DVD Review: Gone

Gone is a dramatic mystery thriller which follows Jill (Amanda Seyfried) who is convinced that her kidnapper from the past has returned and abducted her younger sister Molly (Emily Wickersham). The race is on for Jill as she sets out to find her kidnapper and save her sister despite every obstacle that is in her way.

Director Heitor Dhalia has stuck to traditional conventions of a thriller by using a well practiced combination of camera shots, soundtrack, editing and lighting. One of the most effective parts of the film for me were the jump cuts between past and present that develop the narrative as well as reinforcing the genre of the film. These sharps cuts are intensified by the grim lighting employed throughout the film. The dark tones effectively reflect the dark plot and themes that guide the story forward.

The film sets out to be fast paced and tense from the outset but for me is really driven by Seyfried's performance. While the techniques employed in this film are traditional of the thriller genre they're not exciting. For me, Gone relies way to much on well practiced conventions to create a mediocre film that heavily relies on its lead actress to make it work.

Gone is an easy enough film to watch but it doesn't challenge the genre it's trying to fit into and it doesn't deliver a memorable film for audiences. For me this film had a lot of potential, the back story was interesting but the plot just dragged along linked by some effective action scenes which ultimately just lead to another car which drives the plot from point A to B.

I am personally disappointed in this film. Genres and conventions have been established since the start of cinema and the great films of today are developing sub-genres, breaking conventions and even building new techniques and codes for identifying film genres. Although the ending had me glued to my screen it ended as quickly as it began and left me ultimately just wanting more.

This film just goes through the motions and offers no creative flare for its audience. On paper it ticks all the right boxes for editing, lighting, acting and the like but it doesn't excite. Perhaps I'm just expecting more or comparing it to other thrillers that I adore such as Se7en, but this film is simply average and just goes to show how relying on traditional genre conventions isn't enough in some cases. Unfortunately, for me personally Gone is one of these films you watch once and don't go back to again.

Emma