The Disappearance of Alice Creed (2009)

A rich man's daughter is held captive in an abandoned apartment by two former convicts who abducted her and hold her ransom in exchange for her father's money.

Director:

J Blakeson

Writer:

J Blakeson

Stars:

Martin Compston, Eddie Marsan, Gemma Arterton

3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Martin Compston	...	Danny
Eddie Marsan	...	Vic
Gemma Arterton	...	Alice Creed

Storyline

Two criminals, Vic and Danny, kidnap Alice Creed. They fastidiously set-up an apartment building and handcuff Alice to the bed, all in a careful attempt to make sure that she won't escape and they won't get caught. But what do Vic and Danny really want with Alice? And is Alice cunning enough to foil their plans and escape?

---

Plot Keywords:

handcuffs | topless female nudity | men in underwear | undressing | video taped ransom demand | 

---

Genres:

Crime | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violent content, pervasive language and some sexuality/nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [jp]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 April 2010 (UK)

Also Known As:

Agoniodisapagogi

Filming Locations:

Douglas, Isle of Man

Box Office

Budget:

$800,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$40,258 (USA) (6 August 2010)

Gross:

$166,980 (USA) (5 November 2010)

Company Credits

Production Co:

CinemaNX, Isle of Man Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In many ways, the cast and crew found the scene where Gemma Arterton has to urinate into a bottle in front of her captors to be more emotionally bruising than when she was first stripped naked.

---

Goofs

When Vic checks the bullets in the gun, he removes the magazine, then replaces it and operates the slide. A bullet should have ejected as it was recently fired and there would have been one in the chamber.

---

Quotes

Vic: Wake up Ms. Creed, it's breakfast time!

---

Connections

Referenced in Maltin on Movies: Red (2010)

---

Soundtracks

"Holy Moly"
Written and Performed by Cathy Davey
Published by EMI Music Publishing Ltd.
Licensed courtesy of EMI Records LTD.

User Reviews

A brutal, shocking and excellent thriller

I must admit, I share Tom's fondness (bordering on obsession) of Gemma Arterton's boobs, legs and pretty much everything about her. She also happens to be be a damn good actress (something you can't say of many British actresses that are also really fit) and she really shows of her acting chops in The Disappearance of Alice Creed. This low budget British indie film is full of violence, nudity and cursing and it's also pretty damn good.

The film's set-up is pretty straightforward; it's a kidnapping thriller in which two ex-convicts called Danny (Martin Compston) and Vic (Eddie Marsan) kidnap a young woman called Alice Crred (Gemma Arterton). The film opens with the two nasties shopping for some pretty dangerous equipment, setting up a room and then kidnapping Alice by putting a bag over her head and a gag in her mouth. It's brutal and shocking stuff. The reason for all this is that the two dickheads want a ransom for Alice's return as she's the son of a wealthy businessman.

From then on there's plenty of beatings, Arterton is left completely (yes, COMPLETELY) naked on one occasion and tied to a bed. It's a lot cleverer than it seems though; there's a couple of excellent plot twists which are hard to see coming and the plot is super focused and tightly written.

Director J Blakeson keeps things simple; there's only 3 characters and 4 locations seen in the film. It's a confident first effort from the director who handles the camera exceptionally well and gets some truly gripping performances out of the 3 actors.

Compston and Marsan both more than hold their own opposite the young up and coming Hollywood star, but the girl from Kent (that's where I live!) is simply sensational in the role of Alice. Arterton is asked to be amazingly vulnerable, powerfully miserable, desperately crafty, and suddenly brave. She succeeds in all departments and despite some of the iffy Hollywood blockbusters she's been in (Clash of the Titans), this film proves she can act damn well.

The Disappearance of Alice Creed is a simple film with minimalist design choices and a tried and true formula. However, it's fantastically written and shot by Blakeson and the performances from the 3 leads are top notch. It can be brutal, shocking and a bit disturbing, but if you want a change of pace from the big and brash blockbusters then this is a film to go and see.

5/5