THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ALICE CREED

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The British crime drama genre gets a hot blast of undiluted adrenaline from debut writer/director J Blakeson.

A dialogue-free first act allows the audience to wonder at the precise preparation that ex-cons-turned-kidnappers Danny (Martin Compston) and Vic (Eddie Marsan) go through to sound-proof and secure the sparsely furnished apartment where they will keep their intended prey, a twentysomething Alice Creed (Gemma Arterton).

Crafted with the plot precision of a diamond cutter, the story erupts and seeps with hidden character revelations that up the ante on the millions of pounds the duo expect to extract from Alice's wealthy father in exchange for her safe return.

Apart from the outstanding performances from its talented three-person cast, Blakeson's theatrically bound action builds excruciating suspense inside the claustrophobic apartment where no amount of bondage and gagging can keep Alice from trying to escape.

There's an elegant simplicity in this chamber piece of the criminal mind that seduces you into seeing the outrageous circumstances from each character's perspective. Utterly priceless.

Rated R. 98 mins.