Since his American debut in “X-Men” some 13 years ago, Hugh Jackman has had a diverse catalog of work added to his portfolio. From action movies of various flavors to dramas with intense character studies, with a spattering of animated voice overs here and there and even a musical or two, Jackman has shown that he is more then just the man who plays Wolverine in Marvel’s comic franchise. “Prisoners” is a worthy addition to Jackman’s resume.

Hosting a well stocked list of supporting actors and actresses including Jake Gyllenhaal alongside Viola Davis and Terence Howard, the film is a brilliant character study of individuals dealing with the abduction of two children on a Thanksgiving night.

The timeline of the movie stretches from the night of the abduction through the following seven days and in that time we are exposed to the varied reactions of the families as well as the police investigating the crime. Jackman’s character, Keller Dover, is the perfect example of a working class father. The resolve and rough exterior of the character fits Jackman perfectly, but it’s the emotional stress bubbling beneath the surface that makes the character so riveting and keeps audiences in touch with the character throughout the film.

Gyllenhall’s work as Detective Loki was, in all honesty, amazing and intricate in it’s depth. Throughout the storyline we see Loki dealing with the case with increasing passion and we begin to get the idea that there is a tension in the character that has a history prior to the film. Loki’s character, far from the clean cut police detective seen in most films, was instantly easier to sympathize and connect with. There was no three piece suits or immaculate hair with this detective. Instead, we have a rough young man sporting tattoos on his knuckles who is anything but perfect.

There are parts of the movie that were difficult to deal with, but with subject matter like child abduction, strong content is to be expected. If anything, I applaud the director and the cast for the work that they did to make the film so believable. From Gyllehaal’s slight twitching throughout the movie, to Jackman’s explosive emotional breakdown, and Davis and Howard’s weakening resolve in the face of the tragedy before them. We were witness to true character studies of how people could deal with such situations. I didn’t see actors in these moments, I saw the real subjects. Real people dealing with the fact that their children are missing and may not be saved.

All in all, this was an amazing movie and well worth the price to see in the theater. But be warned, there will be parts that make you cringe. This movie is not for the faint of heart.