"Bunny Lake Is Missing" is a dark psychological thriller about an american woman relocating to England from America. The film opens up with a mother arriving at school to pick her little girl, Bunny Lake, up at the end of the day. Only no one seems to find, or even remember her. There is in fact no proof she ever existed. The mother Ann Lake ( Carol Lynley), is moving in with her brother ( Keir Dullea), who is called to the school and the siblings blame the teachers for the girl gone missing. Scotland Yard Superintendent Newhouse (Laurence Olivier) is calle in on the case that he isn't really interested in solving, not even believing the child ever existed in the first place, deeming the mother crazy. Bunny Lake is Missing so much more than the storyline about a child disappearing. It is a dark psychological story about a mother driven to the breaking point, police and child care takers alike deeming her crazy. Ann's only support is her brother. The film shows their close, almost incestuous relationship, with Stephen Lake questioning the police every move, and being very supportive of his sister.
Bunny Lake Is Missing has a very good character build up, with Laurence Olivier Supt. Newhouse and Keir Dullea's Stephen as prime examples. I didn't really like Carol Lynley's take on Ann. Her character was all over the place at times, singing from calm to mad hat in seconds. I felt some restraint in the acting apartment would have been very welcome at times. Olivier gives some of his best performances as Supt. Newhouse in " Bunny...", he gives just the right amount of strength to the role. With holding when needed, releasing power when needed. Without over-acting. Newhouse not only has to solve the crime of a missing girl, he has to make up his mind whether or not there ever was ! a little girl gone missing.
There is however one performer that stood out a bit extra amongst the cast, and that was in my opinion Keir Dullea as the brother. Stephen Lake is the strong, brave, dependable older brother who arrives to help his ailing sister with adjusting to a new country. He immediately take charge upon his arrival at the school, clashing with not only Oliviers Supt. Newhouse and the rest of the British police force, but the school as well. He immediately talks about suing, shocking Ann.
Dullea shines in every scene he´s in, Stephen is very much in control of his actions, he doesn't overplay his hands. Dulleas acting choices are restrained, but yet demanding, and his Stephen are his sister's solid support throughout her ordeal with her missing girl. He never wavers, even when the siblings are accused of making little Bunny Lake up.
Bunny Lake Is Missing is psychological suspense from the first frame to the last, and it has some surprising twists and turns until it´s climactic conclusion,
Otto Preminger is a master at directing suspenseful film-noirs and thrillers, and this was one was no different. A fine piece of film that stays with you long after it's gone.
