The Disappearance of Alice Creed

Last night I finally got around to watching The Disappearance of Alice Creed, which had been sat on my blu-ray player for weeks as often happens with my Lovefilm picks. But it was well worth the wait!

Year: 2009
Writer and Director: J Blakeson
Starring: Gemma Arterton, Eddie Marsan and Martin Compston

Plot: Two men fortify a nondescript British apartment so it can serve as a prison, and then kidnap a woman and tie her to the bed. Before there is even time to react we are plunged into a very nasty situation, but not a simple one.





Alice Creed is a small budget British movie with a cast of only three and a limited setting, however this allows writer/director J Blakeson to focus on building up tension and fleshing out characters who at first seem rather one dimensional but gather more depth as time passes on.

The opening 15 mins are dialogue free as we see the two kidnappers Vic and Danny converting the flat into a prison including sound proofing rooms and fortifying doors. This ratchets up the tension as we are given a glimpse into the preparation that goes into the crime and end up feeling like accomplices. We are not given any information about Alice Creed's outside life, the first we see of her is when she is being bundled into the back of a van. From then on the camera is trapped in the flat with Alice and the last third of the movie when the action transfers to the outside world is almost a relief.

The three cast members do a stellar job in keeping the audience's attention. By having no other cast members except for this trio, J Blakeson ensures that we feel cut off from the outside world. Relying on only Vic's descriptions of his telephone calls to Alice's father, to give us some idea of what may be happening on the outside.

Eddie Marsan as Vic appears at first to be your standard British movie criminal, but a plot twist in the middle of the movie allows us to see a more complex, fragile character. Martin Compston as Danny keeps us guessing as to his motives, but it is Gemma Marston as Alice Creed who really carries this movie. Her performance is riveting, powerful and at times emotionally draining particularly in the first 30 mins when she is unsure what the kidnappers plan to do to her.

I would not recommend this movie for those of a fragile disposition, as although there is not a lot of violence, it is psychologically uncomfortable at times, however this was a movie that kept me on the edge of my seat. I spent the majority of the movie curled up in a ball against the couch leaning forward and to me that is the mark of a good thriller. Tense and well acted, this is definitely one to put on your Lovefilm list.

Check out the trailer below and let me know if you have seen it what you thought of it.

If you like this you may like:

Ransom (1996) -