Fincher, Affleck & Pike deliver the nerve-jangling goods in this taut adaptation of the best-seller on marriage and its social mores

Rating: 9/10 (12 October 2014)

GONE GIRL (2014) ***1/2 Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, Carrie Coon, Kim Dickens, Patric Fugit, David Clennon, Lisa Banes, Missi Pyle, Emily Ratajkowski, Casey Wilson, Lola Kirke, Boyd Holbrook, Sela Ward, Scoot McNairy. Filmmaker David Fincher once again plumbs the murky underpinnings of America in his excellent adaptation of Gillian Flynn's best seller about a young married couple (Affleck and Pike working expertly in shades of grey and dare I say Oscar worthy turns both) in the throes of unraveling particularly when the beautiful wife suddenly disappears on the day of their 5th wedding anniversary, leaving handsome hubby in the breeze (and under the microscope) by the local authorities investigating and the media pricking new wounds for the masses to savor. Wickedly clever and full of unexpected twists and turns (not exactly Hitchcockian but then again) thanks to Flynn's adaptation of her own novel that cheekily runs rampant with the institution of marriage, fidelity and other mores socially adept. Fincher keeps the tension taut and knotty but plays fair with flashbacks and fade outs when things just start to become boilerplate pot boiling innuendos and secrets and lies. While the film easily could've whittled here and there (admittedly I may be the only one on the planet not having read the source book) the resolute ending may be just to good to be true. Then again maybe not.