Disappearance at Clifton Hill

Disappearance at Clifton Hill (initially known as Clifton Hill) is a 2019 Canadian thriller film, directed by Albert Shin.[3] The film stars Tuppence Middleton as Abby, a young woman who returns home to Niagara Falls, Ontario, when she inherits a family-owned motel in the city's Clifton Hill tourist district following her mother's death, and becomes obsessed with reconstructing inchoate childhood memories of witnessing a kidnapping.[4]

Disappearance at Clifton Hill
Film poster
Directed byAlbert Shin
Written byAlbert Shin
James Schultz
Produced byFraser Ash
Kevin Krikst
StarringTuppence Middleton
Hannah Gross
David Cronenberg
CinematographyCatherine Lutes
Edited byCam McLauchlin
Music byAlex Sowinski
Leland Whitty
Production
company
Distributed byElevation Pictures
Release date
  • September 5, 2019 (2019-09-05) (TIFF)
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish
Box office$25,084[1][2]

The film's cast also includes Hannah Gross, Marie-Josée Croze, Andy McQueen, Noah Reid, Dan Lett, Aaron Poole, Connor Jessup, Elizabeth Saunders, and Maxwell McCabe-Lokos, as well as filmmaker David Cronenberg in a rare acting appearance as a local historian and podcaster.[5] The film was nominated for four Canadian Screen Award nominations, including Best Supporting Actor for McQueen.

Plot

While out fishing and picnicking with her family near their home at Niagara Falls, seven-year-old Abby wanders off. She soon encounters a young, abused boy, hiding in the woods. She witnesses his abduction by a couple throwing him into the trunk of their car. Traumatized and scared, she remains silent about the horror she’s witnessed.

Now an adult, Abby returns to Niagara Falls following the death of her mother. Throughout her adult life, Abby has had various problems , one of them being a compulsive liar. Her mother bequeaths her and her sister a now defunct motel, The Rainbow. Her sister Laure wants to sell the motel to a prominent local family; however, Abby is reluctant to do so, still obsessed with the abduction of the “one-eyed boy.”

Abby begins to investigate the mystery of the boy in the woods. She soon discovers his name, Alex Moulin; the son of a husband-and-wife magical act known as the Magnificent Moulins. Following their son’s disappearance, the Moulin’s move to America.

Abby meets local diving expert, conspiracy theorist and podcaster, Walter Bell, who is of the opinion that Alex did not commit suicide, as no trace of his body was ever found. He’s always held on to strong suspicions that the powerful Lake family were responsible for boys disappearances in the past and the cover ups.

To continue with her investigation, Abby requires access to Charlie Lake’s office; she conspires a ruse of pretending to have signed the papers authorizing the sale of the motel (she has, in fact, signed them in disappearing ink). While at his office she sees a photo of the Moulins and a woman, Beverly Mole, who worked with the Moulins as an animal trainer. Apprehensive of Abby’s inquiries, Charlie makes ominous threats causing her to rush out in fear.

Abby makes contact with Beverly Mole, anonymously luring her with casino access along with free hotel accommodation at The Rainbow.

Unaware of the deception, Beverly, along with her wheeled chair husband, check in and she soon heads out to the casino. Abby’s efforts to dig up more information are thwarted when an angry Beverly returns to the room in a panic accusing the casino of trying to “entrap” her. She packs up and storms out, husband in tow.

Unsatisfied with her lackluster investigation, Abby uses her sister’s passport to travel to America to see the Magnificent Moulins magic show. After the show, a strange encounter occurs between the three of them.

Upon her attempt to return home to Canada, it’s been discovered Abby has a stolen passport. As a result, she’s arrested. This is where Abby’s troubled past comes to light, shredding her credibility.

Still undeterred and determined, Abby finds Beverly’s house and breaks in. Once inside, Abby finds Gerry chained up as before. He tells her they did kidnapped Alex, taking numerous photos of his injuries with the intent to blackmail the Moulins. Shortly after, the police arrest Bev and rescue Gerry, finding crucial and incriminating evidence.

With Gerry’s confession of the crime, the case garnered a media frenzy. Charlie Lake is soon arrested, all the while proclaiming his innocence in Alex’s murder. The Moulins manipulate the media attention pleading their ignorance and innocence of any wrong doing against their son, while making threats of slander lawsuits.

Life in town returns to back to quiet qualm and Abby moves on, now employed at another, more up-market, motel. A one eyed patch man walks in to rent out a room for an indefinite amount of time. Appearing to be not much older than Abby, he looks at Abby quizzically and asks if perhaps they've met before, as she seems somehow familiar. She says no. Noticing a newspaper on the desk with Charlie’s picture, the guest tells Abby that Lake is not lying and states that in fact, he saved that boy’s life. Abby stares after him in wonderment as the man walks away from the reception area towards his room.

Cast

Production

The film was based in part on Shin's own life; his parents formerly owned a motel in Niagara Falls, where Shin has childhood memories of witnessing what he understood at the time to be a kidnapping.[6] However, during the making of the film, he faced resistance from the Clifton Hill business improvement association, because the organization feared that the film would paint the city and the district in a negative light.[6]

Release

The film premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival under the title Clifton Hill.[5] IFC Midnight obtained the U.S. distribution rights to the film and released it on February 28, 2020.[7]

Reception

Critical reception

According to review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 73% of 46 critics have given the film a positive review, with an average rating of 6.6/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "While admittedly a bit less than the sum of its intriguing parts, Disappearance at Clifton Hill offers an entertaining diversion for noir fans."[8] On Metacritic, another aggregator, the film has a weighted average score of 61 out of 100 based on 11 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews."[9]

Sheri Linden of The Hollywood Reporter praised the film, writing, "Between its opening image of a fish dangling on a hook (a stand-in for the audience?) and its flawlessly underplayed final moment, it casts a one-of-a-kind spell."[10] Radheyan Simonpillai of NOW Toronto gave the film 4 out of 5 stars, writing, "Niagara's clash between gaudy neon lights, dingy diners, shadowy alleys and general David Lynch vibes sets the stage for a mystery that may only be imagined."[11] Barry Hertz of The Globe and Mail gave the film 3.5 out of 4, writing that "Clifton Hill becomes just as thrilling and disturbing as its titular strip of haunted houses and fading-fast motels."[12]

Conversely, Nick Allen of RogerEbert.com gave the film 2 out of 4 stars, writing, "Pulpy Canadian whodunit Disappearance at Clifton Hill is never as fun as it should be;"[13] and fellow RogerEbert.com critic Brian Tallerico panned the film, writing, "Disappointingly flat in filmmaking terms, both in the lackluster design and dull performances."[14] Scott Tobias of Variety also criticized the film, writing, "The deeper the film goes, the more it loses its grip."[15]

Accolades
Award Date of ceremony Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
Canadian Screen Awards 28 May 2020 Best Cinematography Catherine Lutes Nominated [16]
Best Editing Cam McLauchlin Nominated
Best Sound Editing Paul Germann, Claire Dobson, John Sievert, Jason Charbonneau and Randy Wilson Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Andy McQueen Nominated
Directors Guild of Canada 26 October 2019 Outstanding Picture Editing – Feature Film Cam McLauchlin Nominated
Outstanding Production Design – Feature Film Chris Crane Nominated [17]
Vancouver Film Critics Circle 16 December 2019 Best Supporting Actor in a Canadian Film David Cronenberg Nominated [18]

References
  1. "Clifton Hill (2020) – Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  2. "Disappearance at Clifton Hill". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  3. "Tuppence Middleton, Hannah Gross Climb 'Clifton Hill' For Indie Canadian Drama". Deadline Hollywood. December 11, 2018.
  4. "Rhombus sets up next slate of films". Playback. July 29, 2016.
  5. Hertz, Barry (July 31, 2019). "TIFF 2019: Toronto festival's Canadian lineup a mix of familiar faces, exciting rookies and a starring role for David Cronenberg". The Globe and Mail.
  6. Simonpillai, Radheyan (August 27, 2019). "TIFF 2019: Clifton Hill, the movie Niagara Falls doesn't want you to see". Now.
  7. "IFC Midnight Nabs David Cronenberg Starrer 'Disappearance at Clifton Hill". The Hollywood Reporter. November 5, 2019.
  8. "Disappearance at Clifton Hill". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  9. "Disappearance at Clifton Hill". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  10. Linden, Sheri. "Disappearance at Clifton Hill," Hollywood Reporter (Sept. 6, 2019).
  11. Simonpillai, Radheyan. "TIFF Review: Clifton Hill," NOW Toronto (Sept. 3, 2019).
  12. Hertz, Barry. "Albert Shin's Twisty Disappearance at Clifton Hill Has Grimy Fun," The Globe and Mail (Sept. 7, 2019).
  13. Allen, Nick. "Disappearance at Clifton Hill Movie Review," RogerEbert.com (Feb. 28, 2020).
  14. Tallerico, Brian. "TIFF 2019: Sea Fever, Clifton Hill," RogerEbert.com (Sept. 9, 2019).
  15. Tobias, Scott. "Disappearance at Clifton Hill," Variety (Sept. 6. 2019).
  16. "Écrans canadiens : Song of Names, The Twentieth Century et Antigone en tête des nominations" (in French). Ici Radio-Canada. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  17. "Nominees announced for 18th Annual DGC Awards". CNW Group. 12 September 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  18. Mack, Adrian (December 13, 2019). "Marriage Story dominates Vancouver Film Critics Circle noms". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
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