the film is scary not in its extraordinary imaginings but in the mundane familiarity that underpins those imaginings. The twist sells that idea in the end, but everything up to that point falls a little flat
Equal parts "Vacancy" meets "The Strangers", Cluff and Lofing's home invasion slasher "Held" takes a generic premise and spices it up with an engaging twist, salvaging an otherwise poorly acted venture into a tangible piece of mindless entertainment
cannily exploiting #MeToo themes and the opportunities for cinematic mayhem provided by technology-driven smart homes, Held proves an uncommonly thoughtful and provocative suspenser
a thriller that despite being clumsy manages to hold viewers' attention longer than anticipated. It's the kind of try-anything suspense tale that throws so much out there it tends to morph into something new every 15 minutes or so
a few individual moments in Held are attention-getting, and directors..certainly keep the pace moving. There just isn't enough here storywise or character-wise to make the picture anywhere near as exciting or stirring as it obviously wants to be
a disappointing, bloody thriller about marriage and power; This trapped-in-a-house flick starts off well, with genuine suspense and strong characters, but it derails after a sudden turn, leaving its major theme disappointingly unexplored
"Held" lacks the cleverness and panache to land stinging social satire; While the heroine's circumstances are reasonably well-drawn, the rest of "Held" is under-imagined — and pretty predictable
by Chuck Bowen [Slant Magazine ]
by Jeffrey M. Anderson [Common Sense Media ]
