Caged

Caged

Year: 2011

Runtime: 105 mins

Language: Dutch

Director: Stephan Brenninkmeijer

DramaThriller

Stella, long suppressed, finally embraces her hidden desires, adopting the “unicorn” lifestyle of a single woman who frequents sex clubs and erotic parties. Her husband discovers the affair but can only grant her the freedom she craves, hoping it’s a phase. Suddenly, Stella awakens unconscious in a basement cell, later joined by Christine, a woman her age. As they share their pasts, Christine suspects Stella’s hedonistic choices led to their captivity.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Caged (2011)

Trace every key event in Caged (2011) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Childhood tragedy: Laura's death and the dog attack

The film opens with Carole as a child playing hide and seek with Laura. Carole searches for Laura and finds her dead in a garage, killed by a dog. The same dog then lunges at Carole, and she barely escapes by hiding in a car.

Childhood Childhood home - garage
2

Return from Yugoslavia: detour, kidnapping and captivity begins

Carole, Samir, and Mathias return from volunteer work in the former Yugoslavia. A detour caused by a roadblock leads to their kidnapping by masked men. They are locked in a cellar, with Mathias treated for his leg and the other two kept in separate cells.

Return trip France (on the road) and basement
3

Basement confinement: cells and unknown captors

Samir is suddenly taken away by the captors. Carole and Mathias share a cell, while Mathias is in the opposite cell. They discover there are other basement cells and at least one more captive.

Early captivity Basement cells
4

Discovery of organ trafficking and Samir's fate

From the corridor they glimpse Samir's corpse, his eyes and other organs removed. Carole and Mathias realize the kidnappers are organ dealers.

After Samir's disappearance Basement corridor
5

Mathias's escape attempt foiled

Mathias attempts to escape by removing a lattice window with a mattress spring, but his attempt is noticed. The kidnappers weld the window shut with a metal plate to prevent further escapes.

Escape attempt Basement window
6

Carole's brutal journey toward escape: surgery, dogs, and a fight

Carole is taken to the surgery room where a doctor tries to remove her eyes; she frees her hand and stabs the doctor with a scalpel. She then gets a bolt cutter and makes her way through a room with chained dogs toward an apartment above the basement. There she faces a stout woman in a duel and drowns her in a bowl.

Captivity Surgery room, basement corridor and apartment above
7

Freeing Mathias and Ana

Carole frees Mathias and a girl named Ana. When a kidnapper returns, Mathias uses the bolt cutter to kill him.

Escape attempt progression Basement/Upper area
8

Escape into the forest; bandits release attack dogs

The trio bolts for the forest, but bandits release three dogs to pursue them. Mathias, wounded by a gunshot, cannot keep up and is killed by the dogs after fighting one with a stick.

Escape Forest
9

The forest chase continues: Ana and Carole hide in the cornfield

Carole tells Ana to run into a nearby cornfield to escape. She fights off the pursuing dogs and discovers the cord of a grenade; pulling it detonates and eliminates the dogs, though Carole loses her hearing briefly.

Escape Cornfield
10

Final pursuit: Ana rescued and the stone-kill

One kidnapper armed with a rifle chases them while the other finds Ana and pulls her from the field. Carole kills the man who pulled Ana with a stone. When the other man tries to finish her, she rams a wooden stake into his foot, takes his rifle, and shoots him in the head.

Final confrontation Cornfield/Field
11

Rescue and aftermath

Carole and Ana are transported away by two soldiers after the confrontation. Ana's presence serves to remind Carole of Laura, underscoring the trauma they endured.

End Field edge / rescue

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:33

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Desperate characters fight to escape a terrifying, confined nightmare.If you liked the desperate escape attempts and confined terror of Caged, explore more movies like it. This list features stories of characters fighting for their lives in tight spaces, sharing a similar high intensity, dark tone, and relentless pacing.

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A harrowing present ordeal forces a character to face their buried childhood trauma.For viewers who appreciated Caged's exploration of childhood trauma resurfacing during captivity. These similar movies feature characters whose survival depends not just on physical prowess but on overcoming profound psychological scars from their past.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative arc involves a protagonist whose unresolved past trauma is mirrored or directly invoked by their present dangerous situation. Their journey to survival is as much about psychological integration and facing their demons as it is about overcoming the external physical threat, adding deep emotional weight to the action.

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These films share a heavy emotional weight driven by the theme of psychological reckoning. They blend intense thriller or horror elements with profound character studies, creating a specific pattern where the plot's resolution is tied to the character's emotional catharsis.

Unlock the Full Story of Caged

Don't stop at just watching — explore Caged in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Caged is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Caged Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Caged, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Caged Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Caged

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Caged. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Caged

Caged Spoiler-Free Summary

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Caged Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Caged

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