Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
‘90s thriller about serial killer has violence, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Copycat
What's the Story?
In COPYCAT, Helen (Sigourney Weaver) is a renowned psychology professor specializing in the mind of the serial killer. She knows the work and techniques of the Boston Strangler, Son of Sam, and Jeffrey Dahmer, among others. After she survives a harrowing attack by Daryll Cullum (Harry Connick Jr.), the serial killer her testimony helped put away, she suffers panic attacks and agoraphobia and retreats into a self-imposed sentence in her spectacular San Francisco apartment. When the city is terrorized by a new serial killer who imitates the work and habits of previous killers, Helen advises homicide detective MJ (Holly Hunter) and her partner Ruben (Dermot Mulroney) on how to catch him, soon becoming a target herself. As the body count mounts, tension rises and the ultimate face-off between the killer and Helen looks unavoidable.
Is It Any Good?
Copycat is a well-paced thriller, adroit, compelling, and slick. The bumps in a serviceable script on a rather familiar idea are smoothed by excellent acting. Director Jon Amiel, who directed the acclaimed, and odd, 1986 BBC television series The Singing Detective, is a pro and the movie rarely takes a turn that doesn't somehow move the plot ahead and maintain a just bearable level of suspense. In the way that old-fashioned studio movies usually took care to make sure the audience knew just enough at all times, this never offers too much explanation, nor does it leave us puzzled or baffled.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the confidence with which the psychologist speaks of personality traits of serial killers. How accurate do you think her insights are?
Do you think the movie plausibly portrays the mind of a serial killer? Why or why not?
Do you think movies like this warn us about the existence of evil or glorify it? Why?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 27, 1995
- Cast : Sigourney Weaver , Holly Hunter , Dermot Mulroney , Harry Connick Jr.
- Director : Jon Amiel
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Thriller
- Run time : 123 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence and language
- Last updated : April 17, 2024
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate