Copycat Movie: Why This 1995 Serial Killer Story Is Getting So Much Attention on Netflix

Netflix is continuously taking older Movies out of its vault and putting them back on people's screens. A lot of the original movies on the platform don't stay there for long, but the original programs usually do. To be honest, a lot of them aren't that great. The weekly top ten list often features movies with well-known actors that aren't very good. There are also kid-friendly movies and mature comedies. The idea is that Netflix is fantastic at locating old, middling movies that people have forgotten about. Copycat, which was out in 1995, is the most recent movie to make it into the top ten. This is significant considering it came out before the year 2000.

I saw it when it initially came out. I remembered two specific sections of it before I watched it again for this piece. One was Harry Connick Jr.'s role as a serial killer. The other was the terrible computer graphics that the movie's main killer used. I can't remember if those graphics looked horrible in 1995 or not. I want to say that Copycat is a bad copy of a David Fincher movie. But it came out the same year as Se7en, so Fincher wasn't popular enough to be copied yet. Copycat was probably aiming to piggyback the success of Silence of the Lambs. And it does, but not very well.

Jon Amiel, who is known for Sommersby, directed the movie. He was one of those directors that studios hired in the 1980s and 1990s who they could count on. Studios used to replicate movies that did well instead of just developing new versions of them. Helen Hudson is played by Sigourney Weaver in Copycat. Helen is a criminal psychologist who barely makes it through a horrific attack in a public bathroom. Harry Connick Jr. plays a terrifying but attractive killer in this movie. After the attack, Weaver's Helen is scared to leave her house. This doesn't stop her from giving the police tips. Inspector Monahan (Holly Hunter) and her new partner, Ruben (a teenage Dermot Mulroney), finally notice her. They both conclude that the killer they are looking for is copying renowned serial killers and doing their famous murders again.

Why Copycat Isn't A Great Thriller And What It Means

Looking at the plot points and character choices that make the movie not shine

This isn't a very good movie. It felt like it was still in the 80s in 1995. It's strange how men and women treat each other. Even though women play the key parts, the awkward male love partners are just thrown in. The writing is awkward. The story doesn't make much sense. In a good crime fiction, the police and other professionals usually solve the case. But here, and this is a spoiler, they basically follow the killer's clues until he finally shows himself. Mulroney's character dies for no good cause other than a stupid callback to a former occasion. I don't know what Will Patton's character is doing in the movie either.

But the big killer is what truly damages Copycat. He is just so boring. William McNamara, who plays him, has featured in more than 150 movies and TV episodes. But I couldn't think of a single one without looking it up online. He looks like a less expensive version of another actor. You need a powerful presence to make a serial killer movie that people will remember. Think about the people who killed in Se7en or Silence of the Lambs. You don't need someone who looks like a character from a comedy sequel. Many people will forget this movie because it has a poor core.

Weaver and Hunter really do their best with what they have. But the movie's atmosphere is all over the place. The lighting might make it look like a romantic comedy at times. The victims are not given any focus or feelings. There is even a gay closest friend who is normal. In a movie about a serial killer. And the movie never tries to make things very terrifying or tense. It is not good. It's too long. I don't know why it's suddenly popular, other than that Netflix uses it to locate movies that are cheap to license. Don't let your curiosity get the best of you. It's not worth your time.

Why do Netflix viewers still like Copycat even though it has flaws?

Looking into why the movie suddenly become popular again on streaming services

Netflix does reveal its monthly roster, although it sometimes adds movies that weren't in the original plan. You might not see these. On the other hand, Copycat came on Netflix US on June 15. It didn't go unnoticed. It immediately made it into the top ten. It's not surprising that people started watching Copycat. It offers everything that many people want: huge stars like Sigourney Weaver, Holly Hunter, and Dermot Mulroney. It also features a narrative about a serial killer that can make you feel bad.

Copycat came out in 1995, however it didn't do too well at the box office. But over time, it has become a hidden gem for people who like thrillers. Over the years, it gained a small but loyal core of fans thanks to its mind games and strong performances. This psychological thriller is about a criminal psychologist who is afraid of being in public places after a bad attack. She teams up with a detective to catch a serial killer who is using the same methods as other famous killers. The premise isn't really original, but the movie is still very interesting to watch. If you watch it alone, it can definitely make your heart race.

There were other Hollywood movies about serial killers before Silence of the Lambs. But it was so popular that numerous movies like it came out in the 1990s. These kinds of movies lost their appeal over time. Copycat, a 1995 thriller by Jon Amiel, is one of these copycats. It might not be as good as Silence of the Lambs or even Brad Pitt's Se7en. Still, it's a really intense movie to watch. It works for certain scary late-night TV.

The lasting appeal of its leads and a look at a different time in thrillers

This period piece shows how powerful Sigourney Weaver and Holly Hunter are.

It's nice to see a thriller that focuses on two strong, clever women. Holly Hunter and Sigourney Weaver bring them to life, which is even better. They were two of the most powerful actresses of their day. Both characters have significant depth. This makes Copycat more than simply another movie about a serial killer. Copycat is a lot about how the mind works. It takes time to see the human side of its characters. Dr. Helen Hudson is going through a very difficult situation. She can't make herself leave her residence. Detective M.J. Monahan is determined to solve the case. She wants to put an end to the serial killer who is scaring everyone in the city.

Copycat would be boring compared to other serial killer thrillers if it didn't have this character backdrop. Director Amiel, who is known for the quirky BBC series The Singing Detective from 1986, shows his skill here. He keeps the tale really tight. The movie doesn't go off course very much. It always moves the tale along. It keeps the tension high enough to keep you interested. This movie gives you just the right amount of information, like vintage studio movies that carefully balanced what the viewer needed to know. This stops you from feeling lost.

Copycat has some good qualities, but it also has some glaring problems. It was sometimes a little too predictable that a criminal would emulate legendary murders. You might figure out where the plot is headed too soon. For this reason, it has too many parts in common with Se7en. Aside from the two great lead actresses, the rest of the supporting cast doesn't get much opportunity to grow. This makes the world around them seem a little empty.

People who watch Netflix will still like Copycat. Even with these difficulties, I think it's worth your time. Movies have always been interested in showing evil. I suppose part of that is because our own worries might make us curious. You don't have to believe me. On Rotten Tomatoes, Copycat has a good rating of 76%. The audience gave it a score of 64%, which is a little lower. Jeff Strickler from the Minneapolis Star Tribune commented, "The plot of this mystery-thriller about a copycat killer is flawed, but Hunter and Weaver drive the show with strong performances."

Trace Thurman from the Horror Queers Podcast agreed with this. He said, "Weaver and Hunter are at the top of their game, turning what is basically a 2-hour episode of a CBS crime procedural into high art." So, if you get anything from these remarks, it's that Copycat is worth watching just for the acting. Now is the moment to add Copycat to your Netflix list if you haven't already. The notion of a "killer imitating notorious murderers" is not novel. But this thriller does it in a rather brilliant way. Sigourney Weaver is a significant part of why it works so well. I already adored her. She is in my favorite movie series, Alien. But this is when she really excels. I think Copycat is one of her best parts. That's a large part of why it's worth your time.