Prisoners

Hugh Jackman isn't playing Mr Nice Guy any more, but then he is pushed to the limit in this deeply haunting thriller. He stars as the father of a kidnapped daughter, while Jake Gyllenhaal is the cop who, in his eyes, fails to put away the chief suspect: a young man with learning difficulties, played by Paul Dano. Jackman takes it upon himself to do his own questioning, and his tactics are heavy-handed to say the least. Denis Villeneuve's film can be difficult to watch, not only for the vividly portrayed violence, but also because of the disheartening turn of events that leads to other decent people (including Terrence Howard and Viola Davis, whose girl has also gone missing) becoming party to the torture. While Maria Bello portrays a mother blinded by grief, Jackman is always just a misstep away from being exposed, making the tension almost unbearable. The plot does spiral off towards the end, denting some of its credibility, but you'll be rooted to your seat throughout.