Panic Room (2002)

David Fincher's follow up to Fight Club (1999) is often forgotten about when talking about the heights of his oeuvre. That's a compliment to the might of his film making, even at his worst (Alien 3 [1992]) there were some very interesting ideas lost amongst the nightmare of the shoot and disagreements with the studio. Panic Room is an expertly stripped down thriller, in the mold of something like Phone Booth, released the same year, or the late Wes Craven's superb Red Eye (2005). Jodie Foster and a young Kristen Stewart play the mother and daughter who are forced into their homes panic room when burglars break into the house, but the safe room becomes a prison after the intruders refuse to leave empty handed. Panic Room is often overlooked these days, especially after Fincher's impressive rise, and although in terms of careers this now feels somewhat like Finchers Following (the frequently forgotten 1998 Christopher Nolan film) it remains thrilling, and added another string to the bow of David Fincher all those years ago. 7.4/10