The conclusion of Disappearance at Clifton Hill delivers a surprising twist that significantly reshapes the viewer’s perception upon a second viewing. Directed by Albert Shin, this 2020 Canadian psychological thriller centers on Abby, portrayed by Tuppence Middleton, who gains notoriety from her role in Downton Abbey. After inheriting a motel/casino near Niagara Falls following her mother’s death, Abby confronts the traumatic memories linked to her hometown, particularly the abduction of a young boy she witnessed in her youth. This traumatic event drives her to uncover the truth about that fateful day years ago.
While Disappearance at Clifton Hill follows some conventional story arcs and features archetypal characters, the final act revitalizes a largely traditional noir narrative. The film has received a 76% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, primarily complimenting its performances and intriguing ending. Despite its limited cast, the film offers an engaging whodunit experience. The critical role of the finale in enhancing the film’s enjoyment is noteworthy, although its multiple plot twists might bewilder certain viewers.
Unfolding the Mystery: The Ending of Disappearance at Clifton Hill
A Bizarre Conclusion
As Abby delves into her investigation upon returning to Niagara Falls, she begins exploring the case of a missing child known as the “one-eyed boy,”whom she saw in the woods during her childhood. Her inquiries lead her to Walter, a conspiracy theorist played by the iconic David Cronenberg. This prompts Abby to suspect that Alex, a boy recently reported to have taken his own life, is actually the same child. Driven by her intuitions, she believes a powerful local family, the Lakes, played a role in the child’s murder.
During her investigation, Abby encounters Beverly (Elizabeth Saunders) and Gerry (Maxwell McCabe-Lokos) Mole, who offer some of the critical evidence linking the family to Alex’s tragic fate. After tracking down the elderly couple to their residence, Abby uncovers pivotal information establishing their direct involvement in the boy’s death. It becomes clear that Alex was subjected to abuse, viewed merely as a commodity by his magician parents, leading to his murder orchestrated by Charles Lake III (Eric Johnson).
After Abby discloses her findings to law enforcement, the pertinent individuals are apprehended. Despite his arrest, Charles III maintains his innocence, a typical stance for those ensnared in such situations. Nonetheless, the film’s climax delivers an unexpected twist when an adult man with an eye patch visits Abby’s motel, asking if they’ve met before. His claim that Charles III is innocent and actually saved the boy’s life serves to complicate the narrative further, leaving viewers questioning the truth as Abby gazes at her own reflection, a sly smile emerging.
The Truth About Alex Moulin
A Case of Murder, Not Suicide
At the core of Abby’s quest in Disappearance at Clifton Hill is her investigation into Alex’s fate, which she believes is connected to the one-eyed boy from her past. Initial investigations suggested that Alex jumped off a cliff, coinciding with Abby’s own childhood experience. However, Abby’s intuition drives her to dig deeper, ultimately confronting Gerry, who admits to an even darker truth — it was he and his wife who threw Alex from the cliff, confirming that his death was a murder rather than a suicide.
The Moles: Front for the Moulins
The Underbelly of the Moulin Family
Bev and Gerry Mole emerge as significant characters in Abby’s investigation, having previously worked for the Moulin family, Alex’s parents. The Moulins, known for their magic act, involved the Moles as animal trainers. However, Abby uncovers a more sinister side when she learns about Alex’s traumatic experiences, including an abusive mother who forced him to engage with their tigers, resulting in a grave eye injury.
While Abby confronts the Moulins with the intention of offering them comfort during their search for their son, she instead discovers their direct involvement in Alex’s suffering. The Moulins, after employing the Moles to retrieve Alex, disclosed a plot that involved coercing the family into paying ransom while knowing that their son would ultimately be killed. It’s a grim picture of familial dysfunction and exploitation, where Charlie III’s orders sealed Alex’s fate after a calculated betrayal.
Unraveling Abby’s Character
Complexities of an Unreliable Narrator
Throughout the film, Abby’s credibility comes into question as it is revealed she has a history of compulsively lying, which her sister Laure (Hannah Gross) initially suspects. Flashbacks uncover Abby’s deceptive tendencies, revealing her propensity for fabrication to those close to her, including a social worker, her mother, and her sibling. This unravels the notion that Abby may not have been a reliable narrator throughout the film.
The motel/casino Abby seeks to manage has deteriorated due to her previous misdeeds, expenditures her mother had to cover because of Abby’s actions. Once the layers of deception are stripped away, the entire narrative is recontextualized, casting doubt on the validity of Abby’s perceptions and experiences.
Revelations of Alex Moulin’s Survival
Confirmation of Alex’s Survival
The climactic reveal at the end of Disappearance at Clifton Hill is as riveting as it is confounding. Abby overcomes significant trials to reveal the hidden truths regarding Alex and succeeds in exposing the crimes of the Moles and Charles III. However, her tranquility is disrupted when an enigmatic man, bearing an eye patch, appears at her motel. His casual inquiry about previous acquaintance and unsolicited assertion regarding Charles III’s innocence suggest an unsettling twist — could this man actually be Alex? The evidence strongly suggests that he not only survived but has critical insights about his past that differ from Abby’s narrative.
Rethinking Charles Lake III’s Actions
Dismantling Assumptions of Abuse
Understanding that Alex survived raises critical questions about his associated memories that challenge Abby’s earlier assumptions. His statement regarding Charles III’s innocence suggests that a re-evaluation of the narrative may be necessary. It’s clear that Abby, given her history of deception, could have misunderstood pivotal moments leading to Alex’s ordeal. The Moles represent real threats portrayed in the film with hints regarding their abusive behavior, and while Abby connects dots leading to a straightforward story, two crucial details skew her narrative — Alex’s survival and his experience under Charles III’s wing, who may have, in fact, rescued him from a life of chaos.
The Significance of Abby’s Smile
A Complicated Reaction
After her encounter with the man likely to be Alex, Abby exits to the restroom, seemingly disturbed by what she’s just learned. In the bathroom mirror, she confronts her reflection, pondering the ramifications of potentially having condemned an innocent person. Yet, just before the film concludes, a smile unfurls across her lips. This suggests an unsettling acceptance — perhaps an intrigue in the chaos she’s inadvertently orchestrated and a lack of concern that an innocent man may be wrongfully accused. Similar to her web of lies, Abby finds herself enveloped in yet another narrative fraught with twists, reflecting her complex psychological state.
Deciphering the Meaning Behind the Ending
Critique of Crime Sensationalization
The conclusion of Disappearance at Clifton Hill serves as an indictment of not only its protagonist but of an audience that engages with sensationalized crime narratives without full comprehension. Abby’s partnership with a conspiracy theorist reflects her disregard for uncovering genuine truths; rather, she’s propelled by a desire for a gripping story that includes an unexpected twist. The emergence of Alex, challenging Abby’s understanding of events, triggers a curious excitement within her rather than disillusionment.
By focusing on Abby’s motivations, the film encourages viewers to reflect on their engagement with crime stories. Instead of seeking truth, many may find pleasure in the twists and turns of a disturbing narrative, illuminating how voyeurism can equally lead to harm as it does intrigue.
Audience Reception of the Ending
Critics Divided Over the Finale
Disappearance at Clifton Hill stands as a polarizing film, dividing critics and audiences alike. This divide is evident in its Rotten Tomatoes scores, with critics rating it at 78% but the audience score plummeting to 31%. This discrepancy highlights how some films can receive critical acclaim while viewers may feel disappointed. Notably, the finale frequently appears in critiques, suggesting that many reviewers may appreciate the film’s stylistic elements, even if they didn’t resonate with its conclusion.
Numerous critics have articulated that the ending fails to tie together the preceding narrative cohesively. While acknowledging the film’s surreal and ambiguous qualities, many reviews express that a more decisive closure could bolster the audience’s satisfaction. Critics didn’t necessarily demand complete clarity but rather noted the need for a better equilibrium between exposition and narrative depth in the film’s final moments.
For example, Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian commented:
“It’s a pretty bizarre film, a thriller that appears partly to be composed of delusions and hallucinations, building to a shaggy-dog ending that wraps things up, though in a faintly exasperating way.”
Critiques continue with Roger Ebert’s Nick Allen reflecting,
“The narrative gets twists from this shiftiness, but the characters are underwritten, and the movie’s slippery nature (down to its final scene) feels more like a gimmick.”
Outside of the critiques, the film’s conclusion is rarely lauded as a highlight. Most praise centers around the visual aspects and performances rather than its narrative or ending. In a review for The Shelf, Victor Stiff remarked:
Disappearance at Clifton Hill kept me hooked even though I never cared about what was happening. I know that statement is strange praise. There are hints of a great neo-noir fighting to break out of Shin’s latest feature, but these glimpses only tease us. The captivating genre flick the plot hints at never fully takes form. What we do get, however, is a mediocre thriller with a killer vibe.
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