Review : Panic Room (2002)

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A woman with her daughter have just shifted to their new home after a bitter break up with the  husband. But the first night in a new home doesn't turn out too well as three robbers break into their house and both have to lock themselves into a safe room......



Yeah! Yeah! I've harped enough. But I wanna say again for the new readers. I dread home invasion and simply for that reason its my favorite movie genre. And when its directed by David Fincher and written by David Koepp, my joy knows no bounds. Its utterly brilliant. Maybe a little flawed but hey perfect doesn't excite me that much. It would be an understatement to say that I was a little fazed after watching this. Before the horror movies took the genre and turned it more gruesome and scary, this was the one film I dreaded to watch. And when I watched it again I realized why. My phobia combined with David Fincher's brilliance has had to have effect. Quite exciting and thrilling down to the last moments. Home invasion needs more stuff like this. Get inspired!!


What can I say about David Fincher that hasnt been said before.  Fight Club, Se7en, The Social Network, Alien 3 etc etc speak for themselves. He sure knows how to create reletable characters and hard to watch sequences. And he can be a danger for asthama patients as scary and breathless moments intertwine in his movies. And this time he gets great help from the amazing and brilliant writer David Koepp(Jurassic Park, War Of The Worlds, Mission Impossible, Spiderman). The writing is pretty detailed and engaging. We get acquainted pretty well with the house and consider it a part of the star cast and sure enough it plays a great role in making this movie what it is. Hats off to the great duo of Davids who create a compelling and frightening movie which can make check your house bolts twice over. Rock on!!

Pretty much her expression in the whole movie!!

The sparse acting cast is headlined by none other than the amazing Jodie Foster(Meg). She looks as general as can be and her astonished , scared and then the kickassness take the movie through. And to support her is the mini Kristen Stewart(Sarah) who was maybe 12 when it was shot. As her diabetic daughter she just blows your mind. Totally fighting it out it even as the situation becomes more and more tense. Toal no non sense stuff from the ladies. Also the robbers played by Forest Whittaker(Burnham) ,Dwight Yoakam(Raoul) and Jared Leto(Junior) are just downright scary and funny. Especially Leto gives a clownish act which acts a great buffer between breathless sequences. Whittaker also gives a mindblowing act as the safe room builder turned robber with a heart. And Yoakam is most heartless of all and does the baddest things with no hint of regret. And who can forget the spacious, hard to find in Manhattan house. Also the panic room which holds the thing the robbers are looking for. All elements combine to give us a movie which is scary, brilliant and tension filled with some flaws during the end. Also the little fact that by the end you may root for one robber to get away. I did. Just amazing!!


Cinematography is pretty nice. And also the editing. Its a fast paced movie. Once the robbers get in you know somethings gonna happen every second. And to accompany it is a decent soundtrack which involves you in the movie and makes you feel as if you are in the panic room. Production design too is well. Nice!!

All grown up and shit

 

HighTension Verdict: If you like home invasion movies than this is one of the best non horror thing you can get. Entertaining and the ability to get you breathless. For a night out dare to watch this and sleep tight!!


HighTension Meter: 8.5/10.


BEST Quote:

Meg: [on loud speaker] Get out of my house!
Sarah: Say Fuck!
Meg: [on loud speaker] FUCK!
Sarah: Mom! "Get the fuck out of my house"!
Meg: [on loud speaker] Get the FUCK out of my house!