Video Capsule: Copycat (6/10)

[JoBlo]

Copycat (1995)
Director: Jon Amiel
Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Holly Hunter

A somewhat entertaining movie, that kept me "into it" for most of its runtime (although it's definitely too long a film at over 120 minutes), offered a handful of suspenseful moments, a decent score and a very good performance from Sigourney Weaver, but ultimately, didn't overwhelm me on any level.

Here's a film that I'd always believed to "suck the big one". Not sure why I had that belief in my mind, but I think it had something to do with Siskel & Ebert roasting it on their show when it originally came out (although I could be wrong on this), or the fact that it came out a little after the ULTIMATE serial killer movie, SEVEN.

Either way, I finally decided to give it a shot tonite and despite remaining interested in the film's plotline for most of the way, I did have some issues with it. For example, two people close to the leads in this film die, and yet neither one of them shows much sign of emotional loss. There's also a romance element with Will Patton that is COMPLETELY OUT OF PLACE in this film (why is Patton even in this movie?) and the ending is a little far-fetched (the serial killer's house burns down so the cops just ASSUME that he was in it?).

But on the whole, I have to say that I was somewhat intrigued by the premise (a serial killer that copies other serial killers), appreciated the performances, especially Weaver, who played a great neurotic shrink and Connick Jr., who did his best hick with a mean psychosis, and liked the directing choices made throughout the film (the shots of Weaver's agoraphobia really stood out).

So if you wanna get creeped out on a lazy Saturday nite, nachos by your side and the lights down low, you can do much worse than this movie.

[Brock Landers]

It definitely fell a little flat after so many great serial killer flicks before, and my inability to identify easily with the main character (except for her phobia's on occasion). I really enjoyed Dermot Mulroney's character and Will Patton had his great a-hole-ish moments (reminded me of his character in "Gone in 60 Seconds", "Inventing The Abbotts" & "The Paint Job"). I like J.E. Freeman as the Lieutenent, and have been a fan of his ever since "Miller's Crossing" (plays Eddie Dane) & "Dream With The Fishes" (plays Joe, Nick's sadistic father). Harry Connick Jr. was good to a point, but his best role has always been as the tailgunner in "Memphis Belle" (not counting "Independence Day"). I've never been a big Holly Hunter fan (except for "Raising Arizona"), but she does a good enough job and acts like she knows what she's doing as a cop. Sigourney Weaver still holds up as a strong, pretty good looking older chick (makes me wonder what she would have been like in the sack 20 year ago /ubb/wink.gif ), but her character was pretty much a self-centered bitch. The direction from Amiel was good, and even great in some parts, but the story fell flat on its face as far as I'm concerned. Still, like JoBlo says, you could do much worse...

Helen: Fuck you.
Peter: What?
Helen: You heard me, you little twerp. Do you think I'm afraid of you?
Peter: I know you are.
Helen: I know all about you. You're just a sad, second rate, boring, impotent little copycat.
[laughter]
Peter: Watch it bitch or I will slice that smile off your face, do you hear me?
Helen: Daryll Lee couldn't get it up either.
Peter: DO YOU HEAR ME?
Helen:
[spits in Peter's face]
Peter: OK, I see Helen. Nice try. You wanna know a little secret? Huh? I'm on to your trick. I won't kill you fast no matter how much you're gonna want me to. /ubb/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by Brock Landers (edited 08-04-2001).]

[Horror whore]

I caught this on TV one time and I thought it was entertaining...7/10

[Cyclonus]

It's a decent thriller, but lacks the impact of "Se7en" (they came out the same year). Weaver is good, though.

6/10.

[Dignan777]

I just re-watched Copycat today, hadn't watched it in a few years. The acting is laughable at times (mostly coming from the serial killers in the film). This is an entertaining film though, it's not a classic or anything. So I'd give it 6.5/10.

[NicktheQuick]

Given my fascination for serial killers, I came out of the theatre pleased after seeing this one. I kept wondering how come this film didn't fare well in the box office.

Well, until last week when I rented it again. Lots of "What the hell...?" and "What was that for?" moments, that coulda been altered a bit thus cutting down on the 2 hour plus running time.

And everything else JoBlo said up top about the characters dying and bla bla bla...

6/10

[wyodebbie]

For me the story of the serial killings in "Copycat" was not nearly as interesting as the serial killer psychologist Helen Hudson (Sigourney Weaver) who suffers from agoraphobia due to a serial killer that almost killed her. Sigourney Weaver very successfully plays the helpless agoraphobia and at the same time still remains a fierce tracker of one serial killer. This time the serial killer baffles her because his is "copycating" all the successful serial killers instead of just playing out one murder obsession. It doesn't really matter the suprise "puller of strings" because it's really seconday to Helen Hudson's story, the same for the "cop story" with Holly Hunter and Dermot Mulroney. For me, Weaver was the bright shining star of the story.

[Cronos]

i rewatched Copycat recently (the first time i saw it i didnt find it at all entertaining or even interesting). this time i actually found myself enjoying it. the acting is pretty good (although Weaver got on my nerves at times). it was a lot more entertaining than i remember as well with an interesting story that progressed nicely and i really got into it. it also has some nice action scenes

7/10

[ilovemovies]

I loved it. Very suspenseful and gripping and intense. Sigourney Weaver and Holly Hunter are superb and make for a dynamic team. Weaver is especially good, it's one of her best performances. Her character's agoraphobia leads to some tense moments, including the thrilling climax. I think this is one of the best entries in the serial killer subgenre. Not quite as good as The Silence of the Lambs or Se7en but still terrific entertainment.

8/10