Directed by: David Fincher Starring: Jodie Foster, Kristen Stewart, Forest Whitaker, Jared Leto, Dwight Yoakam.
With Hollywood fast becoming a cinematic abyss of tired re-makes, heart-less blockbusters, and production line teen movies, the 1996 release of 'Seven' and the visionary follow-up 'Fight Club' in 1999 helped to re-establish audiences' wavering faith in the American 'mainstream'. The emergence of new Fincher material has therefore become a much-anticipated event. 'Panic Room' is a claustrophobic urban suspenser, a fresh approach to a vintage thriller format and is perfectly faithful to the 'Fincher world' created in it's predecessors, rain swept and hostile, dark and unsettling, moody and stylish.
In search of a new start, recent divorcee Meg Altman (Foster) and daughter Sarah (Stewart) re-locate to a vast, multi-storey house on the west side of New York. After discovering a steel security room on the top floor, built by the paranoid previous owner, and having tentatively settled into their new surroundings, three uninvited guests arrive, in the early hours of their first night. Hiding in the 'Panic room', they soon discover that the object of the burglars' desire happens to be inside the room and they will go to any lengths to get at it. What ensues is a unique siege, conducted at break-neck speed and with expected technical ability from Fincher, whose directorial pedigree is once again admirably reaffirmed.
'Panic Room' is an incredibly assured reappearance for Foster, the determined and independent demeanour of her character is reminiscent of a certain Ms Starling, and helps carry the film, a welcome change from the 'damsel in distress' approach we've become accustomed to in this kind of break-in thriller. The differing characters of the three intruders also help to maintain interest, the on-going duel between the ringleader, junior (Leto), the psychopathic Raoul (Yoakam) and the genuine, but needy Burnham, played to perfection by the excellent Forest Whitaker, provide an extra dimension to proceedings.
This latest project was not without it's difficulties for Fincher. Disagreements with 'Seven' cinematographer Darius Khondji, lead to the latter's acrimonious departure, Nicole Kidman, originally signed to play the lead, injured her knee during rehearsals and was belatedly replaced by Jodie Foster and countless production problems set the film back time and time again. With the action taking place entirely within the confines of the house and within a few hours, one can't help but feel a lesser director would have struggled with the limitations of the piece. Fincher's fluid direction and stunning cinematography, however, never cease to hold the attention as the camera glides around the house with incredible effectiveness, occasional flaws in story and script are easily over-looked here, as style takes precedence over content.
'Panic Room', understandably fails to live up to Fincher's previous two efforts, but remains a cut above anything else of it's kind you're likely to see at your local multiplex in the coming weeks, an interesting and enjoyable, if not ground-breaking continuation of the Fincher Legacy.
Sam Groombridge
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