Prisoners puts that concept onto how people struggle to work through and escape from their traumas. How could Keller have been there too? Keller is free to leave but Ralph remains behind. It tells the story about how Kendricks mentor, Top Dawg, robbed a fast food place that Kendricks dad worked at. This is purposefully meta, as midway through the film the motif of the maze is introduced. Since her son's death, she has become a cold, deeply disturbed and depraved human being, wanting nothing but for others to feel her pain. I like your explanation of why Keller was probably saved but when I watched, I assumed he wasnt because he slid down too far and lost. This kind of internal instructional clue is something that didnt really exist until the 20th century and the rise of modernism and post-modernism. The only thing I can think of is 1.) And seems to have no one to talk to about what happened. Germanic paganism/mythology (of which Norse is an offshoot) put great symbolic importance on trees and forests and stones. Holly Jones is the main antagonist of the 2013 thriller film Prisoners. By not showing Kellers rescue, were left with a choice: do we have faith in Loki or dont we? The main villain is in a war against the Christian God, while the hero is named after a god of Norse mythology. Holly Road 704-461-6200 704-461-6236 . Ive had that happen and few times and it sticks with you. I've been taking it for four or five years. We know this for a few reasons. View the profiles of people named Holly Jones. Among 747 males the risk of being a perpetrator was positively correlated with reported sexual abuse victim experiences. He is not the all-knowing, all powerful saviour. The story is great. Hardcover. A lot of hot-headed guys losing their minds and screwing things up in this movie. He says later says I just wanted to playand he never came.. Thanks. Im usually pretty pedantic about things like this. And yes, I love the juxtaposition of David Lokis name. Maybe the newspaper article was premature (but then why show it)? Lokis neck is a badgeso along with your hypothesishis god is justice/prison. Prisoners is even more interesting after your explanation. While Lokis faith in following signs guides him right to the imprisoned Keller. Alex just took the girls for a ride, and Holly decided to abduct them. Before we talk about mazes, lets talk about in-roads. Jones, as a last name, means son of John. And John, as a name, means God is gracious. The irony here is that Hollys child died. She had been jailed for trying to post 10.4g of heroin back to . Years of possible uncontrolled druggingwould lead to antisocial behavior. We know hes still traumatized by what happened but not that hes necessarily still in contact with Holly or does Hollys bidding. One of these underground people tells a shocked family, Were Americans. After that information, the title, Us, can be read as US, or U.S., or United States. And I also found this thread by Chris by chance. The dude has severe burns and 20+ counts of kidnapping (molestation???) Just one quick question, why the hunting scene at the beginning? Holly shoots Dover in the leg and imprisons him in a concealed pit in her yard, where he finds the police whistle belonging to his daughter. The book was originally a work of fiction (I think there is something said about the book not making sense or being nonsense. So does. Or implied that he drove on his own just fine. Itsweird. Holly eventually admits to Keller she cant really abduct kids without her husband so hasnt been as active. Alex might have just been referring to Hollys husband who did go missing and who Holly and Alex were both wondering if hed ever come back. I get thinking Alex not talking is weird/problematic. The central story of Prisoners revolves around the investigation of two missing girls, Anna and Joy, led by Detective Loki. 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. Im pretty sure it was Keller. Keller doesnt get the answer he seeks from all the torture HE did, but by Joys miraculous escape and him making the connection that she saw him at some point. The other Birch. I dont buy it. Blessings. He responds by shooting her in the head, killing the kidnapper for good. That line would be an in-road that provides the necessary context to understanding why the book has such a devastating impact on her. We do that by identifying in-roads, understanding their implications, then arriving at a conclusion. So yes, the maze stuff in Prisoners is part of the basic plot. I think they were just going to notify her that he was found. They see hes down there. Prisoners. Why didnt Loki look into it more? They said specifically that the DNA and dental records came back with no match. The breath. This would be how they have the image of the maze. Some people will choose the hopeful outlook that being away from Holly means he has a chance at a decent future. Excellent review, I enjoyed reading the things I understood, as well as the details I missed out on. After being detained, Michael Briere, 35, was charged with her murder. I would like to add to this point regarding the absence of speech in Alex and in the children recovered from their kidnappings. This technique is more common in artsy projects than it is mainstream ones. On the surface, all of that just plays into the drama and mystery of a crime thriller. Thanks, Justin! I also have a question. Hed have explained what happened. I think this movie is getting a second life on Netflix, and I just watched it. Also, the first time we see the girls outside theyre wearing gloves. The best answer I can think of is its been long enough and theyre desperate enough for any lead that they dont question it. . But I can see that the parents were in so much shock that they wouldnt remember what the girls were wearing when they were taken. Pre-order Price Guarantee. Rather than the cast elevating in their own way. 2.) When Loki went around talking to the birches neighbours one was Alexs mom and she described how her son was also abducted one day when the van was parked outside her house. This, to me is where the whistle provides significant symbolism. I just finished my second viewing, I saw it a long time ago. If Keller could figure it out, it was just a matter of time before Loki did too. Bob Taylors house has mazes drawn on the walls. So no coincidence! Holly preceded to do crazy Holly things. to Keller Junior is that killing is okay because the animal population needs to be maintained. Splashing pigs blood on childrens clothes he then locks in boxes with snakes. 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. Which could explain why there are no fingerprints in the van. Holly Jones Community Partnership & Outreach Coordinator at North Carolina Department of Justice Asheville, North Carolina, United States 3K followers 500+ connections Join to connect North. I am an admin of this site. Alex couldnt do anything to Loki, but when Keller comes barging in and grabs AlexAlex could hurt Keller. It seems to be a male figure and not Holly, either. I cant remember if he was listed above in the list of prisoners now but I was thinking Kellers Son Ralph is a prisoner too. I thought that was a major clue about the protagonist Keller Dover but at the end of the movie it seems to be a complete coincidence. Physical imprisonment: Holly keeping the two girls (then Keller) captive. Despite her knowing all this, remembering all of this, what does she express? Alex is in a similar situation. A normal person probably doesnt run off like that. By that, I mean Alex has headed towards introversion. And the movie deals a lot with the circle of life, the dawning of a new age, new beginnings, etc. That idea of the maze goes beyond the characters to the structure of the story. The girls went to Annas home to find her whistle. It happened in broad daylight, in the Junction Triangle neighbourhood in west Toronto, and detectives would. This might be seen as an act of destruction, but also as a noble act of creation. I thought it was. Which is why he ends up taking his own life. How did he get to Hollys house? Takes them both to work out the solution. Take revenge on God for killing her son by kidnapping other people's children, Kang the Conqueror (Marvel Cinematic Universe). So you could try and argue that it just means the girls didnt struggle. 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. Has astrological symbols tattooed on his hands. Great minds. Who was he waiting for? Man, I didnt even think about the carpenter thing. Loki doesnt have a last name, but we know the meaning of his first name. Because thats exactly what these names are. So, Loki had been investigating the house that the RV was parked in front of and he found out it was once the home of a couple whose son, Barry Coyler, went missing. moment. No thats not what happened. Alex says In the maze, and Bob simply draws it. I was so impatient with all the people not talking, but it makes sense now, the priest, bound by his guilt and confession rules, Alex, most likely having been drugged from an early age on which alters your brain and personality, and God knows what else these people did to him and Bob. They dont expect someone to break into their house and take clothing. Why? Goals Theyre prisoners, right? Many times throughout the film, theres an emphasis on forests and trees. I dont know if dental records are in the system. Thats the only way he can communicate to Loki where the girls might be, what happened to him, etc. Unbeknownst to him, Joy and Anna are in another room and Joy sees him/hears him. Eloquently posited Jeff, this certainly fits into the message and subsequent explanation for me. Actually, now that I think about it, it is possible that Holly was in fact trying to kill Anna by administering a lethal dose of opiates in that scene, since she would have realized by that point that she was at high risk of being caught by other parties. And just to put a bow on it, when Grace brings Anna to see Loki, a similar silence occurs. But also the idea of the maze itself and of trauma, this infinite thing. Hi Yuen, https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/733092911. Details. Loved the movie and this thread, and its not like me to concentrate for two hours on a film. I believe that Loki will find and rescue Keller because: 1. That would have cinched the mystery early on. So while Alex not confessing what happened to Keller could seem crazy, its in-line with how Prisoners shows other victims of abduction struggling to express themselves. Or Barry. I think the layman tends to miss out on the motifs but grasps the plot. Keller needs someone to find him and pull him out of that pit, but he also needs that whistle thats only down there because his daughter was down there because she got kidnapped looking for it, though he gave it to her for her rescue so many months or years ago. Today, a family and community tell how a much-loved 10-year-old brought them. I thought that the casting and acting were the weakest part of the film. Remember, he was over at the house one time and talks with Holly. Barry was kept by Holly, where she renamed him Alex and told him she was his aunt. This is the father of Alex or Bob Taylor. about what happened to these girls and you DONT TELL US, YOUR AUNT WILL GO TO JAIL too. and feels all is well in my life. And later, Alex tells Keller They didnt cry until I left them (more on that in the next section). I think of it as a cry for help by the way he looked at the officer behind the desk. Grace, Annas mother, goes from sad denial of reality to drugging herself into oblivion. That really ties it all together, doesnt it? The big issue every character has is with acceptance. Please direct any questions regarding the information obtained on this site to the DOC . What ending do we choose? I could go to China and be fine, obviously . Franklin, Joys dad, objects to Kellers treatment of Alex, but participates for a time because he feels he has no other option if he wants to get his daughter back. Be really hard to find. 9 talking about this. Cornton Vale I believe. He needs grace and so does Lokihe relies heavy on his ability to observe and pay attention to details. 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. Holly's parents. But they probably dont sprint like that. When I re-watch the movie again Ill keep that in mind and see how I feel about it. Good people do bad things, bad people do good thingsThe wicked knowingly and methodically try to spread their wickedness to as many as they can. I dont know where his faith lie, but it was grace that got him through. Weve talked about Graces name. And was the name given by the Romans to Dover, England, according to DoverHistorian.com. But the movie as a whole is an examination of the kinds of prisons people find themselves inphysically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Does Loki discover Keller in the hole or not? director of photography (as Roger A. Deakins) Film Editing by Casting By I almost enjoyed this analysis more than the movie. July 10, 2021 Investigation Discovery's 'The Lake Erie Murders: Blood in the Water' chronicles the brutal killing of 10-year-old Holly Jones in Ontario, Canada. Not everything is clever or meaningful. Though she is not suspected by the police, Alex is, as the girls were seen playing around his RV before the capture. And bipartisan lawmakers couldn't be happier. Sat, 21 Jun 2003. The justification given by Keller Snr. But the only performance I really love is Jakes. And even if all four parents were confused when they looked at the items which is highly unlikely the investigators should have noticed that according to the parents the items in Taylors possession were not worn by the girls on the day of their abduction. Is the father a sex offender himself? Their pain turns to anger at God, as such tragedy must have been His will. At the end the news paper article said he was found and reunited with his family so he was alive, it seemed like a death notice to me too until I saw that. The Bob Taylor detail was one I didnt include in why response. Instead of tracks 1-14, listen 14-1. Remember that Keller had just shown up there too. What a brilliant dissection of it all. I actually know the answer to this! Alex/Barry's caretaker Holly Jones 1992-2003 Holly was kidnapped while walking home from a friends house. So we have two very Christian characters in Keller and Grace who are dependent on Loki, a character symbolizing non-Christian religions. The overall rate of having been a victim was 35% for perpetrators and 11% for non-perpetrators. Watching the movie for the first time, I noticed that Loki was also non-communicative at times, especially around the parents. Instead, it leaves a few context clues there for us to piece things together. The body is beyond recognition, but there is a necklace of a maze. Alex, terrified, drives away from the home. 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. Thats what Joys remembering. I thought that Alex and Bob were weirder than they needed to be, and in their bizarreness, not real, and therefore, not anyone that I could mourn for, though what theyd been through was terrible. Him being so a-type with all that stuff means he has his daughter carry that whistle, and its the whistle that he uses at the end to signal Loki. To lose a child to a violent death is an unimaginable horror, but it's a horror . In this way, the movie itself becomes a bit of a prison, a kind of labyrinth we can lose ourselves in. Occupation On the character names, I took Keller to be a variation of killer because he hunted, owned a handgun, and was prepared to use extreme violence to protect his family. document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. He seemed very alive at the rescue, yelling for help. To be fair, the idea that the clothes may have been stolen is actually never mentioned in the movie. Is it half full or half empty? But sometime during Kellers torture of Alex, the dynamic changes. Yeah, I think I need to amend it a bit to add the consideration that part of Alex enjoys hurting Keller. Holly Jones ( Source : wordpress ) After walking a classmate home from school, Holly Jones was kidnapped in her neighborhood. One question that bugs me if Alex took the 2 girls in the RV, how comes the forensic team didnt find any trace of them? What if he was like the sex offender priest, who thought no one would believe him if he spoke out, so the priest thought that only HE could stop Hollys husband the way that he did! Mike Tyson made a boxing return in 2020 when he fought fellow Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr Credit: EPA. No one ever says out loud, THAT WAS HER HUSBAND! They could have. 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? Regarding the above comments, I recall the detectives discussing the results of forensics on the body in the priests hole. She had been jailed for trying to post 10.4g of heroin back to Australia in 2000 and pleaded guilty and sentenced to 31 years in jail in 2003. All as a best imitation of his abductors. Evil-doer Keller would definitely not have charges pressed. I imagine this is part of the routine for her prisoners that keeps them in a lethargic state in their imprisonment. Grace originated, as a word, in France in the 1200s and soon after had a firm association with Christianity and the idea of virtue and receiving the favor of God. Also, are we sure Holly is not in the van as well? It could provide some backstory about Keller but theres nothing concrete enough (at least as far as Im aware) that you could really point to. A month? Now these parents have a son that kidnaps/molests/drugs/kills little kids. The way they said it, sounded like a death notification to me. 26 Jan 2023 14:55:21 Seems like something he would do in private. Or it could be that the wiring for the lights was bad or the bulbs all broke or something. But they were previously a very religious couple and perhaps some of that still lingered as they indulged in ritual before they killed each of their victims. It just points at a larger abandonment issue Alex has. Alex Jones (Prisoners) Detective Loki (Prisoners) Paul Sandow (The King) Holly Jones (Prisoners) Keller Dover; Please check the notes for additional warnings! But his instinct, thoroughness, and curiosity get the better of him. Keller keeps Alex in a box thats similar to a confessional box. Because of that, Kendricks life turned out 1,000% different than it would have had he grown up without a dad. When we were shooting, we did shoot a version where it goes a little beyond where the fade out is. To talk about Prisoners, it helps if we un-maze the story by laying out its key events in chronological order. It would also explain why the surviving victims displayed lack of speech; they were so warped by their drug-induced experiences they were no longer capable of communicatingprisoners in their own minds. A funny example is Kendrick Lamars 2017 album, Damn. Perhaps another theme of the movie is communication. That idea is expressed in Robert Frosts Birches and also the Blackfoot myth Why the Birch Tree Wears the Slashes in Its Bark. Especially on re-watches. 'Prisoners' is an engrossing crime thriller directed by Denis Villeneuve. It was probably a promotional piece to go with the book because it doesnt look homemade. So many twists and turns. Enter the letters and numbers from the image: Please note -- this site only provides general search information. Cant remember. They dont explain it outright, but its inferred that Alexs real name had been Barry Coyler and that he had grown up in the house that the RV was parked in front of. Keller Dover wiederum fhrt zu Holly Jones, da er den Verdacht hat, dass Joy dort seine Stimme gehrt haben knnte. Alias It serves a meta-purpose to make us aware of how to watch/understand the movie. Grace completely falls apart in the wake of Annas disappearance, to the point of being non-functioning. Loved your summary and analysis! And what are the benefits or consequences of his doubt? 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. Theres a version where he moves the car and sees Hugh down there, and so on. How David is very Christian/Jewish/Biblical while Loki is very Norse. Why does that trigger a flashback where she thinks he was there? Happy to hear that Ayman! I love the part where Keller sits next to Alex torture cell and cant finish his prayer at the sentence: and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, he holds back the last part, breaking at as we. In a sense, this is what Holly Jones and her husband carries on tooby killing children. I could see that. Debord and Van Christopher Havis were arrested in . Buddy Holly was a singer songwriter from Lubbock Texas who died after a short 18 month career. Are they divine or circumstantial? Having a very prominent Christian first name and a very prominent Norse last name falls into place with the different spiritualities working together in the movie, which is maybe why hes the one to save the child in the end. We know the girls were interested in the van. Duct tape: I think were supposed to accept it lol. Also loved seeing ppl comment on this masterpiece of a movie from so long ago. So its unlikely she suddenly appeared and seized the girls. Psychological imprisonment: Alex and Bob Taylor both suffer from the trauma of their kidnapping. Brilliant article, enjoyed every word of it. Keller soon realizes that Holly was the real kidnapper. In addition to her legislative duties, Jones works as the Business Manager for Renz Law LLC. Imitates kidnapping children. Hi Chris,what a great review. He was the guy with boyish good. My question is, why didnt he just tell the detective everything right then! Avatar is kind of similar. Three things that we see come up again and again throughout the film. Others will be so invested in the first watching that this goes right over their headwhich is intentional on the movies part. She feels God is anything but gracious. So the beginning of Prisoners gets at themes of nature, religion, and violence. Not to mention how tattoos relate to paganism and Norse culture. Also, I thought Holly was injecting Anna with venom and that Loki was rushing the girl to hospital to get her the anti-venom in time. Thats an interesting point about the zodiac signs! A god who complicates things for other gods. This explanation also doesnt hold together. Absolutely brilliant analysis, I wouldnt ne surprised if it is the best lne there is. He equally needs the cold and frosty weather because hes shot and maybe this will keep him alive a little longer (dont know, I am not a doctor) or keep the drug from effectively knocking him out. Characters pray. Alex invited them into the van. She is also the VP of Wellness Development for . Awesome article Chris and I love that youre still replying to people after all this time! Almost a hundred years later, it can be pretty seamless. Wouldnt keller have been caught red-handed? I searched for more movies with the actor Jack G after watching Nortunal Animals. She tells him that her and her husband have been waging a war on God and shows Keller where she hid Anna. Though Keller was having a most difficult time thinking and behaving Christian or Christ-like, their never was a scene where he cursed God or threw away his cross. The rest are just kind ofdoing their part? Except there was no Alex. The Monkey and Rooster zodiac signs, which Jake discusses with the waitress foreshadow the character traits of Jake (Loki) and Hugh (Keller). Alex's uncle left home a couple of years ago after a domestic dispute with his aunt. Weve already discussed the importance of trees in pagan religions. And what do you know, at the end of the movie, Kellers imprisoned by Holly Jones, Alexs aunt. 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. Holly and her husband, who used to be fundamentalist believers, might have practised snake-handling as part of their faith and would have kept snakes for that purpose. I love it that youre so active in the comments and engaging with readers, it encourages me (and hopefully other readers) to revisit movies with new perspectives in mind and discuss further. How fitting we have a character named Grace, a word typically associated with Gods favor. 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. This movie is deeply moving and having this info you provided helps me get why I felt this intense sense of spirituality behind the movie but couldnt quite put my finger on it. Similar to how Fight Club is powerful because its not really about Edward Nortons character but rather a deconstruction of individuality in a consumer-driven culture. Except, Keller uses wood and his carpentry skills to imprison and torture Alex. Yet he still lives with Holly. Franklin says and believes that he would do anything for his daughter, but ( like Peter in the Bible who acted cowardly when he thought he would act bravely at Christs crucifixion ) Franklin (who thinks he can play the trumpet, but cant) is not a killer. But not in terms of likeNorse vs Christianity. He had no criminal record, not even a parking ticket to his name. Is arrested as the prime suspect. Keller having Alex captive. Meanwhile, Bob appears as a new suspect in the case. Release Dates Their pain turns to anger at God, as such tragedy must have been His will. Join our movie club to get similar movie recommendations and stories delivered to your inbox every Friday. Police lay murder charge in Holly Jones case. What will it do to their friendship? Why does Alex say I waited but he never came? I hope this was helpful. Was that really Keller or was that someone else, and was she confused because of all the drugs she used bc of Holy. Explore holly jones's 396 photos on Flickr! Ive got something to add: The use of the maze not not only serves as a representation of the cognitive dissonance of those abused or references the form of the information as it is laid out; it is also a cyclical device to show the nature of violence (as Kassovitz said, la Haine attire la Haine, or hate breeds hate). None of us really wanted to do that version, but we wanted to make sure we had it in case once the film was put together it seemed like it really needed it. We then have Bob Taylor being obsessed with mazes and the FBI agents book detailing how the child abductor dubbed the Invisible Man had used mazes. 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. Once a loving and religious woman, both Holly and her husband's minds soon took a twisted turn when their son died of cancer. I prefer to believe Keller was found by Loki, his boss said he never lost a case. Compare this to other crime thrillers like Silence of the Lambs or Seven or Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. But the same casual way he decided to choke the dog, he probably decided to bring the girls back to Holly. Its a really great movie. Whats it mean that Keller prays to God to save him from the hole and its Loki whos there? Its too easy to say Oh, well, they were completely messed up because of their own abductions when they were kids! And as you said yourself the whole plot development depends a bit too much on the fact that neither Alex nor Taylor are willing to talk about their experiences. Company Credits Especially after they find him in the hole and see he was shot. The answer to this question isnt actually explained, but it is shown. Its like the negotiating tactic of not saying anything. And can be argued is another example of being in a prison. Toronto (AP)-On Friday, June 20th Toronto Police arrested Michael Briere, a 35 year old software developer, for the horrific murder of 10 year old Holly Jones. Denis Villeneuve and company accomplished this by placing key backstory and exposition details throughout the movie without ever having a scene that clearly ties them all together. Theres something being said in this collision between civilization and nature, Christianity and the Old Gods.. 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