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Copycat
An agoraphobic psychologist and a female detective must work together to take down a serial killer who copies serial killers from the past.
1995 · Directed by Jon Amiel · 124 min · Thriller · Crime · Mystery · Screenplay in the scene database · 12 frames
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
After giving a guest lecture on criminal psychology at a university, Dr. Helen Hudson, a field expert on serial killers, is cornered in the lecture hall's restroom by one of her previous subjects, Daryll Lee Cullum, who has escaped from prison. He kills a police officer and attacks Helen. Another cop subdues Cullum, and he is returned to prison. After the attack, Hudson becomes severely agoraphobic, sealing herself inside her apartment, conducting her entire life from behind a computer screen, and supported by her live-in assistant, Andy.
When a series of similar murders spreads fear across San Francisco, homicide detective M.J. Monahan and her partner, Ruben Goetz, solicit Helen's expertise. Initially reluctant, Helen finds herself drawn into the warped perpetrator's game of wits. As the murders continue, Helen realizes that the elusive assailant draws inspiration from notorious serial killers, including Albert DeSalvo, The Hillside Strangler, David Berkowitz, Jeffrey Dahmer, and Ted Bundy. When the murderer begins stalking Helen, they enlist aid from Cullum, who tells them where the killer will be next.
The police are unable to intercept the killer, as (in an unrelated incident at the police station) a suspect accesses a gun and takes Ruben hostage. The suspect attempts to leave but is shot by M.J., only to get back up, shooting and killing Ruben. M.J. feels guilty for not fully neutralising the man. She opts to remain working and to continue searching for the serial killer alone.
Plot summary from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
Crew
- Screenplay: Ann Biderman, David Madsen
- Cinematography: László Kovács
- Edited by: Jim Clark, Alan Heim
- Music: Christopher Young
- Production design: Jim Clay
- Produced by: Arnon Milchan, Mark Tarlov, Michael G. Nathanson
Cast
- Sigourney Weaver as Helen Hudson
- Holly Hunter as M.J. Monahan
- Dermot Mulroney as Ruben Goetz
- William McNamara as Peter Foley
- Harry Connick Jr. as Daryll Lee Cullum
- J.E. Freeman as Lt. Quinn
- Will Patton as Nicoletti
- John Rothman as Andy
- Shannon O'Hurley as Susan Schiffer
- Bob Greene as Pachulski
Production
- Country: United States of America
- Language: English, German, Italian, Cantonese
- Studios: Regency Enterprises
- Budget: $20,000,000
- Box office: $32,000,000
- Themes: police brutality, psychology, police operation, police protection, psychologist, serial killer, cowardliness
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