A homicide detective and a criminal psychologist search for an elusive copycat mass murderer.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: R
Release Date: 4-JUN-2002
Media Type: DVD
Michel D. (michelann) from WALNUT GROVE, MO Reviewed on 8/10/2014...
Very entertaining movie! Scary and unpredictable from the first minutes and I absolutely could not stop watching even though I wanted to! Love Harry Connick Jr but now see him far differently than the romantic guy (Hope Floats) I once thought he was. Very well worth watching!
2 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Movie Reviews
Good story, great suspense...
stephie189 | USA | 01/30/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If you like suspense, mystery, a good story, and for the most part, good acting, then this movie is a good choice. What I like about Copycat (besides Sigourney Weaver) is how it seems to come full circle. It feels complete to me. It starts at the beginning, doesn't backtrack with flashbacks or start in the middle and leave you wondering what's going on. You're able to follow along and not get distracted by unnecessary gore (sure there is some, but not much). It's a psychological thriller, and I like that much better than the slash and dash type of movies. It makes you think and allows you to try and figure out what the outcome will be.
Sure, you expect the star to live, but it's not always a given. The ending kind of hints at a sequel but as far as I know, there isn't one. If they can make one as good as the first, I think it would do well (at least those who enjoyed this one, might see the second). It's rather interesting to see the Harry Connick Jr. play a serial killer. He's pretty creepy."
Remarkable display of talent...
R. Gawlitta | Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA | 05/31/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Here you have two tough broads, a good cop and the nastiest of killers. How can you lose? Actually, the pairing of Sigourney & Holly is wonderful, in this age of films so lacking in strong women's roles. Sigourney, in particular, after years of kicking alien-butt, withdraws as the victim of an almost lethal attack and subsequent nervous breakdown. Her house-bound recluse still shows fire and rage, well-controlled and centered; a really great performance. Holly, too, in a slightly less showy role, shows drive and command of her role. These women are magnificent, in their own ways, and carry this film through plot-twists and strange turns that are always compelling. Also compelling is the very taut direction of John Amiel, never missing a chance to include the audience in everything, though you don't realize it at the time. A very handsome Dermot Mulroney makes an auspicious presence as an "almost" sex-object for the women, and William McNamara is greatly effective as the ultimate center of the film. Harry Connick, Jr. has impressed me as an actor many times, but not so much as here. With rotten teeth and an oily, snake-like presence he is given a few memorable moments. This film has been compared to "Silence of the Lambs", but it really has its own character and drive. The tension is high, the plot well presented and the acting is superlative. I like this film a lot."
More than a 'Silence of the Lambs' rip off...
stephie189 | 03/13/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I've seen a number of reviews that refer to this movie as a "Silence of the Lambs" rip-off. I disagree. "Copy Cat", while similar in many aspects to "Silence of the Lambs", manages to stand alone. The story line is nothing new...evil serial killer terrorizing young girls, cops teaming up with an expert to track him down before he selects and filets his next victim. You've seen it before, right? Well, maybe not. "Copy Cat" is filled with twists and turns and exceptional acting. The overall mood is dark and foreboding. Helen Hudson (brilliantly played by Sigourney Weaver) is a psychiatrist and expert in the field of serial killers. However, she is not your run of the mill "hero"... in fact, she's a mess. She can't even leave her house since she was terrorized and almost made into Darryl Lee Cullum's final victim. Cullum, now imprisoned, did quite a number on Hudson, turning her into a pill-popping, jittering, agoraphobic shell. Ironically, the protege of Darryl Lee is what actually brings her back from the living dead, as she works with police to track down a copy-cat killer that re-enacts the most horrifying murders history has to offer. Helen Hunt and Dermont Mulroney play the cops working feverishly to catch the copy-cat before he can strike again. Hunt and Weaver play off of each other exceptionally well. Their animosity turns into grudging respect as they realize they need one another to survive this. Yes, this film does have similarities with "Silence of the Lambs" but it also has characteristics that set it apart. This movie is filled with exceptional acting, a good story line, plot twists, realistic (if flawed) heroes and a dark, creepy atmosphere. If you did enjoy "Silence of the Lambs" try "Copy Cat"...same style, differnt movie."
Fantastic!
Granuaile | Canada | 01/27/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Having watched this movie in Law class, I can definitely say it's one of the best of its genre. It was fast-paced, thought-provoking, and utterly gripping.Sigourney Weaver turns in a brilliant performance as Helen Hunt, a retired and agoraphobic woman with all the knowledge she'll ever need of the criminal mind - having been nearly murdered at the movie's beginning my Darryl Lee Cullum (Harry Connick, Jr), the man behind everything. The other actors give us great insight of the way things work in a serial case, their mannerisms and skills as actors (especially William McNamara, the seductively charming psychopath) chilling us as we watch the drama unfold.If you're looking for something new in the Thriller category, you could do much worse than this."
"Should I shoot him or stick him?"
Film Noir Fedora | 03/09/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A killer gets caught when almost killing an expert on killers. While in prison he writes a book.
Sigourney Weaver thinks that her worst troubles are over . . .until a copycat killer is mimicking different killers of the past.
Dahmer, Son of Sam killer, Ted Bundy, just to name a few.
And, what is most disturbing of all is that he's really good at getting the detail all right.
This tension/thriller will give your brain a wake up call of intrigue.