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Captive State
2019 110 min United States of America PG-13 16+
★5.6
Science Fiction, Action, Thriller
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Trailers
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Description
Nearly a decade after occupation by an extraterrestrial force, the lives of a Chicago neighborhood on both sides of the conflict are explored. In a working-class Chicago neighborhood occupied by an alien force for nine years, increased surveillance and the restriction of civil rights have given rise to an authoritarian system -- and dissent among the populace.
Budget:
$25M
US Gross:
$5.96M
Worldwide:
$8.81M
Starring
John Goodman
Actor
Ashton Sanders
Actor
Jonathan Majors
Actor
Awards
2 nominations total
Key opinion
Captive State is a divisive, low-budget political thriller that operates more as an understated spy drama than the big-budget alien invasion spectacle promised by its marketing. While some viewers appreciate its gritty, atmospheric approach to totalitarianism, many find the narrative convoluted, the characters underdeveloped, and the overall pacing fragmented.
| Acting | John Goodman provides a grounded, stable performance that serves as the film's strongest anchor. | |
| Originality | The film is a political and spy-thriller-focused piece rather than a traditional action spectacle, often leading to significant audience disappointment regarding its genre. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is criticized for being overly dense and disjointed, with many viewers feeling the story would have been better suited to a miniseries format. | |
| Theme | The alien presence is minimal and background-oriented, which works for some as a stylistic choice but leaves others feeling the central threat is poorly realized. | |
| Pacing | The film's pacing is often described as fragmented and confusing, struggling to balance its slow-burn, atmospheric setup with a lack of satisfying narrative progression. | |
| Ending | The ending is highly divisive, with some finding it to be an elegant, clever twist while others view it as an unearned or cheap cliffhanger. |