While the iconic imagery of Niagara Falls has been featured in countless films over the years (with “Superman II” and “Canadian Bacon” perhaps being the most notable examples), the landmark’s neighboring communities have rarely been the focus of any cinematic endeavors. On the Canadian side of the border, the tourist promenade Clifton Hill has always been known as a hotbed for consumerist entertainment and attractions. And although this is by no means a statement of consensus, some would even describe the street as a miniaturized watered-down version of Las Vegas.
READ MORE: 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2020
With his newest film, “Disappearance at Clifton Hill,” Albert Shin hopes to subvert this description of the tourist district by creating a neo-noir thriller creeping with almost exclusively dark undertones. Fans of David Cronenberg should also be delighted, as the film both stars and seemingly embodies the work of the legendary Canadian director.
READ MORE: The 25 Best Movies Of 2020 We’ve Already Seen
“Disappearance at Clifton Hill” stars Tuppence Middleton in the title role, with supporting performances by Hannah Gross, Marie-Josée Croze, Eric Johnson and David Cronenberg.
Here’s the official synopsis:
READ MORE: The 100 Best Films Of The Decade [2010s]
Following the death of her mother, Abby (Tuppence Middleton), a troubled young woman with a checkered past, returns to her hometown of Niagara Falls and the dilapidated motel her family used to run. While there, she finds herself drawn once again into a mystery that has haunted her since childhood: what happened to the young boy she saw being violently abducted in the woods twenty-five years ago? As Abby sets out to find out the truth, she must confront both a shocking, long-buried conspiracy that runs as deep as the falls themselves as well as her own inner demons. Bristling with an air of surreal menace, this mood-drenched thriller is a tantalizing psychological puzzle box that unfolds in the hallucinatory realm between reality and perception.
An official trailer for “Disappearance at Clifton Hill” was recently released by IFC Midnight. The film initially premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2019 (then titled, “Clifton Hill”), and will be released in theatres and video-on-demand on February 28, 2020.