Friday Film Noir
Copycat (1995) is a thrilling drama directed by Jon Amiel and written by Ann Biderman. The film follows criminal psychologist Dr. Helen Hudson (Sigourney Weaver), a recluse with severe agoraphobia after a brutal attack by a serial killer, Daryll Lee Cullum (Harry Connick Jr.). When a new murderer begins a crime spree, mimicking the methods of past serial killers, she is pulled back into the world she had sworn off. Paired with tough but compassionate police inspector M.J. Monahan (Holly Hunter), Dr. Hudson must use her knowledge of the criminal mind to help police track down the killer, all while confronting the demons of her past and the very real danger that she is the killer's ultimate target.
The film was shot in San Francisco. The on-screen dynamic between Sigourney Weaver and Holly Hunter was a result of their strong professional collaboration. Both actresses were determined to make their characters feel authentic. Hunter spent time with an actual San Francisco homicide detective to observe her mannerisms and process. The character of Dr. Helen Hudson was originally written for a male lead, but the director changed the character to a woman. Harry Connick Jr. revealed that his co-star Sigourney Weaver was so disturbed by his intense performance that she went out of her way to avoid him on the set. The main themes of the film include overcoming trauma, the psychology of crime, and the nature of fear itself.
1995 • R • 2h 4m
