PANIC ROOM

8/10

USA 2002, dir. David Fincher, stars Jodie Foster, Kristen Stewart, Forest Whitaker

A ‘panic room’ is, apparently, a fortified space hidden in expensive houses, to provide safe refuge for inhabitants in the event of ‘home invasion’. Which is exactly what happens to recently divorced Meg Altman (Jodie Foster) and her teenage daughter Sarah (Kristen Stewart) on their first night in their fancy Manhattan brownstone. But the stash of loot sough by the burglars (Forrest Whitaker, Jared Leto, Dwight Yoakam) is, of course, hidden inside the panic room itself, and nervy stalemate turns to tense cat-and-mouse as each side desperately tries to gain the upper hand. After Se7en, The Game and Fight Club, Fincher delivers yet another technically-brilliant thriller that works on multiple levels, this time he placing much more emphasis on old-fashioned, woman-in-peril excitement. It’s a great ride – just don’t ask too many questions…