Panic Room (2002)

Dir David Fincher

Written by David Koepp

Jodie Foster, Kristen Stewart, Forest Whitaker, Dwight Yoakam, Jared Leto, Patrick Bauchau.

Newly divorced Meg Altman (Foster) buys a home in the Upper West Side of Manhatten with her 10 year old daughter Sarah (Stewart). The stunning home comes with a Panic Room, in case of emergencey. On the first night in the home, three thieves break in, and Meg and Sarah take sanctuary in said room. It just so happens, what the thieves want, is in that room.

From the ‘Hitchcockian’ opening credits, which is bright and open against a somewhat gothic score, it is soon contrasted by the dark and claustrophobic feature film.

Fincher’s creative directorial style is on point here, with brilliant use of steady flow camera pan with equal parts real world, blended with amazing use of CGI. One particular long take has the camera pan around the entire apartment, through things like the handle of a kettle, and into and out of a key hole.

The cast do a sound job, with Foster always delivering as usual. Stewart in one of her earliest roles (who was only 10 or 11 here) is very believable as the daughter caught up in the middle of her parent’s divorce, and then the frightening ordeal.

The trio of the robbers are a little cliché’ with one being the ‘good’ guy who needs this, and the one who is the sociopath behind it all. They still do a fine job, with Leto a returning Fincher cast member from 1999’s Fight Club.

Still holds up after over 20 years, is a good film; but far from the best work that all the key players have done.

3.5/5