Independent Film Review – Detained

When one of the wonderful people at Aim Publicity lets me know that another film is going to be available for review it is usually by sending a press release with a trailer attached. And so it was when I got the email about Detained. It said “Nothing is quite what it seems in Detained starring the incredible Abbie Cornish, who faces off against Laz Alonso in a sharp, enthralling, fight-filled actioner. Directed by Felipe Mucci this gripping battle of wills and full-on fight for survival feature gets its UK premiere on digital this December courtesy of Plaion Pictures.” Let’s face it though, they’re in the business of whipping up enthusiasm about the film. 

So I had a quick look at the trailer. Sure enough the trailer whizzes through a drunken night out and a steamy encounter with a stranger. Which leads to Rebecca (Cornish), waking up in a run-down police station with no memory of how she got there. Detectives Avery (Alonso) and Moon (Moon Bloodgood) charge her with a hit-and-run, leaving a very confused and frightened Rebecca desperately trying to piece together what happened last night and prove her innocence. Her situation goes from bad to worse when a fellow inmate attacks Detective Moon. Caught up in the altercation, Rebecca grabs a gun and shoots, with devastating results.

I Didn’t Kill Him

After all this I thought that Detained looked like it could be a bit of a thrill ride…was it? Well it definitely had its moments. There are some well thought out and excellently choreographed action scenes. In between times the acting was a bit hit or miss. Abbie Cornish gives a commendable performance, conveying her character’s confusion and growing sense of paranoia. Laz Alonso and Moon Bloodgood also stand out as antagonists, though their characters’ development sometimes feels undermined by a slight over reliance on coincidence and exposition.

Unfortunately though the supporting cast struggles to match their commitment, with some performances coming across as wooden and unconvincing. One “character” who does sterling work is the set. Apparently filming in its entirety took a mere twenty days. That was doubtless helped by the majority of the action taking place in the police station and this enhances the claustrophobia and tension that Rebecca is going through; Abbie Cornish does a great job of projecting the confusion and paranoia that her character is feeling and the claustrophobic setting really hammers that home.

I Loved Him

The film’s strengths lie in its suspenseful atmosphere and the central mystery surrounding the protagonist’s situation. The interrogation room setting enhances the claustrophobic environment which, in turn, heightens the tension. However, the execution of the plot is where Detained occasionally  falters. The screenplay, while attempting to be twisty and unpredictable, often feels convoluted and lacking in clarity. The two lead detectives are underdeveloped and their motivations remain unclear for much of the film. This muddiness tends to spread among the remaining supporting cast and I found myself wondering who’s side everyone was on and what they were hoping for.

Visually, Detained is competent but unremarkable. The cinematography is serviceable, but lacks the visual flair that could have lifted the film’s more suspenseful moments. The editing managed to maintain a steady pace but occasionally felt disjointed especially during the film’s more disorderly sequences. Overall though, Detained has an intriguing premise but the execution is let down by an intricate plot, underdeveloped characters, and uneven performances. However, despite its shortcomings, Detained will appeal to fans of suspenseful thrillers who are willing to overlook a few plot holes. Detained was released on 30/12/2024 by Plaion Picture.

Independent Film Grade: B-