COPYCAT
A film review by Ed Powell
Copyright 1995 Ed Powell
COPYCAT is a suspense/thriller, where Sigourney Weaver plays a criminal psychologist, that is attacked by a serial killer. Fortunately for her, she isn't killed, and the killer is sent to prison. The attack has, however, left her mentally scarred, and she now suffered from agrophobia (sp?). Thirteen months later, still scarred, she is asked by a police detective (Holly Hunter) to help solve a series of murders. It turns out that there is a serial killer at work, and as you may have guessed, he is copying the methods of other serial killers. And ... to top it all off ... he is in league with the serial killer that attacked Sigourney's character.
The pace of this film seemed slow at times, but it wasn't boring. It was suspenseful, but it wasn't edge-of-your-seat nail-biting thrilling. The story itself seemed real enough to have come from today's headlines. The script was well researched and was thoroughly engrossing.
The acting in this film was top-notch. Sigourney played her part of a criminal psychologist who drinks and takes a wide assortment of medication in order to be able to get through the day without having a mental breakdown quite well. Holly, while not as believeable in the role of a police detective, nevertheless was quite convincing in the role. A good deal of the male roles in the film seemed to get killed off, but their roles were well played.
Direction of this film was well above top notch. I may not agree with the director's (Jon Amiel) decision in using a few shots that made me want to reach for a barf bag, he made the film a true visual delight.
COPYCAT is tamer than some suspense films I have seen, but it is a great extra-dramatic experience. If you have some or any interest in what goes on in the minds of serial killers, this is great entertainment. Go see this film.
Produced by Arnon Milchary and Mark Tarlov. Directed by Jon Amiel. A Regency Enterprises/Warner Brothers release.
RATINGS (out of ten)
--------------------
Plot/Story: 8
Writing: 8
Acting: 9
Design: 6
Effects: 5
Direction: 8.5
Music: 7.5
TOTAL: 52 out of 70 (Overall: 7.429)
-- Ed Powell, MSTie #27968 http://user.aol.com/joeylemur/homepage.htm
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