This review was originally written on April 29th at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Rating: 4/5

Director: J Blakeson
Writers: J Blakeson
Cast: Gemma Aterton, Eddie Marsan, Martin Compston
Studio: Anchor Bay Films

Given the fact that kidnapping for ransom has become a booming industry in some countries, you'd think by now there would at least be a few movies where everything actually goes according to plan. In THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ALICE CREED, that plan is well thought out and executed to perfection; well, at least the first part.

What makes J Blakeson's go around at how to muck up the art of the kidnap so compelling is seeing the meticulous process that goes into effect from the first frame. We are not introduced to Danny (Martin Compston) and Vic (Eddie Marsan) in these first scenes. We only see two men preparing to kidnap someone: lining a stolen van with plastic, sound proofing the walls of a bedroom, and going through an obsessive amount of wardrobe changes. Just when you think they might just be out to record a demo album, they throw a woman (Gemma Aterton) into the van, drive her to the studio-turned-dungeon and lock her away.

Up to now, they've acted flawlessly. But you can't have a perfect plan because NO one is perfect. We then get to know the two assailants who served prison time together with the older, more driven Vic seeming to be the plan's mastermind. Marsan's Vic doesn't seem to really believe the much younger, softer Danny is still fully on board and starts to get suspicious.

Isn't this how most attempted kidnapping's turn out? It's the art of the double-cross in all of its devious glory and the partnership always gives way to one thing and one thing only - greed. How can you really trust that other person? If they're willing to go through with something as drastic as kidnapping a young woman, tying her up and humiliating her for money, what else are they capable or willing to do?

Alice herself might prove to be more than Danny and Vic bargained for as well which all leads to a glorious dance of outmaneuvering one another in a he said, she said game that is accented by the emotional intensity of the three lead performances. There's no co-star in ALICE CREED, all three actors have their moment to shine and each one does a marvelous job. We never see the wealthy father's dealings with the police or the ransom call. We only see what takes place in the room and that's electric enough.