MovieChat Forums > Prisoners (2013) Discussion > Holly's motive (includes spoilers)

Holly's motive (includes spoilers)

posted 8 years ago by Captain_Bob
11 replies | jump to latest

Here's a plot element I'm still struggling with (from the synopsis):

"She reveals that she and her husband had been religious people .. until their son died of cancer at a young age. Holly and her husband decided to make a war on God by making children disappear without a trace".

Really? I find it unconvincing that being grief-stricken about the son's death she (and her now estranged/dead husband) decided to abduct/drug/brainwash/kill children on that basis. It's a major WTF plot hole. Any thoughts on this?

[–] SutterKeely87 8 years ago

My thoughts is it is deeply disturbing and evil as *beep* This film I've only seen twice now is a movie i still find hard to put on cuz of that reason. I could understand for you how it sounds "out there." It is very bold but like I said ultimately disturbing and evil

[–] romanhuelsewig 8 years ago

Not sure if the son actually died from cancer

[–] mamba247 8 years ago

I don't think you understand what a plot hole is

[–] Kawada_Kira 7 years ago

This is imdb. No one understands what a plot hole is, but everyone uses the term anyway.

[–] DavidCrow 8 years ago

Here's a plot element I'm still struggling with (from the synopsis):

You are trying to understand something from the perspective of someone who is not right in the head. That's just not possible. Your definition of right and wrong is different from theirs.

[–] coolbrett 8 years ago

That's the motive the writer of the screenplay gave the character so they had an explanation as to why the kids were abducted but not tortured or raped or killed, to keep the story not so bleak and depressing. In the real world, when kids are abducted they have much worse fates, immediately too, not later to give their parents some time before they decide to rape/torture/kill them.

[–] superherolu 8 years ago

I didn't really buy it, but I'm not sure if that's what actually happened. It's just her version of the story, perhaps used to justify, perhaps used to gain sympathy from Hugh Jackman's character so she would appear non threatening.

I think there was an element of religious fanaticism, but it's less about their dead son and more about the evil couple's murderous tendencies festering in the right conditions.

[–] jffphllps86 8 years ago

They, as religious people, felt deeply betrayed by God because of what had happened to their child. I believe the crushing realization that someone/something they had put so much faith in wasn't going to save their child was a contributor to their warped morals. Thematically this ties into all the prayer scenes as well as the scene where Grace gets mad at Keller for failing to protect their daughter.

Then you have to ask yourself "could the loss of a child really drive people to do such dark and disturbing things???" Which the movie blatantly answered throughout by showing how far Keller was willing to go and how much of himself he was willing to morally compromise out of the love for his child.

[–] puschit-1 8 years ago

Yeah, it's a weak explanation and probably boils down to "they were insane - don't ask".
What I found worse, though: That she started monologing about her motifs, unasked no less, like a comic book villain.