Gone (15)

Mar 9 2007 By Graham Young, Birmingham Mail

BRISKLY debut-directed by the exotically-named Ringan Ledwidge, this is a taut, low budget thriller set in the strangely claustrophobic confines of the vast Australian Outback.

The real-life horrors which have made headlines in the past will make this a particularly unsettling journey for anyone who has either been backpacking or has plans to.

Amelia Warner (Stoned) and Shaun Evans (Being Julia) play travellers Sophie and Alex, befriended by American globetrotter Taylor (Mean Creak's Scott Mechlowicz) whose girlfriend Ingrid apparently soon leaves him.

"I always have that effect on women," he says, taking a photo of his new pals.

And he'll have quite an impact on audiences, too, in a film which has one of the best endings of its kind since Seven.

Gone is hardly the most original of films or titles, but at least it's been preferred to the bland original label Middle of Nowhere.

Running to a pleasing 88 minutes, the limited release features a distinctive look, fabulous landscapes and just the sort of nerve-jangling thrills the teen audience will expect.