7 Prisoners (2021) User Reviews

An emotionally gruelling story about a deeply troubling reality in human trafficking.

[Top_Dawg_Critic · 8/10 · 15 November 2021]

One of the best international films I've seen in a long time. It's the opposite of what you'd expect from a Hollywood produced film about this topic. It's a documentary styled story that feels as real as it gets. There's barely a score throughout the film, but that silence in the scenes just makes it more realistically unsettling.

This is novice Brazilian writer and director Alexandre Moratto's second only full length feature film, with only a handful of docu's and shorts. What makes this film brilliant besides its perfect presentation, is how a universally know problem of being trafficked, also portrays the moral dilemma of when the victim is given the option to become the captor. And even that is a true reality.

The casting and performances are exceptionally realistic, and apparently one of the cast members with zero acting skills is a human trafficking survivor. The sets and locations are what you'd expect to see from slumdog gangsters in underdeveloped countries.

This film is a must see for everyone, as it's told in such a way that you will not be prepared for it, it will leave you unsettled for a while, and at the very least, educate you in the most realest way possible - second only to being the victim or captor, about international human trafficking. It sure opened up my eyes.

Moratto is certainly an up and coming filmmaker to keep an eye out for. Bravo Netflix for yet another acquisition of such a gem of a film. A well deserved 8/10 from me.

A Very Good Movie

[DavoZed · 8/10 · 20 September 2021]

A very good attempt to portray the treatment and conditions of people who are trafficked for their labour.

I am going to guess that actual conditions and treatment are much, much worse but that would probably make an unwatchable movie.

Every person who cares about the treatment of their fellow human beings, should see this movie.

Reality can hurt you so badly...

[edsongarrido-46015 · 8/10 · 15 November 2021]

As a Brazilian that lives in Sao Paulo, the city that serves as the background to 7 Prisoners, I can testify for many cruel aspects that the director Alexandre Moratto depicts in his latest movie available on Netflix.

Labor slavering has been a serious issue in Brazil since the distant colonial times to the current days. This country of continental dimensions has a bruising absense of the State, from its distant, remote parts to its huge metropolises, crowded with people from small countryside cities, and immigrants from all over the third world looking for a ceiling, a job, and food.

These evil ingredients result in a very favorable scenario to what we see in 7 Prisoners. Moratto's vision of this problem is raw and realistic, sculpting a very tridimensional take on both antagonist and protagonist characters.

The moral dilemma lived by Mateus, a victim of this corrupted system, is shocking and heartbreaking, keeping the audience uncomfortable and distressed.

7 Prisoners is not escapist entertainment, and neither the movie will make an effort to be that. There won't be a hero coming and saving the day, nor a growing journey blessing the protagonist with a common sense of justice and good sense in the end.

This is not a thriller or an action film, this is a depicting of reality as cruel as it is, so if you are not into a realistic take on life facts, this movie is not for you. For the others, breathe deeply and be prepared for 90 minutes of uncomfortable truth. You won't regret it.

sad and horrendus reality, recommended viewing.

[surfisfun · 7/10 · 11 November 2021]

As previous reviewer said , conditions of slavery portrayed is probably much more horrible at times then whats on film.

Corruption is presented in brief moments.

Overall, with a ending that make much sense, is a movie that make me feel sad about how physical and mental acertive brut force run the world.

The harsh realities of the underworld

[tazeemali-79202 · 6/10 · 23 November 2021]

The story takes you on a journey from humble beginnings of a peaceful village to the urban decay of the city.

This movie gets you thinking, what would you do? Question your mortality and it did a fine job in showcasing this.

Definitely worth a watch, would of liked to see more towards ending of the movie regarding the main character.

The other Life

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 17 November 2021]

Not even going to the golden spoon kind of thing that we all know. This is about really having it tough. Life is tough in general I know, but for some it can be even tougher. Now there even worse situations than the one(s) depicted here, but you can argue like that many times.

So having to turn to crime - well it is a choice, but it sometimes does seem like the only way to go. This is down and dirty, grim and quite dark. And it is played that way ... with guns feeling heavy and not just a prop like in any other action movie. So reality may sink in and may be something you do not like to see in movies. If you do though, then the movie here will satisfy your needs ... very well (naturally) acted too.

That was intense.

[Movi3DO · 9/10 · 23 November 2021]

"Do you see that? All that copper wire is from us. Your work powers the whole city." **showing the wires from the utility poles and power lines in the city**

A Brazilian drama on Netflix. To provide a better life for his family in the country, 18-year-old Mateus accepts a job in a junkyard in São Paulo for his new boss, Luca, but becomes trapped in the dangerous world of human trafficking.

Phew this movie was intense. Human trafficking was already a serious topic that didn't get much attention or solution, and this movie brought this topic back up with a terrifying look at how the cycle of traffickers and trafficking perpetuates.

What made this movie so horrifying was its simple yet realistic story. The main character was smart and knew how to survive in the harsh world, but by doing that he started to lose his humanity and his old self. With his situation, it's frustrating, shocking, but bizarrely logical watching the decisions that the main character made.

When I watch a movie I usually look at the time to see how far I was into the movie. However, this was one of those that brought my attention almost 100% for the whole runtime.

Overall, a movie that tackled a dark topic in a realistic way that would draw you all in. 9/10.

Wheel in motion

[li0904426 · 6/10 · 19 November 2021]

This film explores the current existing slavery conditions in the 21st century. They are now immigrants from other countries or even from other poor areas of the same country. The movie is good, with great performances from the entire cast but it falls short, the plot is shallow, it does not delve into the theme, instead it focus in finding reasons to explain the end of the movie.

Crude reality

[isaacochoterena · 9/10 · 15 November 2021]

This film exposes the reality of labor exploitation in Brazil.

The film has a good development of the story, it exposes a forceful blow of reality about how it is to want to improve the individual economic situation, it touches the subject of labor exploitation, corruption, of how economic necessity can force you to enslave other people in order to make money regardless of the human rights of others, it is impressive how this film exposes these issues and how it develops a memorable and very raw story. The performances make the movie feel very real, the production design is good as is the character development. The only negative aspect is that when something shocking happens it does not continue, it stays there and it does not happen in the story.

But still the film manages to impact the viewer and manages to expose the labor and economic situation that exists in Brazil.

good movie

[decimatorcortez · 7/10 · 21 August 2022]

Being Mexican and living in Texas, this movie was of interest to me.

Good movie, worth giving it a watch.

Not a family friendly or date night movie. Serious subject matter.

Way better than i expected!

[tunesplitter · 8/10 · 13 November 2021]

I enjoyed this movie a lot.

Of course it's a simple movie but the story is not predictable at all. The characters are interesting and the camera work is very good too. You can watch it for free also

Give it a chance.

Execution a bit meh

[PedroPires90 · 5/10 · 12 November 2021]

With it's doses of ethical decisions and as urgent as a film can be, 7 Prisoners has it's good moments, dealing with a difficult theme. However, I can't deny that I was expecting more.

The film is monotone, repetitive and it is as bleak as you can imagine. Most of the time I just felt that it didn't go deep enough in most of the things that it touches. It's conclusion can be considered realistic but didn't also fulfil my expectations at all.

Felt Like Homework

[evanston_dad · 7/10 · 22 November 2021]

I picked this movie at random only after bailing on "The Harder They Fall" after about five minutes, when I realized that that movie was going to be nothing but glamorized gun violence for two hours. It was the day after the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict, and I really wasn't in the mood for yet another gun fetish movie.

The point is, I came to "7 Prisoners" after I'd already tried and failed to be entertained by something else, and I was in a grumpy mood. So I might not have been in the best frame of mind to watch this grim, harrowing story about forced slave labor in Brazil. I can say that this movie is objectively a good movie, but it felt like homework, like every movie being made right now that isn't a Marvel or James Bond sequel. Where are those middle ground movies, the ones that are serious enough to be enjoyed by adults but also remember that their primary purpose is to be entertaining? I'm a very socially conscious person, sometimes too much so for my mental health, and I don't need a constant parade of movies reminding me of how crappy humanity can be. I also want to have fun, but fun, at least intelligent fun, is in short supply in movies right now. Have Covid and Republicans killed all the joy in the world?

Grade: B+

A decent Netflix thriller that loses steam as it goes

[eddie_baggins · 6/10 · 8 March 2022]

A Brazilian Netflix production directed by up and coming director Alexandre Moratto that recently found some award love at the recent Venice film festival winning for Best Foreign Language Film and being a contender in the Audience Award, 7 Prisoners is a thriller with a social conscience yet while well made and intentioned, there's something holding Moratto's film back from being something more as it quickly moves across its 90 minute runtime.

Set in the unforgiving landscape of the notorious Brazilian city of São Paulo, Moratto uses his feature to explore the often unspoken about modern day practice's of exploitative labor and human trafficking for the purposes of seemingly legitimate business purposes as we follow wide eyed and savvy 18 year old farm boy Mateus into the world of the scheming and ruthless Luca whose scrapyard business thrives off the blood, sweat and tears of its imprisoned workforce.

Played with an intensity he hasn't often tapped into before, Luca is bought to life by a detestable and feisty Rodrigo Santoro who plays well with Christian Malherios who seems destined for big things based off this effort but the two actors get bogged down in a narrative that often feels repetitive and bogged down in a story that at first appears set to provide something special and far reaching only to stay confined within itself much like its core group that are held back by their unfortunate circumstances.

Feeling almost as if its cut from the same cloth of City of God, a king amongst films of the nation, 7 Prisoners threatens to be on the same ball park as that classic crime tale but these threatening instances are only ever fleeting at best and as the films runtime draws on and narrative stagnates with Luca and Mateus's back and forwards relationship taking place at its core, 7 Prisoners is unable to keep the fire burning from its bright start instead becoming just another Netflix film that is absolutely watchable, but far from overly memorable.

It is however nice to see Netflix continue to support and provide options of foreign produce for viewers across the globe with the way in which content like this is harder to find in cinemas, its fantastic to see a continued option for viewers to be able to watch such films as 7 Prisoners in the comfort of their own homes as Hollywood is scared off from supporting such small-scale offerings.

Final Say -

7 Prisoners never outstays its welcome and starts off with a gripping intensity but as the runtime wears on and the story stagnates, Alexandre Moratto's film becomes a decently watchable feature that ends up far from being a must-see.

3 copper wire strips out of 5.

For more reviews check out Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys)

A very sad yet necessary story

[emilianotca · 8/10 · 12 November 2021]

I found this movie to be extremely powerful - a sad, yet totally necessary depict of a reality that most of us choose not to think about. It's a great movie, but very difficult movie to watch though - I was feeling really sick once I finished it.

Everybody should watch it, but on an empty stomach probably. It makes you think.

really good

[djurrepower · 7/10 · 12 February 2022]

Really well executed in terms of character building. It's very well portrayed how and why people make the decisions that they make, and that is no easy feat. Storywise there is some room left to be disired, but I don't mind this movie leaning more towards the human part. All in all, very good.

7/10: yes.

Bitter taste

[frankborf · 8/10 · 15 November 2021]

This film excelled with the personification of its characters.

I can't wait for more of the ingenuity of how it can come to be structured bit by bit for a not so favorable decision for those people still looking forward to an ending for an innocent child. You can feel the fear and resignation in each of the key scenes for this ending. Despite having a bitter taste, you can feel the emotional emptiness that leads you to reflect even more on the exploitation of people in the world.

It clearly reflects how a grain of sand can be corrupted and that our needs will always be above others. And sadly it is very similar to reality in how certain people are forced to share an unethical position on this issue.

Good Brazilian crime drama.

[deloudelouvain · 7/10 · 18 December 2021]

7 Prisioneiros (or 7 Prisoners for the English title) is an entertaining Brazilian crime drama that keeps your attention for the entire duration of the movie. It has a lot of positive things and a minor negative thins. The positive would be the excellent acting from the whole cast, the gripping story, and the good camera work. The only negative thing to me was the rather disappointing ending, well at least to me, that could have been better. But that's just my opinion, this movie definitely deserves its good ratings and is a good watch for almost everybody.

Powerful drama.

[craigdales · 10/10 · 12 November 2021]

What a film loved it. Very powerful. When i finished watching 7 prisoners on Netflix I thought wow I would of done the samel It's all about survival. He didn't owe them anything he didn't even know them. His mother was getting lots of money sent he came from a poor background with hardly any money so yes I would of done the same. I know what the all business was about that would of been the hardest for me if I was in his shoes but he just wanted to survive plus he didn't want to go back in the cage. What's next how do you get out coz the business he was in needed shutting down because it's disgusting what they were doing. So Yeh that's my take on this film I would of liked to of watched it in Brazilian with English subtitles but I find it hard to watch film plus read subtitles especially before they go off screen because I at least rewind it a dozen times so I watched it in English dubbed.

WELL RECOMMENDED FILM!!! GREAT, POWERFUL DRAMA.

Reality is shown

[wlander-489-928157 · 7/10 · 20 November 2021]

Great script, good direction, nice actuation, visually uncomfortable, touchs the hidden side of Brazilian marginal workforce and political exploration of a black economy, sometimes is very addressed to local audience, but you will not get out of this without bothering thoughts.

Pornmisery

[mrdocbaker · 1/10 · 27 November 2021]

This movie is presented under the disguise of socially conscious but this is just a product to consuming canned misery for the peace of mind of their bad consciences. In 1978, colombian filmakers Carlos Mayolo and Luis Ospina, named this act of filming and monetizing Latin American poverty as "pornmisery.

Survival is not power!

[Guanche48 · 7/10 · 11 July 2023]

Good movie, I started watching it without expecting anything, and it surprised me in a very positive way. It's quite exciting and the theme is tragic, tense and strong. I still have a hard time accepting the evil of people. How inhuman we are!

All the actors are up to the task and the story is simple and to the point. It's one of those movies you don't know where it's going to lead to, and it keeps the great tension until the end. The tension is often uncomfortable due to the injustices that are continuously committed, it got on my nerves on several occasions. That is the key to this film, the injustices of a real and existing world. A very serious and strong theme told in a totally realistic way.

Because of how intense it is, it goes by quickly and it's quite unexpected what happens at the end. By the way, I would have chosen another title for the film, something less predictable.

I recommend it without a doubt, do not miss it!! I also would like to see more reviews of this year, something more recent.

This should be called 8 prisoners !

[Objectivity · 10/10 · 16 November 2021]

This film should hopefully get an Oscar for Best Foreign Film in the 2022 Oscars. It is hard to believe that anyone will make a better film than this.

There is no overacting, no over-pressing of points, just a simple "you-the-viewer-connect-the-dots" powerful presentation.

This is a human drama of the highest order showing what corruption does to millions of citizens, and anyone who follows South American politics will know that Brazil sits alone at the top in this respect. This film delivers punch after punch in the gut and towards the end you eventually realize that there aren't just 7 prisoners, there are actually 8 of them - I won't say why, but if you watch it you'll work it out.

It's a gut wrenching harrowing film of the highest quality.

The best outcome would be for it to receive a deserved Oscar as that might just start the beginning of change in Brazil.

Watch it !

Impressive and gripping

[brockfal · 8/10 · 16 March 2022]

Modern day Brazil; a young man travels to São Paulo to make a better living and to help his family back home in the countryside, but he soon finds himself pulled into the world of modern slavery. Dramatically powerful and executed with skill and precision, this is both a coolly delivered social document and a film that's clear in its message. I was gripped and horrified, but I felt it got to the core of its subject carefully and with insight. It's not necessarily light viewing, but it is we'll worth a watch, and powerfully highlights what is sadly an eternal and very human problem.

UNDERRATED!!

[marsakobarsako · 8/10 · 16 November 2021]

The film is packed with emotions, desires, rage, agitation and melancholy. This film is so nuanced in its transformation of its own stakes that you might not notice the gravity of all this until the final sequence. Very worth it!!