Panic Room (2002), Cert 15.

Director - David Fincher

Writer - David Koepp.

Starring - Jodie Foster, Forest Whitaker, Jared Leto, Kristen Stewart & Dwight Yoakam.

 

Premise - When recently divorced Meg Altman (Jodie Foster) and her daughter Sarah (Kristen Stewart) move into a large Manhattan townhouse they expect to start a new life. However, three criminals (Forest Whitaker, Jared Leto & Dwight Yoakam) break into the house looking for $3m that resides in the houses 'Panic Room', a completely impenetrable bunker-style room installed by the houses previous owner. Meg and daughter flee to the panic room to escape the criminals and so starts a game of cat and mouse.

Panic Room is an excellent suspense thriller, that no doubt, wouldn't have been half the film it is had it not been made by David Fincher. Fincher is a master craftsman and one of my favourite directors currently making films. His style is dark, gloomy, claustrophobic and it's suits this film down to a tee.

Right form the ultra stylish opening credits sequence which sees the films credits seemingly floating above the streets of New York we know that we are in for a visual treat. Once the film starts in earnest Fincher seems to let the camera go, it's has free reign to wander wherever it wants. Whether that's between floors, through key locks, air vents, rubber tubing, wherever. The camera floats effortlessly all over the place, it's an effect that Fincher used in 'Fight Club', but it is brought to the fore here and used to further accentuate the claustrophobic feel of the film.

Further adding to this feel is the fact that practically the entire film takes place inside the house. Fincher films the inside of the house with his usual dark style, using minimal light to rack up the tension. The tension in the film starts very early on in the film, we are introduced to the characters and the house, then Fincher goes to work on the audience and he doesn't let go until the end of the film.

One of the most gripping scenes is when Meg and daughter are racing to get into the panic room ahead of the crooks, it's a wonderfully crafted sequence that leaves you on the edge of your seating wanting more.

Other part's of the films success are David Koepp's script and Howard Shore's score. The script is tight and even occasionally offers up a laugh or two(nods are made to 'Home Alone' on more than one occasion). Some popcorn story mechanics are thrown in for good measure such as Meg being Claustrophobic and Sarah being a Diabetic, but you can forgive them these clichés as the film doesn't dwell on them and uses them in somewhat original ways. Shore's script is as grand as any he's done, it's full of sweeping orchestral pieces that are a perfect fit to the on screen action.

It must be a real joy for a director to get an actress of Jodie Fosters quality in your film (although the role was originally Nicole Kidman's, but she had to pass after an injury on the set of 'Moulin Rouge!'. Kidman can still be heard however, in a cameo as Meg's Ex's new lover). Foster hasn't made many films of late and it's nice to be reminded of just how good an actress she really is. She plays Meg perfectly, not as a whiny, screaming, distraught mother or as a pumped up action heroine, but somewhere in-between. Her take on Meg is of a women who is nothing special, but will take extreme action to protect her daughter. She might not like what she has to do, but she has to do it. It really is an excellent performance.

My hatred of kids in films is well documented, but Kristen Stewart as the young Sarah is a real find. Yes, sometimes she looks like a young boy, but she gives a really good performance and is utterly convincing.

The thieves are also excellent. They play of each other so well, yet each has a different and striking personality. Forest Whitaker is the brains of the group who at his heart is a morally good man, he sees the job as a means to an end. Jared Leto is a drug addicted hot head, who acts first then asks questions. Dwight Yoakum is a wild card, hidden behind a balaclava his motives aren't clear, but he appears dangerous. All three men give excellent performances, especially Whitaker, wiping clean the stain of 'Battlefield Earth' from his CV. Leto adds to his bulging resume of good films and Yoakam is definitely one to watch out for in the future.

One thing that did bother me about the film however is an unneeded epilogue. It takes away from the powerful ending of the film and given the chance I would have left it on the cutting room floor. It's not that big a deal though, it's only a couple of minutes long and doesn't alter the fact that Panic Room is a superlative film.

Panic Room can easily hold it's head high amongst Finchers suberb other work. It's testament to his skill as a director that he can take what is at it's core a standard Hollywood suspense thriller and lift it high above these conventions. Questionable epilogue aside Panic room is a taught, stylish, Hitchcockian thriller that should rate highly in my best of 2002 end of year list.

 

8/10 for Panic Room.

Poster Quote - Fincher does it again.