A solid thriller

An atmospheric thriller with good pace and balance the story unfolds smoothly. The computer sequences date the film but solid performances by Weaver, Hunter, Mulroney and Connick Jr give this film a slightly Silence of the Lambs feel which I suspect is not accidental.

Even though we're privy to much of what is going on and there are few surprises the film manages to maintain its suspense throughout. Since Helen Hudson (Sigourney Weaver) is the focus of the copycat killer, logically her agorophobic fortress becomes the focus of his efforts to terrorise her. Hudson appears to be addicted to both antidepressant and/or anxiolytic medication which she (unwisely) washes down with fair quantities of brandy. The net effect of this is that she has believable lapses in the confidence of her own memory which is an intelligent plot device to lend some credibility to the final sequences.

Holly Hunter performs very well, as Monahan she is an alluring character with her compact feisty frame, large brown eyes and softly spoken but precisely measured script delivery. Quite a package.

Definitely worth seeing if you like thrillers.

7/10