it's light 80 minute duration, Caged does not put a foot wrong.

Whilst keeping it so simple, the filmmakers have limited Caged to being basically an effective piece while it lasts, without being especially memorable.