The
Panic Room is a thriller in which the criminals seek
to steal millions of dollars from a safe in a house in New
York City recently purchased by Meg Altman (played by Jodie
Foster). The house is quite large, with an elevator to get
up three stories, and with a special room designed to protect
residents in case of a break-in. Called the "panic room,"
the room can be securely locked, has cameras that show what
is happening on each floor, a separate telephone to call police,
a few food provisions, and some emergency supplies. During
the first night of occupancy, the criminals break into the
house so that they can get their hands on millions secured
in the floor safe of the panic room. Expecting that escrow
would take longer, they are stunned to discover that new residents
are already living in the house. When Meg realizes that the
criminals are present, she grabs her diabetic daughter Sarah
(played by Kristen Stewart) and heads for the panic room,
only to discover that the telephone line has been cut. The
three criminals must then persuade Meg and Sarah to leave
the room or they must find a way to break in. Junior (played
by Jared Leto) is very emotional and eventually is shot by
his friend Raoul (played by Dwight Yoakam), whose solution
is to shoot anyone in the way of the pursuit of the money.
Burnham (played by Forest Whitaker) built panic rooms, so
he plays MacIver, and Meg responds with a little MacIver of
her own. Directed by David Fincher, the film proceeds from
one challenge and response to another, with nailbiting intensity,
but eventually NYPD shows up with a swat team. MH
I
want to comment on this film
