JohnDoe
Bryn
Brenton
The Disappearance of Alice Creed (2009) – Trailer Included
The Disappearance of Alice Creed - Now Showing in Cinemas
Writer/Director: J Blakeson
Starring: Gemma Arterton, Eddie Marsan, Martin Compston
Alice desires fire arms.
"Any deviations from our instructions and we will kill you!" - Vic
Slamming a blindfold on the head, forcing a gimp gag into the mouth and cuffing the audience to seize them captive, The Disappearance of Alice Creed is a lean and effective abduction thriller from Britain. Hacking away the peripheral plot details that tie down the genre in semantics, the film is a volatile and claustrophobic one room assault that pulses with dominant performances.
Immediately sucking the air out the room this Patty Hearst type tale opens with Danny (Martin Compston) and Vic (Eddie Marsan), a pair of ex-convicts prepping for the job ahead. They are professional, well organized and have a meticulous plan. They customize a van to their criminal needs. Grabbing hardware supplies they proceed to insulate and soundproof a nondescript high rise apartment to ensure outside forces do not intervene in their extortionist endeavors.
The prep work complete it is now time to commandeer their victim and so the abduction of Alice Creed is carried out with callous proficiency. She is strapped to a bed, forced to urinate in a bottle. At all times masked and restrained.
From there the film becomes a twisting exploration of psychological terror, a grimy dungeon of greed versus survival that is as stark as the backdrop it is set upon.
"How much am I worth" - Alice Creed
Alice Creed trapped and panicked.
John Doe says:
Vic and Danny look for holes.
Making his Directorial debut Decent 2 writer J Blakeson is aware of the subject’s limitations and uses the knowledge to his advantage. This and the low budget mean little time is wasted keeping the pace in the red line. Maintaining a walls closing in atmosphere that exploits the one bedroom apartment where most of the running time is spent, the gritty cinematography and ratcheted editing all merge effectively.
Blakeson's wiry screenplay rations information at just the appropriate time, always aware of what the viewer is processing. Refusing to be bogged down with exposition and concentrating on character drama. Bravely acknowledging the power of silence, the plot beats are revealed through action as much as dialogue.
Operating on the K.I.S.S (Keep It Simple Stupid) style of narrative, rather than dumb down or waver intellect the technique engrosses the audience in the plight of Alice and compels closer examination of the villains. Lured into a false sense of security the inevitable mangling of blackmail and conflict of relationships catches you off guard.The double meaning of the title only revealed in the final moments.
Blakeson conjures unblinking performances from his trio in front of the lens and it is their immersed portrayals that serve as the glue of truth that all other factors are aimed at achieving.
Gemma pleads with her eyes
As Danny, the seemingly weaker participant in crime Martin Compston (Red Road, Doomsday, A Guide to recognizing Your Saints) is an ever shifting object. One second vulnerable, the next manipulative Compston does it with awareness of his innocent appearance and feverish anxiety.
The familiar face of Eddie Marsan (Sherlock Holmes, Red Riding Trilogy, Happy-Go-Lucky) carries the menace of spontaneous stillness. The role of Vic providing ample opportunity to explore varied degrees of savage metal presence and shattered glass compassion.
Restraining from trying to be more complex than it needs to be the film made an impact on John Doe. It’s not shockingly violent, nor barbaric instead The Disappearance of Alice Creed is a solid addition that resists the torture porn freeway and opts to diverge into the vile suburban nightmare that occurs with an unsettling regularity.
Warning: This trailer contains SPOILERS!!!!
An interview with Gemma Arterton talking about the trials of making the film - Again SPOILERS are present!!
Screen Adventure
your review made me slot it in though all the same - you know my tastes Johnny Doe boy - what do you recommend I do?
Horrorphile
Matt ... chess pieces. I hear ya. But oh, such great game to watch!
20/20 Filmsight
Screen Fanatic
I admit I was highly skeptical when Bryn first raved about Gemma and her performance in this - but consider me a convert................now where's that Prince of Persia disc........
Film & TV on DVD
It seems this is one that we all pretty much agree is worth a look.
The players certainly have a purpose to the narrative and in the end their constant flux does draw attention to itself. That didn't detract to much for me, rather offered a glimpse at the mechanisms of constructing a thriller. Still I didn't think it was done too obviously.
Film & TV on DVD
Well considering Bryn and David reviewed it favorably I'm sure that you will appreciate it.
The audience participation cinema screening versus the more intimate home viewing question is an age old quandary. Depends on where you best enjoy this type of film.
Which reminds me, knowing your love for Ellen Page have you seen An American Crime?
Film & TV on DVD
I don't quite match your passion for this film, but it's still a well handled, low budget gem.
Film & TV on DVD
Seems Creed has universal appeal around here
I very consciously didn't use the word "horror" in my review to describe the experience. Though I think the title of horror has been sullied over the years with very simplistic and lazy entries. (I'm sure Bryn will have something to say
The truth is that Creed is certainly a thriller with little to no gore and not a flash of exploitation.
Film & TV on DVD
To be honest even with yours and Bryn's blessing I still wasn't expecting much.Not that its spectacular but certainly satisfying for technique and pulse quickening.