In the mould of Shallow Grave, The Disappearance of Alice Creed turns parsimony to its advantage. Only three characters inhabit three locations, but it is skillfully utilized towards building a taut, twisting, economical thriller about a kidnapping gone awry.
Vic and Danny meticulously plan the kidnapping of rich girl Alice Creed. In a wonderful opening, devoid of dialogue, that is a masterclass in mise-en-scene, the two criminals construct their prison in preparation for the abduction.
Once Alice is safely in the custody, the focus is on the complex relationships between the characters. The film does flag slightly at this point, as Vic snarls at Danny in three set ups one after the other. Although this pays off later, a variation in tone here would have been welcome. After that, revelation follows revelation, some more telegraphed than others, so that the film does not quite achieve the heights it aims for. Still, there is enough going on beneath the surface to keep you intrigued, and all of it paced fairly plausibly. Gemma Arterton convinces, while Eddie Marston is his usual unnerving self. Martin Compston takes a while to warm to, but builds the character into the most charismatic and chilling of the three.
All in all, a worthwhile thriller that hints at better to come from writer/director Blakeson.
Vic and Danny meticulously plan the kidnapping of rich girl Alice Creed. In a wonderful opening, devoid of dialogue, that is a masterclass in mise-en-scene, the two criminals construct their prison in preparation for the abduction.
Once Alice is safely in the custody, the focus is on the complex relationships between the characters. The film does flag slightly at this point, as Vic snarls at Danny in three set ups one after the other. Although this pays off later, a variation in tone here would have been welcome. After that, revelation follows revelation, some more telegraphed than others, so that the film does not quite achieve the heights it aims for. Still, there is enough going on beneath the surface to keep you intrigued, and all of it paced fairly plausibly. Gemma Arterton convinces, while Eddie Marston is his usual unnerving self. Martin Compston takes a while to warm to, but builds the character into the most charismatic and chilling of the three.
All in all, a worthwhile thriller that hints at better to come from writer/director Blakeson.