Misguided finish

Rating: 5/10 (8 February 2003)

For two-thirds of it's length this film offers some of the most bracing black comedy ever to emerge from Hollywood. Unfortunately the resolution of it all as some kind of apocalyptic thriller is pathetic and forces a downward re-evaluation of what has passed before. As with "Se7en" David Fincher shows an inability to get through a film without resorting to cliche. Although this sounds negative I would still applaud the ambitions, although worryingly "Panic Room" leads one to believe that this represents an end rather than a beginning.