One of the most horrifying thoughts a parent can have is imagining their child missing. No note, no sign of location or clue as to their whereabouts. They simply vanish.

Prisoners, the 2013 thriller from Denis Villeneuve starring Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal and Terrence Howard, offers this scenario, as two families celebrating Thanksgiving together each lose a daughter. Jackman and Howard, distraught fathers on a hunt for their kids, become desperate in a race against time when the only suspect in the investigation is released. Taking it upon himself to get the answers he needs, Jackman abducts the suspect to torture information out of him. But things aren’t what they seem, as one dedicated cop pushes himself to the limits trying to bring these little girls home . . .

This movie was a fresh concept with great actors playing out the disturbing consequences of an atrocity. It also seems to have a subtle-yet-strange superhero subtext that only comes into play when you look at the history of the cast and their involvement with costumed crusaders. That might sound like I’m grasping at straws, but look at the perceived failure of law enforcement, the tragic beginnings of the film, and the fact that Jackman and Gyllenhaal are two good men on the edge driven to abandon their traditional moral codes, trading them in the wee hours of need.

This was a decent film, but like a child with too many toys it feels overwhelmed. You spend most of the time watching Jackman unravel instead of the mystery itself, which has become all too obvious by the time Gyllenhaal starts looking for suspects. I’d recommend it if you’re wanting something more toned down, but I can’t truly say the film feels organic, because of my reservations about the ending.

Just take a look and get back to me. Oh, and don’t let your kids play in the street.