“Detained,” a compact crime story, manages to be remarkably effective as a thriller. Director and co-writer Felipe Mucci has crafted a carefully planned narrative with an intriguing puzzle at its core, immediately drawing the viewer in. The film moves along quickly, featuring a cleverly built storyline that results in a surprisingly strong entry within its genre, reminiscent of “True Detective.” The story begins when Rebecca (Abbie Cornish) finds herself in a neglected police station during the night, unable to recall how she arrived. Confronted by two aggressive detectives—played by Laz Alonso and Moon Bloodgood—she learns she’s accused of a hit-and-run. Things worsen for her after an incident results in the death of another prisoner and one of the officers. Now with blood on her hands and few options, Rebecca attempts to use money to escape the increasingly complicated situation. The entire cast delivers commendable performances, but Cornish truly shines, demonstrating both range and skill. It feels like she doesn’t often receive the recognition she warrants as an actress, and she effectively anchors the film throughout. The movie's limited location could be a detriment in other movies, but here it proves beneficial because the story is so well-developed. The script is intense and skillfully written, and the mystery possesses more depth than one might anticipate. Though the narrative shifts between different points in time, it avoids confusion and remains straightforward to understand. While the resolution becomes somewhat foreseeable, the engaging process of trying to figure things out is quite enjoyable. Even better, the final explanation and subsequent violent sequence provide a very satisfying conclusion. “Detained” combines an appropriately balanced sense of predictability with strong acting and clever plot turns, ultimately providing viewers with a surprising and entertaining experience.

Source on TMDB