If you made it out to the theater this past long weekend, you’re probably familiar with “Fight Club” and “The Social Network” director David Fincher’s mystery/thriller/OMG-inducing return to the silver screen. With some serious plot twists and stellar acting from Rosamund Pike and Ben “Batfleck” Affleck, “Gone Girl” stunned audiences nationwide. It slid comfortably to a well-deserved #1 box office haul and cemented itself in the minds of Academy voters everywhere. Critics, audiences, you, me and just about the whole country loved “Gone Girl.”
But what now?
If you’ve seen “Gone Girl,” I’m almost certain you don’t want to watch it again (for reasons I will not disclose because spoilers). I’m also pretty sure you want more though. So where do you turn? These movies will provide the thrills, chills and excellence you are almost certainly craving.
And if you haven’t seen “Gone Girl” yet? Watch these in preparation for a rollicking ride of a movie.
**Psycho**
Psycho (1960) — Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh.
This one’s essential viewing. Fincher pays homage to it countless times in “Gone Girl” (think shower scene, shocking twists, sophisticated platinum blondes, etc). At one post-screening Q&A, an audience member noted that they had felt the same chilling sensation watching Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece as they had during “Gone Girl.”
Fincher’s response? “Bing, bing, bing.” Correct.
“Psycho” is cinema at its sparkling best, and though “Gone Girl” clocks in at 145 minutes, “Psycho” is a tightly wound and concise 109 minutes. There’s a reason it’s one of the best.
You’ve probably already seen the shower scene, but the real shock comes in the film’s riveting third act and the release of 90 minutes’ worth of tension. Sound familiar? Available: On DVD at the OWHL, Amazon Instant Video?
**Zodiac**
Zodiac (2007) — Directed by David Fincher, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo
An obvious choice would be Fincher’s most popular crime drama “Se7en,” but considering the press that movie gets, I’ve opted for “Zodiac,” the movie dramatization of the world famous Zodiac Killer of the 1960s and 1970s. “Zodiac” kicks off with a bang, unlike “Gone Girl” or “Psycho,” but maintains a steady and resolute pace for the rest of its excellent (albeit pretty long) 142 minute runtime. Like “Gone Girl,” it will enthrall with gorgeous cinematography and some impressive acting (Robert Downey Jr. kicked off his career renaissance with this one!). It is less of an action-thriller and more of a procedural; it is methodical and lulls viewers into the intricacies of the case it follows. Throw in some blood, violence and a psychotic murderer, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for a great Friday night flick.
Available: On Netflix, DVD at the OWHL, Amazon Instant Video
**Honorable Mentions:**
“Panic Room” – Dir. David Fincher
“Gone Baby Gone” – Dir. Ben Afflec
“Silence of the Lambs” Dir. Jonathan Demme
