Copycat

Rating:
Summary: Edge of your seat-thriller
Review: Sigourney Weaver plays a housebound, phobic and drug addicted psychologist. She has become housebound as a result of a serious threat to her life by a notorious killer.

Prior to he becoming disabled, Weaver had been a highly accomplished forensic psychologist who'a speciality was serial killers. She had been a national expert on serial killers patterns, the massages they were sending, and what their general profile might be. All this has come to a halt as a result of the assault experience and its aftermath.

When a challening series of new killings break out, local police reluctantly consult Weaver who makes some inital contact with the department about her theories. Despite her condition and police wariness, Weaver proves to be very important ingredient to solving the crime spree.

Weaver is tied into the world via computer. Her excellent portrayal of a troubled psychologist and her incredible ability to place the pieces of the killer puzzle in order, make her the center of this captivating story.

Dermot Mulrooney, Holly Hunter, Harry Connick Jr., and William McNamara round out an outstanding cast.

This is one to watch over and over again.

Rating:
Summary: Above-average thriller
Review: Sitting down in front of something entitled 'Copycat', something that came out in the same year as 'Seven', it's all too tempting to write it off. Whilst not exactly a classic, this is actually a very competent and scary thriller that works on several levels. The plot has Sigourney Weaver as Helen Hudson, a renowned criminal psychologist who has developed agoraphobia after an escaped convict tried to kill her 13 months ago. Alongside this we have Holly Hunter as a hard-hitting cop investigating a grisly string of murders on which they have no clues. No prizes for guessing that the two team up. It turns out that this is a copycat killer, replicating famous murders from serial killers in the past.

Several things set this apart from others of its ilk, not least the fact that it's quite disturbing, especially thanks to a horribly insane performance from Harry Connick Jnr as the escaped prisoner in question. Of course, Sigourney Weaver is as excellent as you'd expect, and Holly Hunter is very impressive too. There's also a real aspect of fright here, drawn out very well in Helen's sense of paranoia and the sense that someone is watching her every move - the creeping suspicion that high-tech security systems won't protect you is palpable. There's even a little bit of moralising over the celebrity of the serial killer alongside the celebrity of Helen's criminal psychologist.

Of course, there's a lot here that's pretty formulaic and despite good performances and a little depth, the basic story has been done before more interestingly. Still, even if this is never as good as 'Silence Of The Lambs', that's only because that broke the mould. As it stands, 'Copycat' is a very worthwhile film indeed that deserves a second look.

Rating:
Summary: This movie was okay
Review: The good:Weaver played the part of Dr.Helen Hudson well,and Holly Hunter followed close behind-though her character,mannerisms,and even the accent she used(unless this is her normal voice;this is the first time I've seen her on screen)was lifted from Agent Starling's of "The Silence of The Lambs". The script is decent though it contributes nothing new to this well trodden genre. The bad:The cinematagraphy is bad,making the film look like any generic contender in the "serial killer on the loose,let's find him before he stikes again" sweepstakes(which in fact,it would be,were it not for the cast). The killing of the agent at the station by some innocuous second stringer or other also made for cheap melodrama;I didn't feel like it belonged in the film as a whole. William McNamara is (barely) adequate playing the second killer,led by the nose by jailed psychopath Daryl Lee Cullum(now THAT sounds like a name a serial killer would have). Cullum is played well by Harry Connick Jr.,even he occasionaly pushes his hayseed Hannibal Lecter act a bit far.

FINAL THOUGHT:Good for a rainy day.Not excellent,but well paced,with wonderful leads,and some jumps.A fine sense of 'symmetry' as well,on part of the (otherwise boring)William McNamara,who's acting undermime's the script's repeated attempts to make him creepy,and disturbing.Even when he goes after Helen he reminded me of an extra on a sitcom.

Rating:
Summary: Implausible, Derivative; Plausible, Original
Review: There was some rather implausible stuff going on between Sigourney Weaver and the serial killer over the Internet. Every time I see someone sit in front of a computer in a movie, I groan, and this was no exception.

I had just finished a popular book within the serial killer genre before seeing this movie, and was surprised to see certain aspects of the plot almost mirrorred. I won't say which book, because I wouldn't want to spoil the movie.

It is, in fact, a very good movie. The two points above cost it a star, but everything else flowed together nicely. If you know your serial killer lore, this movie will reward you.

Rating:
Summary: A MUST SEE
Review: This is a great movie. It is accurate in the details of some of the most famous serial killer in history. Harry Connick Jr. portrays the "scariest" person I have ever seen. I am a self proclaimed horror movie addict, and this one, by far, with the exception of Brian DePalmas Dressed To Kill, is one of the best. One recommendation, don't watch it alone!!

Rating:
Summary: A Must See For Serial Killer "Experts"
Review: This is a great movie. It is accurate in the details of some of the most famous Serial Killers in history. Harry Connick, Jr. portrays the "scariest" person I have ever seen. I am a self proclaimed horror movie addict, and this one, by far, with the exception of Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho", is one of the best. One recommendation, don't watch it alone!!

Rating:
Summary: Counterfeit "Silence of the Lambs"
Review: This is an exploitation movie, pure and simple, professionally done. What is being exploited is the public's fear and fascination with psychopathic serial killers. Sigourney Weaver plays a shrink, who is an expert on the species, gone slightly bananas with fear. We have the usual tinkling music to warn us that evil is afoot, the targeted woman alone in her apartment, the investigating cops one step behind, and of course the mad man-or actually mad men: as in "Silence of the Lambs" there are two of them, one in jail and one out.

Why anybody would want to make such a movie is beyond me. Money doesn't really explain it. I think the desire to show others that you can exploit the public better than they can is the motivation.

Holly Hunter plays a homicide detective in a pony tail. She's cute.

Rating:
Summary: NOT A SILENCE OF THE LAMBS RIP OFF
Review: This is more like Manhubter/Red Dragon, but no way is a rip off. The creepy killer in the beginning, Daryl Lee Cullum is based off a serial killer named John Paul Knowles, who used the name Daryl sometimes. A lot of this is based off real serial killers. It is an excellent film, Sigourney Weaver beats Edward Norton(RD) and Jodie Foster (SOTL) in every way.

Rating:
Summary: NOT A SILENCE OF THE LAMBS RIP OFF
Review: This is more like Manhunter/Red Dragon, but no way is a rip off. The creepy killer in the beginning, Daryl Lee Cullum is based off a serial killer named John Paul Knowles, who used the name Daryl sometimes. A lot of this is based off real serial killers. It is an excellent film, Sigourney Weaver beats William Petersen and Jodie Foster in every way.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome!
Review: This movie is wonderful! This movie has great acting, great mystery, and above all, a great plot! The idea of a serial killer whose pattern is not his own, but that of a mix of several different serial killers is just such a mind-thriller for the viewers. I believe the way he incoporated Helen's lecture into his killings and included her in his plan was really awesome! Up until the time he hunts her down, he followed the pattern of others. Since Helen didn't die in her attack by Darell Lee, it was then the point in which Peter had to create his own method for killing her rather then that of another serial killer, an amazing aspect into his madness, IF he would have succeeded. This movie is one that will make your heart leap into your throat! A must see for any thrill-seeker!