The Disappearance of Alice Creed (2010)

brilliant actors, brilliant editing

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

Blistering performances.

The movie is limited by the small number of characters and set locations. It's a bit contrived and perhaps a bit exploitative. It certainly has its twists and surprises, which are the fun of it. Heck, even the title of the film is a spoiler.

A taut tight British thriller is always a good watch, and this flick is no different. I will constantly appreciate an actor taking on a role that differs from their previous credits. Arterton did just that as a kidnapped individual who is sealed in a claustrophobic room by two masked men who utilise her as ransom for two million pounds. Hostage, kidnap, ransom, all saturated elements to similar thrillers that rely on unpredictable intense twists to spice up the narrative. Alice Creed is no different, in fact it is so unpredictable that it in itself becomes predictable. Sounds odd right? Let me clarify. Every fifteen minutes there is a twist, could range from a small detail to a large plot device, that attempts to convolute the plot even further. With only three characters on screen, the bonds and relationships between them start to become distorted as the narrative progresses. This is due to the twists. Problem is, when the first few are unpredictable you start to predict what happens next by automatically imagining the most illogical turn within the plot. Thus, the unpredictable becomes predictable. Double crossing, relationship reveals and greed all play a fundamental part to these twisty turns. I admire the ambition and the Hitchcockian style, and for the most part it's a successful low budget thriller. Arterton was excellent, Marsan was electrifying and Compston was well controlled. Blakeson's directing technique, particularly the opening sequence, was substantially gritty and held an evocative sense of realism to the scenario. The characters themselves were functional, however weren't truly worth investing in. They play integral parts, but due to the lack of supporting characters and the short runtime they are only a means to further the plot. Nothing more, which is a shame. The third act does also lose the carefully constructed momentum. It's certainly a watchable thriller with many good aspects, particularly Arterton, but it bites off more than it can chew.

The Disappearance of Alice Creed was for me a very absorbing 93 minutes. I would like for people to experience it with little to no prior research, so I will be careful to keep this review spoiler free. The film by virtue of its character development and narrative depth rates more respect than quibbling gawkers evidently give it. The 6.8/10 is too low for my liking and suggests to me that people are failing to sensibly answer their own questions about the film. Stupidities are all apart of life's rich pageant, and good films cast light on the reality of life. I would agree that the depiction of intelligence in film is more interesting than that of unintelligence, but it is too cynical and ungenerous to outright dismiss a character's stupidity as a cheap and convenient plot device. How conceivable is it given what we know or can reasonably theorize about the character and their circumstances? More importantly, how would the alternatives change the narrative for better or worse? Some stories that are well worth telling necessitate one or more frustrating plot devices. This film has much to offer in spite of them.

It's wonderful that such a low budget thriller, with a cast of literally three people can be so intense and stand proud with many a big budget thriller.It's a simple set up: two ex-convicts kidnap the titular character for a princely sum, and plan to start a new life with the money they accumulate, after all, they fell for each other in prison.As these films go, one is good, and one is bad, so when the bad one goes out,the good one takes a little pity on her, and this is where the film veers toward leftfield.It turns out that Alice is in a relationship with one of the kidnappers, and he was planning to take the money for them both to start a new life.A war of nerves begins with the kidnapper in a dual relationship, trying to hide everything that has happened.Although Compston and Arterton are wonderful in their respective roles, it's Eddie Marsan who makes the film the tense thrill ride that this film turns out to be. He's an absolute menace in the film, literally having an unhinged manner about him during every moment he has on screen.Even when he is off screen, he makes moments almost unbearable, such as the scene where Compston is trying to reason with Alice, his intense knocks at the door, are an uncomfortable accompaniment to the scene.It loses its way toward the end a little, but for the most part, it's a little gem of a movie.See it for Marsan.