Miguel Angel Vivas
Spain / 2010 / 85 min. / Spanish with English subtitles
The producers of Cell 211 present Kidnapped, a terrifyingly realistic thriller about a family held hostage in their own home by a group of unknown criminals. Best Horror Feature winner at Austin’s Fantastic Fest 2010, Miguel Ángel Vivas’ film about a family’s first night in their new home gone terribly wrong just may leave audiences in a total state of shock. A true sensation at the 2010 Sitges Fantastic Film Festival, this taut, high-octane, grittily realistic thriller is shot in fewer than a dozen intricately choreographed sequence shots that create an accurate, hyper-real rendering of the home invasion experience. Vivas’s camera roams with a restless energy, capturing the action as it actually takes place. By refusing to edit, Vivas leaves his audience trapped in the room with the family to share their mounting terror. Though the storyline has been done several times, Vivas’ directing style, the rich characters and the unrelenting gruesome detail make Kidnapped a superb horror movie.
Miguel Angel Vivas was born in Seville. His first short film was El hombre del saco (2002), awarded in several festivals. His second short film was I'll see you in my dreams (2003) a classic zombies film which won the Silver Meliés for Best European Short Film, among other awards. His first feature film was Reflejos. KIdnapped, a raw and chilling horror movie, was the Best Horror Feature winner at Austin’s Fantastic Fest 2010 and achieved an international succes.
Fantastic Fest Austin (Texas) – Best Horror Film
Sitges International Film Festival
Fantasporto (Oporto)
Brussels International Film Festival
Fantasia Film Festival (Montreal, Canada)
Quotes
“A new genre classic. I highly recommend you do everything you can to find it and experience it.” Arrow in the Head
“...a technically proficient and aggressively unpleasant suspenser about sadistic home invaders who torment a family of upscale Madrid suburbanites.” -VARIETY
“A picture of undeniable power. A film that is all about experience. An impeccably crafted, flawlessly performed film.” -TWITCH
“Explosive. The way director Miguel Angel Vivas allowed the action to unfold almost organically is astounding.” -AIN'T COOL NEWS
"...while ’Kidnapped’ doesn’t add anything substantially new to the tradition, [director Miguel Ángel] Vivas hits his marks with ruthless efficiency." -Noel Murray, AV CLUB
“A film of incredibly uncomfortable, but undeniable, power.” -COVERING MEDIA