The Disappearance of Alice Creed

A terrifically enjoyable British film from debut writer-director J Blakeson, who on the tightest of budgets delivers a professionally honed thriller, melodramatic maybe, but socked over with cracking energy. Eddie Marsan and Martin Compston play Vic and Danny, two crims who kidnap Alice, a rich daddy's-girl played by the impressive Gemma Arterton. But Alice isn't taking it lying down. There's twist and counter-twist, cross and double-cross, and with each narrative reveal comes a firework display of Big Acting. It's taut, claustrophobic and very well put together, with nice performances all round. The opening, wordless sequence in which Vic and Danny convert a nondescript flat into a prison for their hostage is really very good. Blakeson is a name to watch.