The Clearing (2004)

43% of critics liked it
(130 reviews)
34% of users liked it
(7,020 ratings)

Dutch film producer Pieter Jan Brugge makes his directorial debut with the dramatic thriller The Clearing. Affluent executive Wayne Hayes (Robert Redford) and his lovely wife, Eileen (Helen Mirren), live in a beautiful home in Pittsburg. One day, Wayne is kidnapped by disgruntled employee Arnold… More Dutch film producer Pieter Jan Brugge makes his directorial debut with the dramatic thriller The Clearing. Affluent executive Wayne Hayes (Robert Redford) and his lovely wife, Eileen (Helen Mirren), live in a beautiful home in Pittsburg. One day, Wayne is kidnapped by disgruntled employee Arnold Mack (Willem Dafoe). He is then held for ransom in a forest. Meanwhile, Eileen is forced to reckon with the FBI agents as they negotiate with the kidnapper. Alessandro Nivola and Melissa Sagemiller star as the two grown Hayes children. Matt Craven plays FBI Agent Ray Fuller. The Clearing premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 31 min.
Directed By: Pieter Jan Brugge
Written By: Justin Haythe
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Jul 2, 2004 Wide
On DVD: Nov 9, 2004
Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures

Critic Reviews

Anthony Lane, New Yorker
A thriller stripped of thrills -- or, even worse, a thriller that thinks of itself as somehow rising above the vulgar pleasures of excitement.
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle
An intriguing but dramatically stunted psychological thriller about a kidnapping.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
They all look good, and they carefully recite their dialogue, but not one of them is alive. Or worth caring about.
Rex Reed, New York Observer
Everything about it is stultifying, unexceptional and dull.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
It's watchable only if you don't mind that there isn't a shock, a surprise or a message in its 91 minutes.
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
A kidnapping drama that may be too intentionally low-key to qualify as a thriller but that accrues weight and tension as it makes its way through a forest of repressed emotion.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Good performances almost make it worthwhile.
Bill Clark, FromTheBalcony
It's pretty bland, even though the trailer would lead you to believe otherwise.
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
It wasn't the perfect thriller, but it was pretty good and definitely worth checking out for a more cerebral, adult movie.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...a very good thriller that could've (and should've) been a great one...
Jeffrey Overstreet, Christianity Today
[Mirren, Redford, and Dafoe] cannot get a fire going in this cliché-soggy kindling.
Enrique Buchichio, Uruguay Total
Lo que mantiene el interés es el cada vez más impredecible comportamiento de la esposa, animada además por una estupenda Helen Mirren (la mejor intérprete de la película).
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Há dois bons filmes em Refém de uma Vida, mas estes se enfraquecem mutuamente em função da estrutura narrativa adotada pelo cineasta.
Dan Jardine, Apollo Guide
There is a small collection of extras on the DVD, starting with a straightforward, reasonably interesting but dry audio commentary.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
The first 10 minutes are promising, but then the film, a wannabe thriller, loses steam
Sarah Chauncey, Reel.com
The Clearing.. [creates] maximum tension without overtly manipulating the viewer.

Read all 16 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Chris W

This little 2004 drama is a slow-burn thriller about a successful businessman (Redford) who is one day kidnapped and held for ransom by a former employee (Dafoe). Once word gets out about the abduction, it is up to the businessman's wife (Mirren) to deliver the ransom. The ideas… More
This little 2004 drama is a slow-burn thriller about a successful businessman (Redford) who is one day kidnapped and held for ransom by a former employee (Dafoe). Once word gets out about the abduction, it is up to the businessman's wife (Mirren) to deliver the ransom. The ideas going on, and the way they are executed is kinda alrighr, and this had the potential to be really good. However, the film ultimately faisl to deliver a product that is as compelling as it could be. The film is edited in a way to make it seem that all the events are happening simultaneously, when in reality this isn't quite the case. I kinda liked this idea, but with the way it plays out, I think the film would have ultimately been far better and stronger had they just told it in a more straightforward fashion, with greater emphasis on motives, characters, and that kind of thing. All of that is there, but it seems a little weak. Maybe I should just try to overlook that though since this was Pieter Jan Brugge's first film as a director. There are things I liked about it. The casting is good, and they give pretty decent performances. The film has a good atmosphere and tone, and there are some parts that are really suspenseful and done quite well. I was never bored watching the film, yet it left me a little unfulfilled and wondering why the people behind the film made the decisions they did. Despite it's problems and the fact that it ultimately isn't a successful movie, you can tell they tried to make it good. The psychological elements are nice, too. I don't really ultimately recommend it, yet I still kinda liked it, or at least some it, or the concepts. I wantd this to be good, and even though it's not, it does come fairly close.
♥Robyn

Wayne (Robert Redford) and Eileen (Helen Mirren) Hayes, together they have raised two children and really struggled to build a successful business from the ground up. But there have been sacrifices along the way. When Wayne is kidnapped, by Arnold Mack (Willem Dafoe), and held for… More
Wayne (Robert Redford) and Eileen (Helen Mirren) Hayes, together they have raised two children and really struggled to build a successful business from the ground up. But there have been sacrifices along the way. When Wayne is kidnapped, by Arnold Mack (Willem Dafoe), and held for ransom in a remote forest, the couple's world is turned inside out !!!! i quite enjoyed this one guys...its full of suspense
♥˩ƳИИ &

Robert Redford, Helen Mirren, Willem Dafoe, Alessandro Nivola, Melissa Sagemiller, Matt Craven DIRECTED BY: Pieter Jan Brugge Wayne and Eileen Hayes live the American Dream. Together they've raised two children and struggled to build a successful business from the ground… More
Robert Redford, Helen Mirren, Willem Dafoe, Alessandro Nivola, Melissa Sagemiller, Matt Craven DIRECTED BY: Pieter Jan Brugge Wayne and Eileen Hayes live the American Dream. Together they've raised two children and struggled to build a successful business from the ground up. But there have been sacrifices along the way. When Wayne is kidnapped by an ordinary man, Arnold Mack, and held for ransom in a remote forest, the couple's world is turned inside out. Eileen finds her home full of FBI Agents, their life under scrutiny. While Wayne is engaged in the negotiation of his lifetime, Eileen works frantically with the FBI to secure his release. The terrifying ordeal causes Wayne and Eileen to reassess their marriage and come to a deeper sense of their commitment to each other. With each passing hour, the need and desire for Wayne to return home safely becomes ever more urgent. Not your typical thriller. Although there are many mixed reviews, I am one of the few that enjoyed the simplicity of this film. Very little action, but suspense all the way through. It keeps you on edge of what is going to happen until the very end. It also doesn't have the traditional ending that you usually get. I think it was done smart. Love Robert Redford, Helen Mirren, and Willem Dafoe so I had to see this film. It wasn't a disappointment. It does seem to go a little slow at times, but not so much that its bothersome. Well to me at least. But I enjoyed it. Worth seeing.
Bruce B

How did I miss this one when it came out, Wow kept me on the edge of my seat. Robert Redford played excellent part. Why does Willem Dafor always have to be the crazy one. Great addition to my collection.
Al S

A smart, well-crafted and sensational edge of your seat thriller. Taunt, compelling and rich in characer. Thrilling with an emotional punch. Intelligent thrillers like this rarely come around. It's nail-biting, exciting, brilliant remarkable. Gripping, riveting, shocking and… More
A smart, well-crafted and sensational edge of your seat thriller. Taunt, compelling and rich in characer. Thrilling with an emotional punch. Intelligent thrillers like this rarely come around. It's nail-biting, exciting, brilliant remarkable. Gripping, riveting, shocking and astonishing. A suspenseful film that will keep you guessing right till the end. Robert Redford gives a powerful performance. Willem Dafoe is teriffic. Helen Mirren is outstanding.
David S

A bunch of great actors in a totally redundant film. I honestly couldn't see what attracted any of these people to this. The best bits are between Redford and Dafoe but it doesn't go anywhere and the whole thing seems half-baked. When I originally saw this advertised I… More
A bunch of great actors in a totally redundant film. I honestly couldn't see what attracted any of these people to this. The best bits are between Redford and Dafoe but it doesn't go anywhere and the whole thing seems half-baked. When I originally saw this advertised I wondered why it had never had a cinema release and why I hadn't heard anything about it. Now I know! What a waste of time!
Sarah P

There was really no point to this movie. There was no climax, no suspence, so a-ha moment. I was completely and totally disappointed with this.
Barry L

Im not a big Redford fan but this was a really watchable film with a superb ending.
FanGirl B

The fact that I figured out the 'twist' fairly early, didn't help.