Gone

Movie Review: «Gone».

English Title: Gone.
Production: USA, 2012.
Release Date: 24.02.2011 (USA).
Russian Distributor: UPI (23.02.2012).
Official Website:
Genres: Drama / Thriller.
Director: Heitor Dhalia.
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Jennifer Carpeneter, Daniel Sunjata.
Running Time: 94 minutes.

A Mouse Hunts For a Cat

Starting 24th February of 2012, one American girl will go searching for a serial killer. This thriller is named Gone, review of which will tell you more about the new role of Amanda Seyfried without spoiling any fun of plot’s twists.

When watching a movie, it is hard to guess its true background. At times it seems that people in Hollywood are tireless writing robots, making one story similiar to another, but in reality it is not so simple. Some scripts face their creative challenges, others owe their existence to several key persons at once, or just spend a lot of time looking for a Producer. Though it might be quite the opposite too!

In the case of the Gone (2012) movie, producer Chris Salvaterra, who previously released Fast Food Nation (2006), shared a few ideas with a writer suggesting to use them as a basis for any future work. His friend Allison Burnett, who gave birth to The Feast of Love (2007), had literally to work with the girl thrown into the pit in the forst. That is just how the main character was described to him by Chris. Allison accepted this challenge and immersed himself in all the usual writing routine.

Nobody promised him that someone will be interested in his new script, and this story itself looks to be evolving from the chaotic fragments being brought together. During the film a few times you may even catch yourself thinking that the writer himself did not always understand, where he would lead his plot further, though he didn’t give up and continued to rush for the desired goal. When the work was completed, he decided to show it to his former employers at the American studio named Lakeshore Entertainment, where the script immediately got the attention of Gary Lucchesi and Tom Rosenberg, which both are experienced Producers.

Allison Burnett is clearly inspired by the Alfred Hitchcock movies, especially, when trying to present his narrative vision for this Gone thriller, where everything unfolds in real-time. All the events of this motion picture are fit into a single day, and it is just enough time for a young girl named Jill Parrish to suffer a lot. The story’s psychological bait is the one letting it stand out from all the rest titles with teen people being harmed by a cruel murderer.

In the new creation of the experienced writer you can see, how he was influenced by his other scripts from the past, such as the story of the Untraceable (2008) motion picture. However, this new idea begins with an unusual twist, when a mouse decides to catch a cat and starts hunting.

Believe Me!

Looking for a Kidnapper

The role of Jill Parrish in the Gone movie went to 26-year-old American actress, singer and former model – Amanda Seyfried. Her career had a breakthrough in 2006, and after this point she was offered some benefecial parts, for example, the one of singing Sophie Sheridan from the Mamma Mia! (2008) musical, and then she signed contracts for filming in the horror motion picture featuring a flesh eater and known as Jennifer’s Body (2009) and also the Gothic thriller – Red Riding Hood (2011).

Her new character regularly takes some pills to tone down stress after the abduction episode. According to her telling of it, a few years ago she was kidnapped, thrown into the pit in the forest by an unknown man. After some time there she managed to escape then getting out of the huge Forest Park, which is located near Portland, Oregon, where the Lakeshore’s team moved in to film for the third time. Jill works as a waitress in a bar hoping to get back to normal life soon. For that she even moved in with her sister Molly performed by Emily Wickersham.

When Molly suddenly disappears from her own bed, Jill raises the alarm, fearing that she was kidnapped by the offender that a few years ago in a similar way had dragged Jill out of her house. Initially, she tries to trust other people to encourage them to help organizing a search party, but with nearly no luck in the Gone thriller. The sister’s classmate, Billy, presented by Sebastian Stan, and Jill’s co-worker named Sharon Ames with the face of Jennifer Carpenter are her only supporters.

The local police department shows its complete lack of skills. Lt. Ray Bozeman played by Michael Paré only cares about the public order, while the lead detective Powers performed by Daniel Sunjata from One for the Money (2012) comedy does not believe in the existence of such a serial killer and even supposes that Jill is mentally ill because of her nightmares.

Only a newbie in the department, detective Peter Hood, played by Wes Bentley still shows faith in the Jill’s story. However, the girl mainly relies on her own strength, because in the Gone movie she has limited time to save her sister, find and collect evidence, interrogate suspects, and even stay hidden from the police workforce being ready to arrest her for the very eccentric and overly aggressive methods of questioning witnesses.

Until the last moment you will not know the whole truth about the villain’s identity. Perhaps, he is just a sick fantasy of the heroine, or he might be very real. Jill demonstrates remarkable courage, when trying to expose the truth, despite all the obstacles placed by various men on her way.

Ready to fight anyone

When getting ready for the casting the experts from Lakeshore decided to rely on those, who they already collaborated with in the past, just as it often happens for this company. The same approach was used, when scouting for the appropriate sets and methods of interviewing possible candidates. Usually, if you work for Lakeshore once, and the bosses are satisfied with your performance, there is a very high chance of getting another call from them with a new offer. The second plan roles were also filled by well-known actors, what is rather unusual, though they never opposed such a cooperation.

The director Heitor Dhalia is from Brazil, and before filming Gone he already established himself in the international movie industry. His project Nina (2004) had a successful stop at the Moscow International Film Festival and succeeded in Latin America as well. In fact, this more of an Art House style director now got engaged with a feature film aimed at a wide audience. Heitor knew what to do and managed to keep the main secret nearly till the final titles roll out. At the same time he throws dozens of colorful suspects at the public, and each of them could be a sought maniac, or just a typical bystander.

The composer of this film is David Buckley from London. He is known for his frequent collaborations with other experienced British maestro – Harry Gregson-Williams, with whom he recorded the music for the video game titled Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008). However, David can also work alone, what you could hear in The Forbidden Kingdom (2008) movie album. The new soundtrack from Mr. Buckley is almost entirely kept inside an electronic style and filled with the spirit of dark and intense thriller. Perhaps, that is why all of his 39 soundtrack minutes are somewhat depressing, what fits the movie. Though you will hardly listen to these tracks outside of it, except, probably, a couple of nicely arranged melodies.

GameScope Verdict

The film Gone achieves its main goal showing a girl, who is brave enough to do everything on her own without any men supporting her. At the same time she leads her investigation from a woman’s point of view. This girly style is marked by impulsive behavior and rushed emotional decisions. For example, while searching for the kidnapper, Jill starts lying to everyone creating incredible life stories about herself just to get rid of strangers’ curiosity and make them cooperate better, what works more often than not.

Gone Trailer

Movie Score by GameScope:

7.0 / 10