Copycat (1995)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Jon Amiel

Writers (WGA):

Ann Biderman (written by) and
David Madsen (written by)

Release Date:

27 October 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

One man is copying the most notorious killers in history one at a time. Together, two women must stop him from killing again. Or they're next.

Plot:

An agoraphobic psychologist and a female detective must work together to take down a serial killer who copies serial killers from the past.

Plot Keywords:

Serial Killer | Detective | Psychologist | Murder | Agoraphobia

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Sigourney Weaver	...	Helen Hudson
Holly Hunter	...	M.J. Monahan
Dermot Mulroney	...	Reuben Goetz
William McNamara	...	Peter Foley
Harry Connick Jr.	...	Daryll Lee Cullum
J.E. Freeman	...	Lt. Thomas Quinn
Will Patton	...	Nicoletti
John Rothman	...	Andy
Shannon O'Hurley	...	Susan Schiffer
Bob Greene	...	Pachulski
Tony Haney	...	Kerby
Danny Kovacs	...	Kostas
Tahmus Rounds	...	Landis
Scott DeVenney	...	Cop #1
David Michael Silverman	...	Mike

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and language.

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #34118) | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16 (cut) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) | Australia:M (TV rating) | Philippines:R-18 | New Zealand:R18 | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Chile:18 | Denmark:16 | Germany:16 | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | France:-12

Filming Locations:

Hollywood Center Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Regency Enterprises

Trivia:

The climactic bathroom scene took 8 days to film.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the bathroom crime scene there are two candles burning. M.J. asks the coroner for the time of death, which he claims to be eight hours ago. It is unlikely that the candles could have been burning for such a long time.

Quotes:

Helen: I'm not on duty - neither is my brain.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Adam and Joe Show: (#1.3)" (1996)

Soundtrack:

Murder by Numbers

One of the best serial killer movies

The serial killer genre is one that became popular after "Silence of the Lambs," and since then the only ones that have really stuck out are "Se7en," "Copycat" and "Saw." "Copycat" is about a psychologist who lectures students on serial killers, and one day finds herself to be a victim at one of her speeches. Attacked in the bathroom, she narrowly escapes death and becomes a social recluse in the years that follow -- living through the Internet, anonymously chatting on Internet chat rooms and so on and so forth.

Until the terror begins again, this time involving not only the ex-pschologist (Sigourney Weaver) but also a cop played by Holly Hunter.

"Copycat" was much better than I thought it would be. I originally saw it on TBS years ago; I remember the ads claiming it would be on, but for some reason the rights fell through and it didn't air for another month or so... through this time period I hadn't heard anything about the film, but within the very first few minutes I instantly knew it was going to be much better than the standard "Silence" rip-off.

I may be alone here (and trust me, I know it) but I enjoy this more than "Silence of the Lambs," which kind of bores me at times. "Copycat" is dark and unexpectedly intelligent -- it is also perfectly cast. Weaver is fine (if unexceptional) whereas Hunter's macho-female traits are put into play perfectly by her casting as a cop.

The killer in the movie is played by Harry Connick Jr., and even he does a good job, which is saying quite a lot.

The movie has unexpected twists and is very clever in its own right. It is undoubtedly influenced (heavily) by "Silence of the Lambs" but is successful in the way it adds its own qualities to the mix -- much like "Se7en" this is a serial killer movie cashing in on the success of "Silence," but not necessarily stealing its content.

Very surprised. Catch it if you can.