The
Clifton Hill promenade is sort of like Branson, but with waterfalls and
conspiracy theories. Tourists regularly flock to the family friendly attractions
on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, but the atmosphere there is really weird
during low season. Of course, that is the perfect backdrop for the crime and
corruption that unfolds in Albert Shin’s Disappearance at Clifton Hill,
which opens this Friday in New York.
When
Abby was a young girl, she witnessed a kidnapping while on a family camping trip.
During the intervening years, she developed a reputation for telling stories,
so her long-suffering sister Laure just assumes there is nothing to it.
Nevertheless, when Abby returns to Niagara after her latest crash-and-burn, she
resolves to finally solve the mystery. Her dubious investigation soon
encompasses the wealthy but suspicious Lake family, who own a good deal of the
tacky businesses on Clifton Hill, and the Moulins, a married duo of magicians
clearly styled after Siegfried & Roy.
Abby
is definitely an unreliable protagonist, but there is still something rotten in
Niagara. After all, it’s Clifton Hill, Jake. Frankly, the secrets and
conspiracies will not be particularly shocking to genre fans, even though Shin
does his best to over-complicate them. However, he does a crackerjack job of
establishing the tense mood and getting mileage out of the local idiosyncrasies.
In
fact, one of the best things going for Disappearance is the character of
Walter Bell, a scuba-diving local historian, who records his “Over the Falls” conspiracy
theory podcasts from the town’s UFO diner. He is a memorable eccentric,
especially since he is played (with understated elan) by legendary cult film
director, David Cronenberg.
Tuppence
Middleton and Hannah Gross are both solid as the sisters, but as is always the
case in film noirs, the supporting players are much more intriguing and
memorable. That very definitely includes Cronenberg. Elizabeth Saunders is also
utterly despicable as the villainous Bev Mole. Yet, Marie-Josee Croze and
Paulino Nunes outdo her when it comes to chewing the scenery as the sleazy
Moulins.
Cinematographer
Catherine Lutes certainly makes everything look mysterious and murky. However, the
avant-garde jazz-inspired score composed by Alex Sowinski and Leland Whitty (of
the jam band-esque jazz group BadBadNotGood) really gives the film an unsettling,
yet sophisticated vibe. Their music really makes the film quite distinctive.
Jenna Ricker’s The American Side is probably a more entertaining Niagara noir,
but it would make a cool double feature with Disappearance. Recommended
for fans of chilly thrillers (and Cronenberg), Disappearance at Clifton Hill
opens this Friday (2/28) in New York, at the IFC Center.
