Disappearance of Alice Creed, The (Review)

DISAPPEARANCE OF ALICE CREED, THE
(8/06/10; Thriller)
Gemma Arterton, Martin Compston, Eddie Marsan
SCR/DIR: J Blakiston
MPAA: R for violent content, pervasive language and some sexuality/nudity.
1 hour 36 mins
BOX: $534,879

Expertly-directed British thriller about two ex-cons (Compston and Marsan) who meticulously kidnap the daughter of a rich family and set the wheels in motion to collect a hefty ransom. The results are not what they expected. Now here’s the thing.

I can’t talk about this film in detail because even though there are just three characters, about every 20 minutes, there is a new doozy of a twist. As the complexities pile on and the power balance shifts, the performances all deepen.

In Clash of the Titans, Gemma Arteton was mere window dressing, but here, her performance is feral and clever. In fact, this is the first movie to showcase her considerable talents (in more ways than one). Blakiston’s thriller makes excellent use of few locations and continues to surprise to the very end. (Anchor Bay)

— DENNIS WILLIS

Author: Dennis Willis

Dennis Willis is an award-winning producer, TV host, producer, director, editor (he preferred Avid until a torrid affair with Adobe Premiere, and the rest is history), author and film critic (print and radio). Dennis produced and hosted the TV programs Reel Life, FilmTrip, Soundwaves (1983-2008) and produces the annual Soundwaves Xmas program. He is currently the film critic on KGO Radio in San Francisco, and a member of both the San Francisco Film Critics Circle and the Broadcast Film Critics Association.

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