10 Memorable Film Kidnappings

Taken (2008)

Admittedly, you could have all the smarts of an SAS squad, and the end result (Liam Neeson blowing you up) would never have been in doubt.

Still, it's fair to say that the initial snatch and grab of ex-CIA Brian's daughter and friend isn't flawless in its execution.

Brian's seventeen-year-old daughter Kim and friend Amanda pootle off to Europe for some backpacking adventure. Only they're not the smartest of cookies.

When they let slip in a taxi where they're staying and that alone, it only needs a couple of pro-active traffickers to join the dots to abduction.

Firewall (2005)

Abduction by smarmy forcefulness, this tale of a family kept hostage in their own home is less violent than most.

But that's not to say Paul Bettany's gang of creepy home intruders don't bring the terror. By holding Jack Stanfield's (Harrison Ford) family captive in their own domicile, he's all but forced into looting his own business for millions to save his family.

A Life Less Ordinary (1997)

Sure, Robert (Ewan McGregor) may not be the smartest of kidnappers, but his charm more than wins out in the end.

When he's fired from his job as the cleaner of a millionaire, he decides to kidnap said millionaire's daughter Celine (Cameron Diaz) in the spur of the moment.

But as the two hit the road, they fall for each other, and he's able to convince her to act as a vulnerable victim whilst conning her father out of more money.

Misery (1990)

The award for the most opportunistic kidnapper on this list goes to Annie (Kathy Bates), a crazy fan of author Paul (James Caan) who drags his lifeless body out of a car wreckage, only to trap him in her house with no means of escape.

While she may appear all doe-eyed fangirl on the surface, she's only ever one temper tantrum away from some decidedly harsh sledgehammer-aided DIY job away from mass mutilation.

Transporter (2005)

There aren't many movies that'd stage their big kidnap scene in a dentist.

But then there aren't many movies like Transporter 2 .

Jason Statham's military pilot-turned-driver Frank Martin is back and tasked with rescuing the son of a powerful USA official who's nabbed from a dentist appointment.

Cue ass-kicking.

An American Crime (2007)

Movie abductions are settling enough as it is. But doubly so within the context of the trauma being inspired by a true life story.

This harrowing tale is all the more upsetting in its simplicity - when teenage sisters Sylvia (Ellen Page) and Jenny (Hayley McFarland) are left behind by their travelling parents, they're put into the care of Gertrude Baniszewski.

Unfortunately, Gertrude is a sociopathic torturer, and - over a space of several months - bullies and tortures the pair for their perceived sins, culminating in locking Sylvia in the basement, where she lies until she meets a particularly tragic end.

The Call (2013)

For once, it's the escape method rather than the kidnapping itself that really elevates The Call' s tale of a young girl nabbed by a serial offending psychopath.

Halle Berry plays a veteran 911 call handler who is forced to help a teenage girl (Abigail Breslin) after she's kidnapped and bundled into a car boot - only to use her mobile to call the emergency services.

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1992)

Of every animal at threat of kidnap, you'd assume dolphins would be free from risk.

Not only are they pretty rare, but they're notoriously difficult to house.

But that doesn't stop the erstwhile dolphin-nappers in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective who steal the team mascot of an American football team, thus catalysing Ace (and Jim Carrey's) career.

Ransom (1996)

When multi-millionaire Tom Mullen's (Mel Gibson) son Sean is kidnapped, he's subjected to the unsettling demands of an electronically-distorted madman, issuing voice commands over a phone in exchange for his son's life.

Prisoners (2013)

There's no more terrifyingly relatable or human terror than the fear of losing your children.

And nail-biting thriller Prisoners brings that fear home with terrifying reality.

When six-year-old Anna goes missing, along with her friend, it's up to an increasingly desperate Keller (Hugh Jackman) to find his daughter - by any means possible.

Utterly thrilling and with two stunningly captivating performances from its leads (Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal), it's one of 2013's most eagerly-awaited movies.

To celebrate the release of Prisoners - in UK cinemas 27 September 2013 - we're hosting an exclusive screening of the movie days before its release, exclusively for TF readers.

Thriller Prisoners is already garnering significant awards buzz.

And for good reason - with Jake Gyllenhaal and Hugh Jackman as co-leads, it's a stunning, gripping exercise in tension.

And now it's your chance to watch the movie yourself, days before its mainstream release.

We'll be hosting an exclusive, red carpet experience and private London screening of the movie on the evening of Monday 23rd September!

SYNOPSIS

When his six year old daughter Anna goes missing along with her friend Joy, Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) faces every parent’s worst nightmare. The only lead is a dilapidated RV that had been spotted earlier on the street. Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal) is put in charge of the investigation and immediately arrests the driver of the RV, Alex Jones (Paul Dano), however a lack of physical evidence forces them to release him.

With the police pursuing all leads to no avail and his family life disintegrating, a desperate Keller decides to take matters into his own hands in the race against time. But just how far will he go to save his daughter?

From Academy Award nominated director Denis Villeneuve, Prisoners features an impressive supporting cast including Maria Bello (A History Of Violence), Terrence Howard (Iron Man), Viola Davis (The Help) Paul Dano (Looper) and Melissa Leo (The Fighter).

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Prisoners is released in UK cinemas 27 September 2013.