If you are an avid reader of Blazing Minds you will have seen us post about the first look trailer and poster for Disappearance at Clifton Hill starring Tuppence Middleton (“The Current War, Fisherman’s Friends”) stars in the lead role, supported by Hannah Gross (Netflix series “Mindhunter”) and Canadian horror legend David Cronenberg.
Disappearance at Clifton Hill is directed by Albert Shin, who co-wrote the feature with James Schultz, the film premiered at TIFF last year and will be released across all major streaming and download platforms from July 20th, with a physical release following on August 3rd.
So before it goes on general release I checked out the movie that I’d been patiently waiting to see since the release of the trailer, which got me intrigued about the mysterious looking thriller with a feeling of a Twin Peaks style.
Following the death of her mother, Abby (Tuppence Middleton), a troubled young woman, returns to her hometown of Niagara Falls and the dilapidated motel her family used to run. She soon finds herself drawn back into a mystery that has haunted her since childhood. As Abby sets out to discover the truth, she must confront a local eccentric (David Cronenberg), convince her sister (Hannah Gross) and face her own demons.
The film starts off with the Abby as a child spending a day with her family at Niagara Falls, a rather fun day, until she sees a boy hiding in the woods shortly after he gestures her to stay quiet a couple in a car grab him, throw him in the boot of the car and drive off.
We then jump forward to present day as Abby (Middleton) is returning home after her mother has passed away and a company wants to take the last remaining thing she and her sister have of her mother, The Rainbow Inn, whilst at the Inn Abby discovers a box of photos that helps her recall the “one-eyed boy” and she endeavours to find out who he was and what happened to to him.
Disappearance at Clifton Hill is a rather strange film it’s not what I was expecting from the trailer it’s is very slow-paced, but it does have the intrigue that kept me interested enough to learn who the “one-eye boy” was and what had become of him.
The film has some nice little twists and turns and some strangeness and charm that gives it that neo-noir feel, add to it the haunting and sometimes disturbing soundtrack from Alex Sowinski & Leland Whitty and you have a movie that certainly makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. Listen out for the music in the motel scene with Abby looking through the box of memories as it seems to almost sound like an audiotape that is sticking as the sound slows and speeds up again.
It’s great to see Niagra falls used as a backdrop for the film as well, the cinematography from Catherine Lutes is nicely done and give the film its perfect look and feel for the content material.
The cast perform very well for their roles as well, Tuppence Middleton plays the part of Abby very well and you do get the feeling that there is something not just right with her character, which is revealed later in the film. David Cronenberg was perfect for the role of Walter Bell, one of the “famous” Bell family of divers that pulls bodies from the Niagra Falls basin and is also the local podcaster with a passion for the mysteries of the town.
Although Disappearance at Clifton Hill is not going to appeal to everyone in this day and age of big Hollywood blockbuster and special effects, this is a film that is a refreshing change back to the days of dramas/thrillers that will have you trying to work out the clues as well, certainly worth a watch and deserve two viewings at least to take everything in that you may have missed in your first viewing.
Disappearance at Clifton Hill will be available for Digital Download from 20th July and DVD from 3rd August.
An intriguing Drama Mystery
Movie title: Disappearance at Clifton Hill
Movie description: Follows a troubled young woman returning to her hometown of Niagara Falls, where the memory of a long-ago kidnapping quickly ensnares her.
Date published: July 20, 2020
Country: UK
Duration: 1h 40min
Director(s): Albert Shin
Actor(s): Tuppence Middleton, Hannah Gross, Marie-Josée Croze , David Cronenberg
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Summary
Disappearance at Clifton Hall is a nice thought-provoking and intriguing neo-noir thriller that is certainly worth checking out especially if you like you Indie Films.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
