Abbie Cornish and Laz Alonso star in Detained, an engrossing psychological thriller directed by Felipe Mucci. Photo: Supplied.
When there are multiple crimes, one suspect and endless lies, it’s pretty obvious that some things just don’t add up. Prepare for a journey into the depths of human desperation and resilience.
Detained is a psychological thriller that will hold your interest with its tangled narrative and strong performances. The film’s intriguing twist that converts what initially appears to be a straightforward crime drama into a high-stakes con game is astonishing! It takes you unawares.
Australian actor Abbie Cornish (The Virtuoso, Missouri) plays the protagonist Rebecca Kamen, who wakes up in police custody, having forgotten everything that happened the night before. She’s told she was involved in a car accident that may have resulted in the death of a cyclist. Rebecca’s amnesia and the suspicious environment create a tangible sense of trepidation.
Rebecca is at a loss about what happened. Compelled to admit to being guilty of a crime she doesn’t believe she has committed, she stays true to her belief. However, why is there this aggression radiating from the detectives overseeing her detention – Avery (Laz Alonso, The Boys) and Moon (Moon Bloodgood, Falling Skies). They have handcuffed her and are trying to obtain information regarding her damaged, blood-soaked vehicle.
Rebecca stays unyielding against the increasingly unpredictable Avery, and when an incident with a cellmate turns foul, she finds herself in a game of survival, uncertain about who to trust. As Rebecca grapples with fragmented memories and combative interrogators, tensions escalate, leading to a gripping climax that reshapes her fate forever.
Waking up in a police interrogation room is frightening enough, but to deal with accusations of murder and the fuzziness of her undeniable reality are initially unbearable. More questions are raised than answers after a close encounter with bar patron Robert (John Patrick Amedori), and contacting her friend Sarah (Breeda Wool).
Directed by Felipe Mucci (Vlado, Two Sides), the film plunges viewers into Rebecca’s disorienting world. Mucci describes Detained as a film that delves deep into themes of trust, memory and morality, challenging perceptions of right and wrong in the face of adversity. From the moment Rebecca finds herself trapped in the eerie confines of a dilapidated police station, audiences are thrust into a tense and uncertain journey.
“Visually, Detained captures the claustrophobic atmosphere of the police station, utilising shadow and light to heighten the sense of isolation and paranoia,” Mucci says.
In a tightly wound script, cleverly co-written by Mucci and Jeremy Palmer, a major twist is added within a relatively short time as the film begins to shed light on all the players involved, including Rebecca’s seemingly inexpert lawyer Isaac Barsi (Justin H Min, The Umbrella Academy, Beef).
We soon learn that Avery, along with everyone else in the station, is part of an elaborate subterfuge designed to scam Rebecca out of some money they believe isn’t rightfully hers. In return, the audience gets drawn into the insanity.
Alonso has fun with his character, bringing a blend of authority and menace to the role. His performance adds noteworthy weight to the storyline. Cornish capably portrays Rebecca’s fear, confusion and ultimate determination. The supporting cast also deserves recognition for convincingly maintaining the facade that keeps everyone guessing.
A successful key element is the cast’s understanding of the project at hand. The film’s gritty realism serves as a backdrop for the psychological warfare unfolding between Rebecca and her captors, which blurs the lines between truth and trickery.
Mucci’s directing technique creates a confined atmosphere. The character dynamics and incisive dialogue keep the tension in the film. In a plot laden with suspicious characters and secret motivations, we are taken on a wild ride!
Detained, directed by Felipe Mucci, Defiant Screen Entertainment, has launched on Digital and DVD
