Danny Donnelly makes his feature-length directorial debut with Last Known Location. The abduction thriller follows Danay (Sophia Lucia Parola), a therapist preparing to attend a big family gathering in another state. But she is kidnapped and locked in a basement by an unknown man. Locked beside Danay is Callie (screenwriter Aimee Theresa), who has been there for a while yet. And after several days — or has been weeks? — another victim, Marly (Jennifer M. Kay), is thrown into the dank cellar with the other two. With the abduction count rising, detectives Dellassandro (Jamie Kerezsi) and Bridgeman (Dax Richardson) are trying to find a connection between the three women and follow any and all leads before time runs out.
Let’s get the negatives out of the way first. There is a twist involving the kidnapper that is very easy to guess. Thus, when the film makes the “shocking” reveal, it is not particularly intense. The other significant flaw is that a substantial portion of the supporting cast is only okay, at best. The bartenders, clients, and the like feel very hammy and over the top. They often dispel the tension and mystery built up by the directing and writing.
“…she is kidnapped and locked in a basement by an unknown man.”
With that out of the way, there’s a lot to appreciate Last Known Location. The main cast is quite good. Parola is likable and effectively conveys her fear and confusion over what’s happening. When Theresa exclaims that her character did tell Danay the rules it is infused with heartache and dread. Kay is sweet, and her chemistry with Patrick Hickman, who plays Marly’s boyfriend, is excellent. Kereszi and Richardson are no-nonsense but don’t come across as monotone or stereotypical at all.
Donnelly precisely edits the film to keep the pace moving, while also striking a balance between the characterizations. Sprinkled throughout are flashbacks that add depth to the characters of Danay, Callie, and Marly. The writing portrays the police investigators as realistic and intelligent individuals. The victims are interesting and distinct, even when they are freaking out over their shared predicament.
Last Known Location is a solid and absorbing thriller. The lead actors are well-cast and effectively add to the tension and dread. While the supporting cast is decidedly mixed, no one is so bad that they ruin any individual sequence. The story is very engaging and balances the mystery and characterization well. And the twist is still interesting, even though it can be figured out well before the end credits roll. Overall, this is an intense and engaging thriller that works on more levels than it does not.
For more information, visit the official Last Known Location site.
"…a solid and absorbing thriller."
