First shown as part of 2008’s Frightfest, and now chosen as one of the highlights of the ICA’s New British Cinema season, it’s clear that Johnny Kevorkian’s thriller The Disappeared is highly regarded by those in the know in the UK film industry. And audiences too should respond to its grimy, atmospheric chills.
Oh, to be a teenager again. Standing on the cusp of adulthood, with all the opportunities it promises, but still able to rely on mum washing your clothes and cooking your tea. But not even good old mum can help the kids at the centre of Julian Richards’ low budget thriller, whose devil-may-care push for independence ends up costing them dearly.
Life at Fairview High is much the same as at any other modern British institute of education. The students are split into distinct groups – the geeks, the Goths, the middle-of-the roaders and, of course, ruling over them all, the popular kids who spend their time systematically targeting those who don’t match up to their high standards. But when uber-nerd Darren (Calvin Dean) kills himself, strange things begin to happen to those who made his life miserable – including self-proclaimed king of cool Bradley (Alex Pettyfer) and the pouting Tasha (April Pearson) When rule-following head girl Justine (Tuppence Middleton) falls for sexy Alexis (Dimitri Leonidas), she finds herself drawn into the clique – and into the terrifying things that are befalling them. Can she find out the truth about what’s happening before it’s too late?
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