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This sci-fi thriller may not necessarily leave viewers in a Captive State, but it offers reasonably diverting alien invasion action with ambitious political undertones. Read critic reviews
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Captive State videos
Captive State (2019): Official Clip - Bug Removal
Captive State (2019): Official Clip - Alien Face Off
Captive State (2019): Official Clip - Aliens in the Tunnel
Captive State (2019): Official Clip - Striking the First Blow
Captive State (2019): Official Clip - Unity Rally Bombing
Captive State (2019): Official Clip - You Work for Me Now
Captive State (2019): Official Clip - The Plan Was to Fail
Captive State (2019): Official Clip - Alien Hunters
Captive State (2019): Official Clip - Roach Attack
Captive State (2019): Official Clip - Police Raids
Captive State: Trailer 1
Captive State: Teaser Trailer 2
Captive State: Teaser Trailer 1
Captive State Photos
Movie Info
After 10 years of extraterrestrial occupation, residents of Chicago must decide whether to continue to live under alien rule or support the resistance. When young Gabriel Drummond joins the insurgency, he soon finds himself under careful scrutiny from a shadowy figure who's trying to crush the rebellion and its plans for freedom.
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Rating: PG-13 (Drug Material|Brief Language|Sci-Fi Violence and Action|Some Sexual Content)
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Genre: Sci-fi, Mystery & thriller
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Original Language: English
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Director: Rupert Wyatt
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Producer: David Crockett, Rupert Wyatt
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Writer: Erica Beeney, Rupert Wyatt
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Release Date (Theaters): wide
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Release Date (Streaming):
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Box Office (Gross USA): $5.9M
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Runtime:
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Distributor: Focus Features
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Production Co: Lightfuse & Gettaway
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Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
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Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)
Cast & Crew
News & Interviews for Captive State
Critic Reviews for Captive State
Audience Reviews for Captive State
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I'd argue that the movie's lack of emphasis on character is an asset rather than a hindrance. There's more time to focus on world building through the intricate mechanics of resistance which is infinitely more interesting.
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Honestly don't really know what I just saw. It's like if The Battle of Algiers had no nuance, or if District 9 you know... sucked.
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The friggen aliens again, and with their usual plans for peace, love, and understanding? No way! It's world domination, baby, where you been? But a stalwart band of resisters carefully hone out their own direction despite the dangerous odds. A different perspective on alien takeover aids this production and a tale that, if lukewarm, at least manages to keep your interest. This would be a good second feature on a double feature bill.
kevin w Super Reviewer -
DISTRICT NEIN - My Review of CAPTIVE STATE (1/2 Star) I love me a good, dystopian alien invasion movie. That first attack scene from Spielbergï¿ 1/2(TM)s remake of WAR OF THE WORLDS remains a master class in escalating terror and suspense. INDEPENDENCE DAY for all of its rah-rah jingoism, knocked me out when the alien is asked what it wants the humans to do, and it chillingly answers, ï¿ 1/2Die. Die.ï¿ 1/2Â? DISTRICT NINE had the unique vision of setting its invasion in the shanty towns of South Africa. I couldnï¿ 1/2(TM)t wait to see writer/director Rupert Wyattï¿ 1/2(TM)s take on the genre with CAPTIVE STATE, since he did such a great job with 2011ï¿ 1/2(TM)s RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES. Unfortunately, heï¿ 1/2(TM)s made a terrible, nearly unwatchable movie. CAPTIVE STATE tells the story set in the near future several years after aliens have taken control of our planet. Having us subjugated humans do their bidding, theyï¿ 1/2(TM)ve holed themselves up in an underground lair of sorts in the middle of Chicago. We virtually police ourselves and enforce strict laws. Every person has a surgically implanted tracking device and must obey all the rules or risk instant vaporization by the aliens. Of course, a resistance attempts to take down the aliens, thus giving us a main story. On paper, this sounds awesome! The opening sequence works like gangbusters and is the only thing to merit the 1/2 star Iï¿ 1/2(TM)ve given this film. A family of four tries to escape the city, only to have some of them turned into red dust by their new leaders. Years later, we follow the surviving child, Gabriel (MOONLIGHTï¿ 1/2(TM)s Ashton Sanders) as he joins the resistance to avenge his familyï¿ 1/2(TM)s death and find freedom for his fellow earthlings. Itï¿ 1/2(TM)s an incredibly tense, promising start, but everything after it falls flat. First, the film doesnï¿ 1/2(TM)t have the budget necessary to realize this vision. We barely get a glimpse of the creatures, and when we do, they either look like giant hairy, black, Koosh Balls, clicking insects, or later, armored ï¿ 1/2Terminatorsï¿ 1/2Â?. Second, Wyatt employs an unpleasant hand-held camera throughout, which may give the film a certain gravitas and credibility, but it also gave me a migraine. He has also co-written a screenplay (with Erica Beeney) which feels overstuffed to the point of incomprehensibility yet has a surplus of one-note characters. Chief among them is John Goodman as a police officer tasked with stopping the resistance. His occasional visits with a sex worker played by Vera Farmiga (who like everyone else, is way better than this) scream out the movieï¿ 1/2(TM)s ï¿ 1/2surpriseï¿ 1/2Â? twists with all the subtlety of Ripley shouting ï¿ 1/2Get away from her, you bitch!ï¿ 1/2Â? in the way, way, way better ALIENS. Goodman, wears the gravity of the situation on his face very well, but he just doesnï¿ 1/2(TM)t have any other layers to play. Did I mention this film is a hopeless bore? Although filled with the razzle dazzle of a constantly moving camera, and people running and jumping a lot, the story just sits there. We wait endlessly for a so-called Unity Rally, where our heroes plan on blowing up the aliens. When the sequence finally comes in the ninth or tenth hour of the film (I lost track), it suffers from an amazingly anti-climactic sequence in which dozens of extras stream out of a packed stadium. I understand budget constraints, but weï¿ 1/2(TM)re talking really meager stuff here. By the time we get to the final scene, where all the good stuff happens off camera, I breathed a sigh of relief because at least it was over. I was finally free. I understand why Participant Media greenlit this film. Terrifying aliens usually amount to box office successes. I only wish they had taken a cold hard look at the tone and made adjustments. This may have worked as a simple, streamlined noir since it contains some BLADE RUNNER elements such as mysterious objects and altered humans. Wyatt undoes his own reasonably great idea with the wrong pace and tone. Come out of your AVATAR coma James Cameron and show us how it should be done!
glenn g Super Reviewer
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