Netflix viewers reveal ‘all time great’ crime thriller was so shocking it stunned them into silence

Viewers are calling one film from 2013 'one of the best thrillers ever', with some admitting it left them completely stunned in silence once the credits rolled.

The psychological drama Prisoners, directed by Denis Villeneuve and written by Aaron Guzikowski, has seen a resurgence in popularity on Netflix, and those watching for the first time say the impact is unforgettable.

If you're an anxious parent, this one isn't for you, as every family's worst nightmare unfolds on the screen.

The film stars Hugh Jackman as Keller Dover, a father whose young daughter and her friend go missing in a quiet Pennsylvania town.

And Jake Gyllenhaal plays detective Loki, who is assigned to the case and investigates a series of disturbing leads.

When a suspect (played by The Batman's Paul Dano) is arrested and then released due to lack of evidence, Dover decides to take matters into his own hands.

The mystery unravels into a chilling storyline involving child abductions, religious trauma, and a twisted motive, asking how far a parent would go to save their child.

The bold ending (which we won't spoil here, don't worry) has left many speechless, especially as it's been reported that Villeneuve originally filmed two different climaxes before he settled on the final one.

In 2013, Guzikowski told Buzzfeed that the ending that was used was 'in the script when it was bought', however, 'none of us' wanted to do the alternative one, as he said he much prefers the ambiguity of the original ending.

Hugh Jackman plays a father willing to risk everything to find his daughter (Alcon Entertainment)

And it seemingly worked, as in a recent Reddit thread that asked what movie 'genuinely made you sit in silence after the credits rolled', one user simply replied: “Prisoners. Had been on an emotional rollercoaster watching it. The ending just continued the feelings.”

A second added: “Such a good film and amazing acting on everyone's part.”

More people weighed in on Rotten Tomatoes, where the film holds an impressive 81 percent score.

“Dark, gripping and deeply unsettling, Prisoners is one of the most intense thrillers of the decade”, one user wrote. "Denis Villeneuve directs with slow-burn precision, delivering a story thick with dread and moral ambiguity.

"Hugh Jackman gives a career-best performance, matched by Jake Gyllenhaal’s tightly wound detective. (…) Suspense done right.”

Another dubbed it ‘one of the best thrillers ever’, adding: “Amazing story and acting. Grabs you from the start and keeps you on edge the whole way through. Never get tired of watching this.”

Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Detective Loki, investigating the disappearance of the two girls (Alcon Entertainment)

Interestingly, Prisoners was based on a short story written by Guzikowski in 2007. While the original focused on a father locking a hit-and-run driver in a well, it evolved into a chilling kidnapping thriller during the script's lengthy development process.

As for what inspired the story, Guzikowski said that while his childhood was 'pretty normal', the 'things around him' inspired him to look into 'darker tendencies', adding (via The Los Angeles Times): "I always saw those things as almost sort of a comfort in a weird way'.

So, if you're scrolling through Netflix and want something more than your average crime drama, Prisoners might just fit the ticket.

Prisoners is available to watch on Netflix now here.