The Disappearance of Alice Creed The Disappearance of Alice Creed
2010 Directed by J Blakeson
Synopsis
Danny and Vic are two ex-convicts planning to gain a huge amount of cash on the ransom for Alice the daughter of a rich businessman. Danny is the younger and nervier of the two, whereas Vic is hardened and wholly intimidating. Alice is terrified at first, but it soon becomes clear that she won't be used as capital without a fight, and she gradually enters into a three-way battle of wills with the two kidnappers.
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I'm actually a bit surprised that The Disappearance of Alice Creed is not in fact based on a play, so theatrical is its sensibility. More, I'm surprised it wasn't a play from the 60s or 70s, as it feels like some fantasy collaboration between Anthony Shaffer and Harold Pinter, with a few suggestions from Joe Orton thrown in to shock the audience. It's a great credit therefore to writer and director J Blakeson that his full feature directorial debut can not only recall such greats but play only to the strengths, avoiding the pitfalls, of the three hander constraints and styles of the very best theatre, as well as managing the sleight of hand to make a film whose limited…
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I can really respect filmmakers that try to do something that is a bit different and attempt to surprise their audiences. For the better part of this film I thought they had succeeded pretty well. Up until the final act that is.
This film has a fantastic opening. It's crisp, fast and immediately sets the tone. It actually improves upon the opening by unfolding a story full of lovely surprises and twists. I was thoroughly entertained and hopeful that it would keep this up.
That, unfortunately did not happen. They make two mistakes. They never invest in the characters, so by default, neither do we. They also completely overplay their hand and fall into the trap so many other films fall into as well. Too much unpredictability becomes predictable. Which in this case robbed the ending of any impact whatsoever.
It is still worth a watch, but it is a huge shame this film entirely kills its own potential.
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I must admit I have a bit of a soft spot for Gemma Arterton. Mainly from Bond but also from Tamara Drewe. I think a lot of her Hollywood output has not enabled her to showcase her skills. The Disappearance of Alice Creed however is a stunning performance from an actress whose potential remains untapped in the USA. Don't be fooled by the plummy accent, her dedication to the acting craft and adoption of method acting for Alice Creed shows she's eager to push on and become a real big star. Based on this, she's totally ready. Kinda sad this was three years back and she's still not getting choice roles stateside.
Another reviewer, Mr Mark C, noted that Alice…
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Thriller/Kidnapping
With only three characters they do a really good job the movie has suspense and a few surprises. I like the detail in the opening sequence with the kidnappers. The character of Eddie Marsan as Vic I felt helped this movie a lot, he gives more depth to the kidnappers and doesnt make them just generic bad guys. There isn't any through the roof suspense but throughout the movie I kept wanting to see what would happen next. I did like the ending a lot, thought it was original. If you missed this it's worth your time.
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A superb low budget thriller that centers around the all around excellent performances from the the only 3 actors in the film. The tight script has a few surprises in store, but this isn't a film that relies on twist endings to impress the audience by how much smarter than them it is. Instead they serve to make the relationships and motivations of the characters more complex as things start to unravel in the second act.
Writer director J Blakeson proves that he knows what makes a good thriller, and the result resembles something like Tape, meets Reservoir Dogs, but less self-involved with how clever it is.
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British kidnap drama with just three characters and an agreeably dark 'Shallow Grave' feel. Worth a watch. 8/10.
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‘The disappearance of Alice Creed', de eersteling van de Britse cineast J Blakeson, is een film die menig filmstudent groen van jaloezie zou doen uitslaan: één ruimte, drie acteurs en een pitch, even slick and smooth als de bovenbeste trucks van een gemiddelde illusionist. Jazeker, zulks blijft een natte droom van filmstudenten die hun tanden stuk bijten op gecompliceerde scenario's met oeverloze franjes en filmmakers die blijven tobben over dat ene high concept idee waarmee ze hun publiek met verstomming kunnen slaan. Want zoals ene Jean-Luc Godard ooit al liet optekenen: ‘All you need for a movie is a gun and a girl'. En dat credo heeft debutant Blakeson prima begrepen.
Vanaf de ouverture druipt de spanning in dikke slierten…
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Great cast, Compston and Marsen are amazing, but Arterton is never better.
Great simple idea and enough tension means this is great to watch and keeps you glued from start to finish. Loved this movie. -
There are times when a film can really surprise you. There are times when you've recorded a film on your digital recording system (no product endorsement here) and it's hung around on your planner for several weeks, sometimes even months, before you get around to watching it, out of curiosity more than anything else, and that you really need to get that space percentage up. There are times when a film that you had merely been curious about reveals itself to be a rather brilliant, unexpected gem and reminds you why you love watching films so much. The Disappearance of Alice Creed is one of those films.
Low on cast numbers, this Shallow Grave-esque British thriller sees two men kidnap… -
Time will tell whether re-watches dull its impact, but on first viewing, Alice Creed is one of the most taut, breathless and intense thrillers I've seen. There's that old adage about folk-rock music; all you need for a good, powerful song is "three chords and the truth". This movie is like a spin on that for the world of dramatic film: "three actors and a great script", or something. We only see or hear three characters in this movie, and there's really only two sets, but it's an utterly enthralling watch nonetheless.
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British indie about a woman from a wealthy family who is abducted and locked in an soundproofed apartment. It turns out she is much smarter and cunning than the kidnappers thought and a game of cat and mouse ensues. Simple film with a cast of 3 that makes the most of what it has.
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Two ex-cons kidnap a young woman and hold her for ransom. However things are not as they seem and the dynamic between the three changes rapidly throughout the film....
Really liked this. The opening sequence was the most powerful, a full five minutes before any dialogue is spoken, we follow the kidnappers as they wordlessly set about preparing for the kidnapping. While the rest of the film doesn't quite match the opening it's still very good. The plot twists and turns and keeps you guessing as to the final outcome.
Only three actors in the entire film and all are more than competent, Eddie Marson, being the most interesting as the at turns taciturn-at-times-explosively violent Vic. Gemma Arterton was good,…
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This review reportedly contains spoilers. I can handle the truth.
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Some pretty good twists all strung along rather nicely. Rather enjoyed this.
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British kidnap drama with just three characters and an agreeably dark 'Shallow Grave' feel. Worth a watch. 8/10.