Detained

I grew up on the Twilight Zone and love the genre - even when the delivery falls short. So when I see a low budget film like this, I just imagine I'm putting on a modern Twilight Zone episode and just enjoy it for what it is. There is something lovely about a closed set and a variety of actors with diverse motivations and a Cube or Usual Suspects flavor that is just fun for its own sake. You can't watch this hoping for a Fincher outcome and then ding it when it doesn't meet that expectation. That said, if they had tightened the script a bit more and done a few more takes for some of the emotional moments, it would have landed better. Give Mucci some dollars and let him make another one. I kept thinking I saw flashes of inspiration that might prove profitable next time around.

I don't really know what made me choose to watch this movie. Maybe it was the short description on IMDB that caught my attention. I have seen many great movies with the same premise, so there was a chance that this movie would be interesting. In many ways, Detained reminds me of the Saw movies, where some people with vastly different backgrounds, yet something in common, wake up in a room without remembering how they ended up there. Unlike the Saw movies, however, this is not a horror film with a lot of bloody traps. This film uses manipulation and dialogue to play everyone against each other, sometimes in an overly simplistic way. The movie contains some twists and turns, but it takes a bit more to fool a seasoned movie lover like me. It's a downside that I figured out how it would end relatively early in the film. But it is not a boring movie, so if you're bored and don't really know what to do, you could give this one a chance.

Is a psychological thriller that weaves a mysterious and intricate story, focusing on creating tension and suspense. The plot revolves around a character who is inadvertently caught in a situation that unfolds with new layers at every turn.

The direction skillfully conveys a sense of anxiety and uncertainty, while the use of a confined setting enhances the feeling of entrapment experienced by the protagonist. The lead actors deliver strong performances, adding to the film's credibility.

This movie is recommended for fans of suspenseful narratives with a focus on character psychology. However, paying close attention to details is essential for a better understanding of the story.

It's called detained because as you watch you realize who has been detained is YOU!

The concept is interesting but the execution is lame.

Films must make the internal, external. Why waste all this acting chops on pure dialogue? Where's the action? Why don't these characters have business to do? The film is more like reading a book than watching a movie. Or a stage play that is done on a stage with a revolving platform that has three rooms built on it. As it rotates, the characters move from room to room.

Plenty of talking, very little action. The script needs more than mere 'tightening' it needs imagination and depth. Why not rewrite and film again?

Abbie Cornish! A gem. I wonder why we don't see her more in A bracket movies.

Detained has an interesting premise and plot, but clearly it's a budget production. There are some really awesome scenes and twists, but you should pick this one if you need more of a pass time activity if you just want to sit down and nap, rather than hoping for something you'll remember the next day.

If a few kinks and cliches would've been ironed out, the film could've been very good. I was debating myself between giving 5 stars or 6 stars, but clearly there are better pieces in this genre to pick even on the budget side.

Looking forward to seeing Cornish in upcoming productions, she's really good.