Halle Berry is back in the dark rooms! Absent from our screens since X-Men – Days of Future Past, it returns in Kidnap, action film presented at the Deauville American Festival. The story follows Karla McKoy, a divorced mother whose son is kidnapped from a park. A chase then begins between her and the kidnappers, hoping to take back her child. Interesting in its basic premise, Kidnap is however caught up by many defects tainting the quality of the film.
A scenario with untapped potential
The basic premise of Kidnap is great: a non-stop chase between kidnappers and a mother overwhelmed by events. Keeping spectators in suspense for most of this time was a risky gamble. The relentless on-screen chase was also a risky gamble. However, these bets are not held from start to finish. Indeed, if we are really involved in the story and the suspense, some inconsistencies in Karla McKoy's behavior tend to seriously irritate. Explanations:
Karla McKoy is portrayed as a loving mother who will do anything for her child. This is confirmed from the beginning of the chase, when she takes all possible and imaginable risks on the road to avoid being sown. However, despite several opportunities to kill or destabilize the kidnappers, it does not act. Examples include one of the kidnappers she quickly has the opportunity to crush or the knife she could have snatched from the hands of the other kidnapper without much difficulty during the race. The small inconsistencies scattered here and there in the film immediately take the viewer out of the action, which is a shame, because the rest of the time the rhythm is nervous and correctly dosed.
Another writing problem lies in the length of the introductory scene. In itself, presenting the relationship of mother and child through family videos is a respectable choice. Only, this scene drags on far too long, to the point of becoming unnecessarily descriptive. A word is also to be said about the end credits, which is absolutely kitsch and worthy of the most caricatured happy endings. Of course this was intended to echo the opening credits, while indicating the happiness that the reunited family lives (yes sorry for the spoiler). However, this was absolutely not necessary. The mother's success in retrieving her child was more than enough. The viewer knows full well that they will continue to be happy together. The music of the end credits does not help to raise the level, since it is just as stereotypical as the slideshow presented.
The writing of Kidnap unfortunately has many flaws tarnishing an idea that deserved to be better exploited. While we welcome the attempt to keep the suspense intact throughout the film, it is difficult to close our eyes to the many scripted flaws. Fortunately, one element mitigates these visible flaws, namely the beautiful and talented Halle Berry.
Halle Berry at the top as a woman of action
It's not really a secret: Halle Berry knows how to do it in action roles. Just her participation in the X-Men saga gives her the status of badass woman of cinema. In Kidnap, she does not play strictly speaking a role of a strong woman but rather a role of a strong mother. Although his character is not predisposed to action or violence, he proves to be frighteningly tenacious when it comes to saving his offspring. Halle Berry excels in her role as a disoriented woman but unyielding in her desire to find her son.
If the character of Karla McKoy suffers from writing weaknesses due to the script, Halle Berry interprets it with an accuracy that commands respect. This one carries the whole film on its own and this is a performance that must be welcomed, because it is not within the reach of all actors. This is undeniably the only element without false notes in the film.
A half-hearted realization
Like the script, the production suffers from visible problems despite undeniable qualities. Let's start with these qualities: stress and tension management is particularly well done. It is easy to get caught up in the game and get involved in this kidnapping story. It's also easy to identify with Karla, wondering what we would have done in her place in such a turbulent situation. The involvement in the plot is immediate and the nervousness of the action scenes makes us feel like we are there.
However, some effects are imperfect or even kitsch, such as the end credits mentioned above. We can also think of incomprehensible plans, including some dragging on without it really making sense, neither in terms of plot nor in terms of realization. While some directing problems may be due to script errors, others could have been avoided and unfortunately contribute to making this film a semi-success.
Carried by a Halle Berry at the top of her form, Kidnap suffers however from very (too) visible defects. If it is a decent entertainment that will delight action lovers, the film may not convince the most demanding viewers.
Kidnap Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHn5uq37k84
