Is Prisoners based on a True Story? know Ending Explained
by Swetha P | Updated Mar 23, 2023
Is Prisoners based on a True Story?
The "Prisoners" directed by Denis Villeneuve is fictional and was created by screenwriter Aaron Guzikowski, who was inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Tell-Tale Heart." Guzikowski initially wrote a short story about a father who imprisons a hit-and-run driver responsible for his child's accident in a well in his backyard, which later developed into the feature-length screenplay for the movie. In an interview with Film School Rejects, Guzikowski explained that the short story was just a small idea that eventually grew into the script. Hence Prisoners is not based on a true story.
Is the movie Prisoners based on a True Story?
No, the movie "Prisoners" is not based on a true story. It is a work of fiction created by screenwriter Aaron Guzikowski and directed by Denis Villeneuve. The plot revolves around the disappearance of two young girls and the subsequent investigation by a desperate father and a determined detective. Although the story is not based on actual events, it touches upon themes of grief, vengeance, and the lengths that parents will go to protect their children. The film's realistic tone and intense performances by the cast may make viewers believe that it is based on true events, but it is important to note that it is a work of fiction. Overall, "Prisoners" is a gripping thriller that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats until the very end.
What Is Prisoners about?
Directed by Denis Villeneuve and written by Aaron Guzikowski, "Prisoners" is a 2013 American thriller film featuring a talented ensemble cast including Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Maria Bello, Terrence Howard, Melissa Leo, and Paul Dano. The movie centers around the disappearance of two young girls in Pennsylvania, and the police investigation that follows. When a young suspect is arrested and released, the father of one of the abducted girls takes matters into his own hands. "Prisoners" was both a commercial and critical success, earning $122 million worldwide, and was chosen by the National Board of Review as one of the top ten films of 2013. The film also received a nomination for Best Cinematography at the 86th Academy Awards.
Is Prisoners a real story?
"Prisoners" is not a true story but is based on Aaron Guzikowski's original short story. Guzikowski wrote the story in 2007, and it was quickly optioned for film adaptation, although it took several years for the project to move forward. The script eventually landed with director Denis Villeneuve, who brought the story to the big screen. Guzikowski explained in an interview with Film School Rejects that his short story was about a father who takes revenge against a hit-and-run driver by imprisoning him in a well in his backyard. However, the movie adaptation altered the premise to focus on a father who imprisons a suspected kidnapper. Despite the change in the storyline, "Prisoners" remains a tense and captivating work of fiction.
Although "Prisoners" is a work of fiction, it's possible that real-life crimes or cases may have influenced the story. However, screenwriter Aaron Guzikowski denied this possibility in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. He explained that while he wasn't initially inspired by any news stories, he did notice similarities between his story and real-life cases as he was writing it. Over the years, there have been numerous kidnapping cases in the US where strangers have abducted children, similar to the plot of the movie. So while "Prisoners" may not be based on any specific true story, it's not hard to see how real-life events could have influenced the story's creation.
Prisoners Ending Explained
Holly and her husband turned to abduct children as a way of waging "war against God" after their own son's death. The movie's ending reveals that the first child they kidnapped was Alex, who had been with them ever since, and that Taylor was the next. Holly had a special bond with both boys and may have even loved them as her own. Loki recognized a necklace from the drawings found in Taylor's house as belonging to Holly's late husband and, in the ensuing confrontation, shot Holly while sustaining injuries himself.
Meanwhile, Keller was trapped underground after being drugged and thrown into a pit by Holly. Ironically, the police did not consider his disappearance to be suspicious due to his history of running away and drinking. After the forensics team discovered more buried bodies in Holly's yard, Loki heard Keller's emergency whistle and rescued him from the pit. The same whistle had been featured in the first fifteen minutes of the film when Anna asks Joy to find it at their house. In a surprising twist, Anna did manage to find the whistle that Joy had lost earlier in the film, which ended up being a crucial element in the story's resolution. Despite Anna insisting that the whistle she wore to visit Loki in the hospital was the same one, Grace reveals that it was actually a new one.
Therefore, the sound of a whistle heard at the end of the film must have been Keller's old whistle, confirming Anna's story and dispelling any notion of coincidence. The whistle can be interpreted as a symbol of hope and light in the darkest of times, much like the Evenstar in "The Lord of the Rings" series. It's unclear how Loki managed to locate Keller after recovering from his injuries in the hospital, but it's likely that his strong emotional connection to the case motivated him to see it through to the end. Given his determination and unwavering devotion to his job, it's plausible that Loki followed the sound of the whistle to Keller's location, ultimately rescuing him.
Is Prisoners based on a True Story - FAQs
No, it is based on a fictional short story written by Aaron Guzikowski.
No, he claims that he wasn't inspired by anything in the news but as he wrote it, he'd hear about these cases that seemed oddly reminiscent of what he was doing.
Alex was the first child they kidnapped, he has been with them ever since.
The whistle is used as a long-standing Chekhov’s gun throughout the film and is eventually used as a rescue signal for Keller who is trapped underground.
It is a work of fiction created by screenwriter Aaron Guzikowski and directed by Denis Villeneuve.