But theres a common association with a snake eating its own tail, also known as the Ouroboros. Thats usually associated with the idea of the endless loop. Best. Holly Jones 1992-2003 Holly was kidnapped while walking home from a friends house. I think if you re-watchPrisonersafter reading this, then the movie is going to feel way more obvious in what its doing and why. And the movie deals a lot with the circle of life, the dawning of a new age, new beginnings, etc. Eloquently posited Jeff, this certainly fits into the message and subsequent explanation for me. I dont think theres a definitive answer. Why it happened? Grace completely falls apart in the wake of Annas disappearance, to the point of being non-functioning. Please also note the professors I have been working with at the end of this video. My biggest take was that the ending sentiment wasnt believable. Holly and her husband could have found comfort in one anotherinstead their crusade ends up resulting in both of their deaths. I thoroughly enjoyed it and now need to watch this movie again. (Though it is mentioned it was a small accident, and that Alex was merely afraid of them.) This item: Captives of Liberty: Prisoners of War and the Politics of Vengeance in the American Revolution (Early American Studies) by T. Cole Jones Hardcover $33.69 Running from Bondage: Enslaved Women and Their Remarkable Fight for Freedom in Revolutionary America by Karen Cook Bell Hardcover $15.80 Review She was murdered by Michael Briere who plead guilty to first degree murder and got life in prison with no parole for 25years. 101 Market Street 252-448-7091 ext 222 . Holly Deane-Johns, 51, was subjected to the awful living conditions while serving time at Lardyao Women's Correctional Institution. Their plight is immense and it can drive them to do unto others as has been done unto them. POOPER: Holly Jones (Melissa Leo) kidnapped the two little girls. star wars hologram projector; how to interpret histogram with . So while Grace may seem like a simple name, its not. I assumed that it was Bob and he was referring to when he was captured by the police in the van at the rest stop. Why does that trigger a flashback where she thinks he was there? Residence: Asheville. I loved the movie and really appreciate you breaking it down like that. What happened to Alex after Loki found him? (But is also comes from the old Scandinavian meaning a ravine, gap, gorge, or a crevasse between cliffs. The French, Celtics, and Gauls all had similar versions of the word (Douvres, Dubrs, and Dubris, respectively) and all meant water as well. And it never really changed. Anyway thanks for the insight. And Id imagine Holly would have said something about Bob, just to telegraph it to the viewer, if this was actually what happened. I think of it as a cry for help by the way he looked at the officer behind the desk. Then you will see that what Im saying is absolutely true. Theyre kind of like ghost characters, director Denis Villeneuve said of the recurring motif of trees in the film; as we said earlier, like silent witnesses to the various violent crimes in the movie. And yeah, Ralph is definitely a prisoner. And the girl had been drugged. Or implied that he drove on his own just fine. Especially after they find him in the hole and see he was shot. Sit in a roadway: I dont think he necessarily minded Keller seeing him. And is still stuck in it, so to speak. 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. Also, are we sure Holly is not in the van as well? Appreciate the kind words! In Pennsylvania, Keller Dover, his wife Grace, son Ralph, and daughter Anna celebrate Thanksgiving with their friends Franklin and Nancy Birch, and their dau. Holly eventually admits to Keller she cant really abduct kids without her husband so hasnt been as active. Hi Chris and everyone who has commented. And completely forgot about the David first name. But isnt it also highly unlikely that Taylor managed to buy clothes which looked exactly like the items worn by the girls? Declaring it likely that the girls are dead, the parents and Detective Loki all but give-up when Bob commits suicide. I dont know where his faith lie, but it was grace that got him through. Just one quick question, why the hunting scene at the beginning? It happens to be near the Birch house, where the Dovers celebrate Thanksgiving. Despite her knowing all this, remembering all of this, what does she express? So he definitely has a cruel streak. That would explain why Alex/Barry and especially Bob Taylor were unable to put together their memories and what it meantmaybe making them feel responsible and guilty. When you realize one of the names has a deeper meaning, it leads to the question: Do the rest of the names have meaning? This brings us back to Grace and Loki and Dover and Birch, etc. When I think of mazes, I think of complications. One is thematic, the other iswellfor lack of a better word, pretentious. But its also a clue from the filmmaker to treat the movie as a maze. I dont think theres a definitive answer. This kind of internal instructional clue is something that didnt really exist until the 20th century and the rise of modernism and post-modernism. To play Holly Jones,Melissa Leowore a grey wig and a foam rubber posterior prepared by Costume DesignerRene Aprilin order to "ground" her character. Its less than a week? Im glad it was helpful! Maybe the newspaper article was premature (but then why show it)? Or in the movie Black Swan, a theme is duality, so we often see the main character, Nina, reflected in mirrors or windows. My questions is- the only reason Loki is at the fathers house is because hes investigating level 3 sex offenders. Now imagine Taylor and Alex being there for years and years. How does a top detective let an old woman finish an injection, pick up a gun, stand up, turn around and get shots off instead of just taking her down when she has her back to him? Even though Taylor lives somewhere else, it seems all he thinks about is Holly and her husband. Thanks for the analysis. Which really is a question for us. Their pain turns to anger at God, as such tragedy must have been His will. Keeping the source of these character names in mind, if you re-watch Prisoners you definitely pick up on some thematic subtext involving religion. I am an admin of this site. Holly's husband is the corpse that [] Thus, we know how long he was there. The idea of faith comes up again and again. Brilliant analysis. Skai fastened a venomous snake over Lokis face, and from it poison dripped. Prisoners is a 2013 American mystery thriller film directed by Denis Villeneuve from a screenplay written by Aaron Guzikowski. By leaving that choice in our hands, the film becomes a moment of reflection, of confrontation. Taylor remembered the snakes, and it was Hollys husband who had the obsession, so it makes sense that we dont see them again in the film at Hollys house. The murderers are killing kids on a decades-long crusade against God because their own child died. Its full of images relating to Christian iconography and references. In the hospital, Joy says to Keller, You were there, which Keller realizes means Hollys house and that Holly wasnt an innocent old lady. The main story of Prisoners is the kidnapping of two young girls. But how in the world would a jury ever find this guy guilty of anything when he saves two kids, finds/stops the biggest kidnapping ring in the country, after the police basically screwed up bad. After she took care of you all this time? Location: 3794 Highway 468. The way they said it, sounded like a death notification to me. It is frustrating that we dont get some more closure though. When Loki finds the body in the priests basement, the priest/father explains the man came to confess and spoke proudly about killing 16 children. Mini Major Victory At Olympia '08 For Ellen Whitaker & Holly Jones. TORONTO - Police in Toronto on Friday arrested a 35-year-old man and charged him in connection with the killing of 10-year-old Holly Jones. Joel Cox, the editor, felt very strongly about it. Keller would definitely not have charges pressed. Tue 9 Jul 2013 06.45 EDT. 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. . Yeah, holding back the last part of the prayer is a huge moment. Less than a week I believe. Its almost as though his body forces him tobut during the chase to save Annas life, Loki was driving blind. Excellent analysis! Thematicallybeyond mazesreligion and trees are huge motifs. The screenwriter, Aaron Guzikowski, did an interview with Buzzfeed and just straight up said: Oddly enough, thats how it was in the script when it was bought. It is Villeneuve's first predominantly English-language feature (his prior ones being mainly in French). But 5 years ago, he was missing. This movie is called Prisoners, but the title isn't meant to simply reference Bob Taylor as a prisoner of Detective Loki, or Alex Jones as the hostage of Keller Dover, or even Anna and Joy as. 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. Its really just Loki and Keller who keep their faith. Texas Department of Criminal Justice | PO Box 99 | Huntsville, Texas 77342-0099 | (936) 295-6371 Why didnt Alex confess to the police or Keller? I could see something like him initially being reunited but then the DA drawing up charges later. $18.89 1 New from $18.89. Thanks. Bridger is serving a full . I noticed how Holly cares for her dog and I wonder if Alex abusing it is his way of getting back at her (His abuser). Then the cinematography. Anna's father Keller is however convinced that Alex is the culprit, and soon takes him hostage, torturing him for information. Kind of like when he lifts the dog. Debord and Van Christopher Havis were arrested in . Stick a piece over your mouth and see how ridiculously easy it is to open your mouth. 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. Hey hey! Full Name Powers / Skills Hi Yuen, That was still the day of Joys escape, maybe only a few hours later. I just finished my second viewing, I saw it a long time ago. But giving the audience clues that Keller is facing lengthy prison and Alex is going home Well it is quite the opposite in reality. I stumbled upon this essay and now cant wait to watch again. Villeneueve even discussed trees in an interview with Indiewire. Take revenge on God for killing her son by kidnapping other people's children (partially succeeded).Kill Loki and any other interfering witnesses (failed). Keller Dover wiederum fhrt zu Holly Jones, da er den Verdacht hat, dass Joy dort seine Stimme gehrt haben knnte. The captor is seen in one of the last scenes attempting to inject the child with a drug most likely heroin or morphine as Grace is seen frothing at the mouth as she is driven to the hospital by Loki. MARSHALL COUNTY, Ala. (TCD) -- A woman from Albertville was sentenced to 99 years in prison for charges of sodomy, sexual torture, and bestiality. And this guy being a carpenter, someone who turns living trees into objects. The book would lack meaning because it lacked any and all context. Adding to that, Holly probably never reported him missing (wouldnt have wanted police poking around her place), so his name wouldnt have come up when the detectives were checking past missing persons cases for a man who disappeared 5 years previously. The whole concept of a maze is that people become lost in the convolutions and complications of the structure. I imagine this is part of the routine for her prisoners that keeps them in a lethargic state in their imprisonment. And Loki was the catalyst in Taylor committing suicide. Bobs almost completely externalized his pain. I dont think its entirely unrealistic. 2 weeks? But, at this point, you know better than to think its coincidence, right? 1409 Greenbrier Street Charleston, WV 25311 (304) 558-2036 Contact Us | Site Map | Staff Directory And bipartisan lawmakers couldn't be happier. At first, the maze might seem like nothing more than the ravings of a mad man, put into the script to add to the mystery and tension. I imagine it would have taken some time to make the connection to Hollys husband, if it was ever possible to do so. Hed have explained what happened. All as a best imitation of his abductors. I thought this was the whole reason behind Keller being obsessed with preparing for the worst, that his dad had been facing something he was unable to cope with and killed himself as his only way out of that situation. As well as confusion about who they really whereid also venture to guess that abuse was also a big part of the experience as you also mentionedso a confused prison of the mind. His profession being the same as that of Jesus, and the movie opening with Kellers devout prayer, also creates the false sense that Keller will be the good in the film. Even though you assume thats whats probably going to happen, I like that theres a small chance that hes not going to get him out of there for whatever reason.. Thats really interesting. I just think thats the moment when the movie is ready to end. Loved the movie and this thread, and its not like me to concentrate for two hours on a film. Alex's uncle left home a couple of years ago after a domestic dispute with his aunt. . Keller having Alex captive. Ralph tries to protest and is silenced by an outburst from Keller. And later, Alex tells Keller They didnt cry until I left them (more on that in the next section). Of any filmmaker ever, hes the biggest beneficiary of audiences not caring about little infuriating logic inconsistencies. But they probably dont sprint like that. Especially Joys mother. Near the end of the movie, Holly Jones is explaining that Alex was the first boy they took after their son died, and that his name hadnt been Alex that it had been Jimmy. Because Joy and Anna play on the RV, Alex keys in on them. Bob Taylors house has mazes drawn on the walls. The van is clean, but the forensic guy does say that if there was a struggle they would have found some fibers. $12.99 Read with Our Free App. I thought that the casting and acting were the weakest part of the film. Dogs: Holly said initially that she kept the girls in the hole while the police were around. Thats an interesting point about the zodiac signs! She was portrayed by Melissa Leo, who also playedSally in Oblivion. Its likely that since the girls probably went from the van to the hole that the scent wasnt lingering in a way the dogs would notice. Thank you! In-roads. His real parents are the prisoners. Your movie analysis is very very great. Martin Luther No text message will ever replace the first kiss. Alex, nostalgic about his own childhood, tries to play with the girls in the RV. The lights in the derelict apartment apparently dont work but plug-in job lights do, OK. Why does no one ever check a door handle before breaking it down or crawling through a window? I would like to add to this point regarding the absence of speech in Alex and in the children recovered from their kidnappings. And since I am German, I really liked that you noticed that Keller is a Geman word which is cellar in English ? And Im pretty sure Holly Joness original kid was named Alex? The priest is a registered sex offender, but how should he stop a child killer? Also isnt the name Keller, too close to killer? This is a genius piece of movie analysis! That line would be an in-road that provides the necessary context to understanding why the book has such a devastating impact on her. Alex just took the girls for a ride, and Holly decided to abduct them. Loved this article it was very educational and breaks down the film in the easily digestible way you mentioned, you untangled this maze of a movie! Alex may have become too attached to Holly and the only home he had known for many years. Even without dogs, in all the time spent around the aunts house no one noticed there were tracks behind an old supposedly non-functioning car? An in-road is a purposeful element that the writer/director includes to clue the viewer in on thematic subtext or plot mysteries. The only thing I can think of is 1.) And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have . Prisoners ist ein US-amerikanischer Spielfilm aus dem Jahr 2013 unter der Regie von Denis Villeneuve. We know hes still traumatized by what happened but not that hes necessarily still in contact with Holly or does Hollys bidding. The 10-year-old girl was raped and murdered by Michael Briere, her dismembered body eventually found where the 35-year-old software developer had disposed of it, in two bags floating in Lake Ontario. Great acting, including Melissa Leo as Holly, so soft spoken, chilling. Mike Tyson made a boxing return in 2020 when he fought fellow Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr Credit: EPA. 69K views 2 years ago In Pennsylvania, Keller Dover, his wife Grace, son Ralph, and daughter Anna celebrate Thanksgiving with their friends Franklin and Nancy Birch, and their daughters Eliza and. And staring the person down is kind of a legitimate tactic. Lets get some answers. Will never see the world again. Once a loving and religious woman, both Holly and her husband's minds soon took a twisted turn when their son died of cancer. Why does a seasoned police officer with no unsolved cases stare at a suspect to the point of spooking him, or sit in a roadway blocking traffic until he draws attention himself? Prisoners is a 2013 American thriller film directed by Denis Villeneuve from a screenplay written by Aaron Guzikowski. If you have more questions, check out the rest of our movie guide for Prisoners. Birch was also interesting as a name because birch trees are thought to be resilient, bending but not breaking. When Loki brings Taylor in, Taylor cant just explain what happened and why. 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. Regarding Alex. Child abuseDruggingKidnappingMurderTorture 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). Just my two cents. Avatar is kind of similar. 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. But the only performance I really love is Jakes. Loki goes to the Fathers house, discovers a secret passage behind a refrigerator, finds, in this hidden basement, the body of Mr. Jones (identity unknown to Loki). What if deep down he DOES want her to go to jail! Thanks, Warren! A forensic inspection of the cloths however, reveals that the blood belonged to a pig, and then Joy suddenly wakes up. It is an experience that invites us to peel off the layers and try to make meaning from its moving images. State Representative Holly Jones, a Republican, represents part of St. Louis County (District 88) in the Missouri House of Representatives. I think this movie is getting a second life on Netflix, and I just watched it. By not showing Kellers rescue, were left with a choice: do we have faith in Loki or dont we? Wow, that was so helpful. Other interesting fact about the snakes: they have a connection with Loki too. It is of course not completely impossible because Holly could have cleaned the van thoroughly. Hi Lory! Everyone describes Alex as pretty internal and passive, but I wonder if (in his own traumatized and child-like way) he is trying to break out of the maze! How did the FBI agent know about the mazes?? Or, if it was still his parents, quite surprised! I also appreciate how you still respond to comments after a year. Search Criteria: Last Name: First Name: These factors lead me to believe that the two girls, especially Anna, are potential abusers-to-be, because of their limited speech, the abuse they suffered, and the nature of inevitable violence in the cyclical maze, where abuse encourages more abuse. People are complicated. The pause on Netflix is infuriating. Real quick recap. The priest trapping Mr. Jones in the basement to die. Great analysis!! It serves a meta-purpose to make us aware of how to watch/understand the movie. Its no longer Alex being the byproduct of Holly and her husband, or being cruel just to be cruel. Occupation: Executive director, YWCA of Asheville. This technique is more common in artsy projects than it is mainstream ones. A character who wears a Masonic ring. Holly offers Keller tea, which would probably be drugged (we later see she kept a jar of drugged liquid in the fridge). Accepting not just the bad but the good as well. These snake-handlers believe that God will reward their faith by making them immune to snake venom And yet their son dies of cancer. Tired of all the brainwashed/braindead people out thereneed to know there are people out there figuring this out like RFK jr. Others will be so invested in the first watching that this goes right over their headwhich is intentional on the movies part. Its complicated and not effective. I think, for him, hes just been unable to escape the trauma. Both suffered greatly to the point where they could no longer speak properly. And yes, I love the juxtaposition of David Lokis name. The final song on the album is called Duckworth. One has the last name Dover. Their sonstill a childdies, causing them tremendous grief. Excellent review, I enjoyed reading the things I understood, as well as the details I missed out on. Barry was kept by Holly, where she renamed him Alex and told him she was his aunt. But keep up the good work! Holly Jones is the main antagonist of the 2013 thriller film Prisoners . I also think it is highly unlikely that Taylor managed to break into both houses and steal the items without being noticed at all. Duct tape: I think were supposed to accept it lol. I find this often ruins performances for me; in this case, not awful, just distracting; and despite all of the cursing and yelling and punching, I just didnt buy it. Keller will take matters into his own hands too! I never caught what was said in the newspaper. And the long-dead Mr. Jones with the still-alive Keller Dover. Sigyn, his spouse, sat with him holding a basin beneath the dripping venom, yet when the basin became full, she carried the poison away; and during this time the poison dripped on to Loki, causing him to writhe with such violence that all of the earth shook from the force, resulting in what are now known as earthquakes. (Wikipedia). 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. Thank you for your insight Chris! She seems to think it is Kellar but thats obviously wrong. Evil-doer The list of things that Buddy did before anyone else is long. Hobby She had been jailed for trying to post 10.4g of heroin back to . Holly preceded to do crazy Holly things. And maybe a tad under utilized.