Underrated and widely misunderstood. Disappearance at Clifton Hill is an effective, faithful tribute to the great puzzle box mystery movies of the '70s and '80s, such as '72's Sleuth and '82's Deathtrap (coincidentally, both adaptations of stage plays and both co-starring Michael Caine). Against the soundscape of a beautifully rendered 70s-style thriller/mystery score, Clifton Hall employs the unreliable narrator in the protagonist; in fact, the narrative itself is intentionally unreliable. All of this misdirection occurs within the context of multiple conspiracy theories which may hold full, partial, or no credence. There's even a moment of genre misdirection where it feels like the movie might veer into American giallo territory.
I think it is all this misdirection and narrative complexity which many viewers find off-putting, and which accounts for the unjustly low ratings. Those looking for a point A to point B crime thriller with a completely unambiguous, pat solution will be disappointed and / or befuddled. On the other hand, mystery aficionados looking for a challenging movie with a clever script, superb acting, and a conclusion perfectly rooted in the genre tradition from which it hails, the grossly underrated Disappearance from Clifton Hill is a must-see.
I think it is all this misdirection and narrative complexity which many viewers find off-putting, and which accounts for the unjustly low ratings. Those looking for a point A to point B crime thriller with a completely unambiguous, pat solution will be disappointed and / or befuddled. On the other hand, mystery aficionados looking for a challenging movie with a clever script, superb acting, and a conclusion perfectly rooted in the genre tradition from which it hails, the grossly underrated Disappearance from Clifton Hill is a must-see.