With the benefit of hindsight and perspective, it’s now easy to see that the ‘90s were a great time for both the horror and thriller genres. For a long time, many fans compared the output of the decade to the ‘80s and viewed the ‘90s as somehow inferior. With more distance and perspective, it’s now easy to see that the genre output of the ‘90s isn’t inferior to that of the ‘80s at all, just different.
The ‘90s produced a number of standout efforts. Candyman, Silence of the Lambs, Martin Scorsese’s Cape Fear, Se7en, and the list goes on. These films deliver palpable tension and a gritty look and feel that effortlessly instill a sense of unease in the audience. Yet another ‘90s film that fits all the same parameters landed on the Netflix platform recently and it has been making waves since. We’re talking about Jon Amiel’s intense horror thriller Copycat.
Copycat is a harrowing effort with a top-notch cast, effective pacing, and a compelling lead character. The flick works so well in part because it seamlessly juxtaposes psychological thriller tropes alongside true crime conventions, making for a viewing experience that is as immersive as it is entertaining. With all of that in mind, it’s no wonder we look back on Copycat with such fondness and reverence 30 years after it first bowed.
What is Copycat About?
The film follows Dr. Helen Hudson (Sigourney Weaver), a brilliant criminal psychologist whose life is forever disrupted following a chilling (and nearly deadly) encounter that transpires after she gives a lecture at a San Francisco area university. When Helen visits the restroom following her speaking engagement, escaped serial killer Daryll Lee Cullum (Harry Connick Jr.) corners her, holding her captive and taking out a security guard in the process.
The ordeal is so traumatic for Helen that she develops a severe case of agoraphobia, ultimately succumbing to total paralysis any time she tries to venture beyond the front door of her swanky home. Her mental state severely restricts her ability to work, but when homicide detectives M.J. (Holly Hunter) and Reuben (Dermot Mulroney) seek Helen’s expertise in looking into a particularly vexing rash of unsolved murders, she finds renewed purpose. However, the killer quickly learns of her involvement and begins taunting Helen in a variety of violent and unpredictable ways.
Copycat Deftly Blends True Crime and Narrative Fiction
I count Copycat as one of the most effective and chilling serial killer thrillers of the ‘90s, thanks in no small part to the way the film blurs the line between narrative fiction and true crime. The killer at the core of the story is a work of fiction, of course, but he takes inspiration from actual serial killers from years past. As he slays his way through the Bay Area, the killer adapts a new MO with each murder, keeping Helen and company on their toes, but also raising the stakes in the process.
Serial killer thrillers rooted entirely in fiction can be plenty immersive, for sure, but the lack of an anchor to the real world can sometimes make it harder to get the audience to go all in. I say that because narrative fiction often feels safe on some level. We know in the back of our minds that what we are watching is a work of make-believe, a story that has no foundation in reality. But when that line is blurred, even slightly, a film has the potential to pull the viewer into the proceedings in a wholly immersive way.
With a realistic foundation laid, we often find ourselves more susceptible to suggestion. All of a sudden, the antagonist isn’t just a killer in a movie, they begin to feel more like a clear and present threat. Copycat takes full advantage of that, grounding the proceedings in a hefty helping of reality by introducing the grisly crimes of real-life killers into the narrative.
A Well-Rendered Protagonist and a Terrifying Villain Serve as the Icing on the Cake
The immersive nature of the film is further enhanced by a standout showing from Weaver in the lead role. She is a cinematic chameleon who can convincingly feature as a badass who takes no prisoners but can just as effortlessly segue into the role of trauma survivor fighting to reclaim her sense of self as she does in Copycat. Here, we see her in an especially vulnerable spot, trying and often failing to overcome her inner demons. Even still, she brings a hint of the fiery quality that’s so noticeable in some of her more empowering roles to the proceedings.
It’s that nuance that makes Weaver’s performance resonate. Yes, she’s terrified to leave the house and can’t easily regulate her emotions, but she’s still unafraid to advocate for herself. Conveying a complex character like that surely isn’t easy, but she does so with aplomb.
Equally memorable is Connick Jr. as Daryll. I didn’t even recognize the singer-turned-actor the first time I saw the film back in the ‘90s. Not only is he nearly unrecognizable physically, his speech, mannerisms, and body language are completely foreign. He successfully becomes his character in a way few thespians are able. His rendition of Daryl is repulsive, off-putting, and unhinged. He nails that sociopathic stare so common in serial killers. The actor is dead behind the eyes, completely void of empathy. I’m not sure he gets enough credit for how effective his turn in this chilling picture truly is.
The final word on Copycat:
The film benefits from seamlessly blending thriller tropes with true crime, creating a viewing experience that feels both immersive and unsafe. Weaver and Connick Jr. both deliver arresting performances as the hero and villain respectively, ensuring that the stakes feel as real as possible. Taking all of that into account, I think it’s safe to say that Copycat is one of the most effective psychological horror thrillers of the ‘90s.
If my affinity for the film has you itching to experience the flick, you can find Copycat streaming on Netflix. Additionally, the film is also available on Hulu, Prime Video, and Plex.
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