Being in Netflix’s top 10 doesn’t guarantee a movie is worth your time. With Ryan Reynolds leading and a chilling premise on paper, it’s easy to buy into the hype. “The Captive” randomly dropped onto the platform this past week and quickly climbed the charts. But this mystery thriller leans into garish melodrama, anchored by a weak story that spirals into something borderline ridiculous.
Watch This, Not That!
Welcome to Watch This, Not That, a column where we dig into the latest streaming top 10 picks, call out the one lackluster title you should skip, and highlight the better alternative you absolutely should watch instead.
“The Captive” follows a father whose young daughter vanishes, shattering his family. Years later, clues suggest she’s alive, as police uncover a disturbing abduction network while he obsessively searches for the truth behind her disappearance. Back in 2014, the movie was a total box office bomb, earning just $2 million worldwide and a 28% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
But let me save you the trouble. I sift through the charts, call out the duds, and point you toward what’s actually worth watching. Right now, a far more gripping Ryan Reynolds thriller is on Prime Video, and that’s “Buried.”
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‘Buried’ is one of the most intense thrillers I’ve watched
“Buried” is the movie I’d recommend watching instead. This 2010 thriller sees Reynolds trying to survive in a very claustrophobic space. Everything unfolds in one location for greater effect: a coffin. The movie opens with his character Paul waking inside, skipping the capture entirely, which instantly ratchets up tension. Viewers, like Paul, can’t help but yearn for sunlight and a glimpse of freedom.
Director Rodrigo Cortés masterfully uses the coffin’s cramped confines, making “Buried” a relentless study in the terror of being trapped in a tiny space. The premise may seem limiting for general audiences, but there are plenty of clever twists to keep that suspense high. This movie ends up being a brilliant thriller, using space and perspective to trap you alongside the protagonist.
Reynolds is the sole on-screen presence in “Buried,” with the rest of the cast appearing only as voices through Paul’s phone. This immense responsibility falls squarely on Reynolds’ shoulders, and the usually comedy-focused actor rises to the challenge. His commitment makes Paul’s harrowing ordeal fully compelling, keeping you invested in his desperate fight for survival from the very first moment. However, that does mean you have no choice but to experience the same level of stress.
“Buried” follows American truck driver Paul Conroy (Reynolds), who wakes to find himself buried alive in a wooden coffin in Iraq with only a lighter, a cell phone, and a few small items to aid him. As he attempts to contact the outside world and piece together what happened, he faces a desperate race against time for rescue while his limited air supply and dwindling cell phone battery become ever more critical.
While “The Captive” might still be holding strong in Netflix’s top 10, its frustrating plot (often implausible, overly convoluted, and self-indulgent) makes it a miss. It’s even more disappointing when a movie is beautifully shot but let down by everything else. “Buried” on Prime Video, however, is a must-watch. One of Ryan Reynolds’ best performances, it wrings gripping drama and tension from a single-location setup, making it the thriller to stream instead.
Stream “Buried” on Prime Video now
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