FILM REVIEW: 'THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ALICE CREED'

Streaming Now: Unconventional and Satisfying British Crime Thriller on Netflix

By: Mark Amato

December 1, 2011

(WestEnd Films) On those desperate nights when it seems there’s absolutely nothing to watch, there’s a tendency to stick with mainstream and familiar rather than venture into the unknown territory of…imports from the UK. Fear not, xenophobes, not everything from England is dull and dreary. Take The Disappearance of Alice Creed -- a superb, taut, independent crime thriller released in 2009.

Martin Compston and Eddie Marsan star as Vic and Danny -- two ex-cons who plan the perfect crime by kidnapping Alice Creed (Gemma Arterton), knowing her wealthy father will certainly pay the ransom. Vic is fastidious with every aspect of the plan, determined not to leave a single detail unaccounted for. But things aren’t going to go exactly according to plan when you factor in the tenaciousness of their captive.  Things quickly spin out of control with unexpected twists and turns you’ll never see coming.

Reminiscent of the Coen brothers' earlier works like Blood Simple and Fargo, as well as Sam Raimi’s A Simple Plan, The Disappearance of Alice Creed is one of those rare cinematic experiences where the film grabs you from almost the first frame and never lets go until the end. Despite the comparisons, the film never feels derivative or predictable. Most of the credit goes to writer/director J. Blakeson, whose taut script and sharp direction keeps you engaged despite a paltry budget that leaves most of the action confined to a holed-up apartment building. 

This is a testament to both the material and performances, as nothing ever feels static or expected. Essentially a three-actor piece, Compston, Marsan, and Arterton do a fine job keeping everything believable. Marsan has an every-man quality, and you can’t help but root for him, despite that heinous act he’s in the midst of committing. Compston’s mastermind calculated Vic manages to show a shimmer of vulnerability at a time you’d never expect.

Deep down, The Disappearance of Alice Creed is simply a morality tale about greed, and it works on that level. Quickly, lines of truth, love, and loyalty begin to blur when money enters the picture…and once that line is crossed, there’s no going back.

J. Blakeson was named as one of Variety’s 10 directors to watch in 2010. Hollywood should keep a sharp eye on this keen filmmaker.  It’s one thing to make a decent movie for $30 million, it’s quite another to make a superb one for a fraction of that amount. Do yourself a favor and add The Disappearance of Alice Creed to your queue, then wait for that lonely night of repeats before you settle in for an unconventional but enormously satisfying crime thriller from across the pond.

For Fans Of: Blood Simple, Fargo, A Simple Plan

Why We Like It: Gemma Arterton, Unexpected Turns, Independent Cinema