90s Movie Review - Copycat

Director: Jon Amiel
Genre: Thriller/ Drama/ Crime
Runtime: 118 minutes
Year: 1995
Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Holly Hunter, Dermot Mulroney, William McNamara, Harry Connick Jr., John Rothman, J.E. Freeman, Will Patton, Shannon O’Hurley, Bob Greene, Tony Haney, Danny Kovacs, Tahmus Rounds

Description: Agoraphobic psychologist Helen Hudson (Sigourney Weaver) and female detective MJ Monahan (Holly Hunter) must work together to take down a serial killer who copies serial killers from the past.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2020 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 44: A MOVIE WITH A SERIAL KILLER

Review: There are over four hundred potential serial killers in America, criminal-psychologist Helen Hudson states during her lecture. “Maybe there’s even one in the room right now”. And this turns out to be right, since one is waiting for her in the ladies’ room.
Years later, a number of women in San Francisco are murdered within a short period of time. Each under striking circumstances, but detective MJ Monahan can’t detect a pattern. She asks Helen for help, who is now an agoraphobic who locks herself in her own home. At first, Helen doesn’t seem to keen on helping MJ. But files left at her home make for Helen to join MJ in the investigation.
Helen discovers there is a connection between the murders: they imitate the methods of America’s most illustrious serial killers. With this knowledge they can predict with a high degree of probability the killer’s next steps.
For the time this movie was made, the mid-90s, it has a refreshing take on the detective genre. Since the two leading characters are women and they lead the investigation. Both Sigourney Weaver and Holly Hunter offer us solid performances.
Director Jon Amiel has paid a lot of attention to character building, which is a good move. This way the viewer can empathize with them so much more. Amiel makes frequent use of the suspense. The term ‘less is more’ really goes for “Copycat”. Even in seemingly boring moments, Amiel knows how to raise tension. For example, there is a scene in the film which Helen wants to get her newspaper. The paper is in a corridor, tow meters away from her door. Because of her phobia, Helen doesn’t want to walk out the door. Desperately she grabs a broom and try the newspaper. The threatening music and the angle of the camera turn this scene into an oppressive and exciting moment.
“Copycat” is an exciting, skillfully made thriller. The film does everything it’s supposed to do and does it really well. The only thing I didn’t like, is that the identity of the serial killer is revealed earlier on in the film. It doesn’t take away from the tension though, but I always enjoy a climax with a face reveal.

Rating: 3,5 / 5