Along Came a Spider

6/20/2020

_**Good, but farfetched with an eye-rolling ‘big reveal’**_ D.C. forensic psychologist Alex Cross (Morgan Freeman) investigates when a senator’s daughter is kidnapped from a private school by a man obsessed with the infamous Lindbergh abduction (Michael Wincott). A secret service agent at the school assists him on the case (Monica Potter). “Along Came a Spider” (2001) is an improbable detective thriller like its predecessor “Kiss the Girls” (1997) except that it doesn’t rip-off “Silence of the Lambs” (1991) or “Se7en” (1995). Both were based on the books by James Patterson. The opening is great with a thrilling dam sequence. The ensuing story of the kidnapping & investigation is compelling but, like the first film, a plot wrench is thrown into the works that muddles everything. I

9/6/2022

Morgan Freeman is psycho-detective "Cross" who has retreated from his work after an operation went awry, killing his wife. Shortly after, the daughter of a senator (Michael Moriarty) is kidnapped by one of her teachers, and when he calls "Cross" to lure him back into the business the game is afoot. Aided by one of the girl's now disgraced Secret Service agents "Flannigan" (Monica Potter) the two have to piece together a puzzle that will track down and rescue the girl. The snag with this thriller is that it is all just bit too straightforward - there are no real problems with that puzzle as the pair solidly proceed. There is precious little jeopardy, and the characters are all just too sterile - it's just lacking in anything that gives it a sense of peril before an ending that really does h

7/7/2023

Easily in the top 10. Probably the best mystery thriller I've ever.

5/13/2026

73/100 The kidnapper of a congressman's daughter insists that Alex Cross be brought into the case and things get squirrelly. Although probably not noticed by most, this is a intricately well written thriller that pretends not to be by giving us moments that you question as 'why would they do that' or 'that's funny', figuring it's just script quirks. But then Cross would start asking those same questions making you realize that you're catching clues, not quirks... and the film is full of them. Complex story, high tension, great acting and a twist that completely fooled me. Well done! -- DrNostromo.com