This is a fine example of what can be done with a small budget but a decent script and some good actors.

The cast is precisely three and rarely can a film have ever been made that has the entire screen time taken up by so few people. This makes the film quite claustrophobic which is a pretty effective technique given the plot. The films does build up a nice degree of tension and whilst the plot is simple there are plenty of genuine surprises along the way although a stronger ending would have made this an even better film.

All three actors are very good but particularly impressive is Eddie Marsan as the older of the two kidnappers who is genuinely menacing.

This is a raw and at times violent film but well worth a watch if you are looking for something just a bit different.

Former prison cell mates Danny (Martin Compston) and Vic (Eddie Marsan) kidnap Alice Creed (Gemma Arterton) for £2 million ransom. Vic is the controlling lead who has a detailed plan. Alice is carefully restrained by the pair. Alice catches Danny by surprise and he reveals a shocking secret.

This movie has a couple of big twisty reveals. They are big, twisty, and unforeseen. There is a problematic aspect with the first reveal that I don't buy. Alice shouldn't react that way although it could be that she's flustered into making a mistake. The ending also has some more twists and turns. I may prefer a more straight up action sequence. This is overall a good tiny confined thriller.

The Disappearance of Alice Creed is a low budget three hander filmed in the Isle of Man.

The early scenes are Vic (Eddie Marsan) and Danny (Martin Compston) kidnapping Alice (Gemma Arterton) who is bound and gagged in a bed after being stripped naked.

You can sense the economy in the filming as there is no dialogue for the first few minutes in the film.

Alice's predicament is harrowing, not only is she is restraints, she has to pee in a bottle and get fed by her captors. Alice's father is rich and the bad guys demand a high ransom.

Writer/Director J Blakeson has a few tricks up his sleep by adding layers to the story and wrong foots our expectations. The relationship between everyone concerned is actually more complex adding twists to the narrative.

Eddie Marsan plays the alpha male here, he is cunning, ruthless and knows what he wants. Compston is the follower but unnerving in his own right. It is Arterton, who became known in a James Bond film as a bit of eye candy who gives it her all in this low budget drama, stripped naked, make up running down her eyes, she conveys fear convincingly in the face of menace.