Netflix has added an underrated 90s thriller to its catalog that fans have described as a ‘masterpiece’.
Netflix is known to update its movies quite frequently, bringing the latest films alongside the nostalgia of classic films that were once forgotten.
The latest addition to its catalog is the ’90s thriller Copycat.
A psychological thriller released in 1995, stars Sigourney Weaver as Dr Helen Hudson, a criminal psychologist who becomes agoraphobic after almost being killed by her previous subject, the fictional Daryll Lee Cullum (Harry Connick Jr).
It soon emerges that Cullum is committing crimes based on previous murders, and with the help of two San Francisco police officers, played by Holly Hunter and Dermot Mulroney, he hunts him down.
The ensemble cast of this production—which garnered a devoted fanbase over the years following its debut—also features performers such as William McNamara and Will Patton.
Beyond Copycat’s admirable performance at cinemas—earning $79 million against a $27 million production cost—critics responded favourably as well, awarding it a 76% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Film enthusiasts shared their opinions on the film, describing it as “one of the best serial killer movies.”
One viewer left comments on IMDb, sharing, ”The serial killer genre became popular after ‘The Silence of the Lambs,’ and since then, the only ones that have really stuck out are ‘Se7en,’ ‘Copycat, ‘ and ‘Saw.’
“Copycat” is about a psychologist who lectures students on serial killers, and one day finds herself a victim at one of her speeches. Attacked in the bathroom, she narrowly escapes death and becomes a social recluse in the years that follow — living through the Internet, anonymously chatting on Internet chat rooms, and so on and so forth.”
Continuing on, they added, ” Copycat was much better than I thought it would be. I originally saw it on TBS years ago; I remember the ads claiming it would be on, but for some reason, the rights fell through, and it didn’t air for another month or so. During this time period, I hadn’t heard anything about the film, but within the very first few minutes, I instantly knew it was going to be much better than the standard “Silence” rip-off.
Another person remarked: ”I also liked the outrageousness of the serial killer. Most serial killers want to be caught, they want to be put on display for their own brilliance, and they want to meet the person who finally figured it out. Just like Connick’s Darryl, who wants nothing more than to out-maneuver Weaver, the woman who out-maneuvered him, for the simple joy of ego gratification.”
Via Facebook, Netflix shared Copycat’s opening sequence featuring Helen’s assault by Daryll in a public lavatory. Responding to a “traumatising” clip, one viewer commented: “Man! This scene made me afraid to use public bathrooms. I mean, even to this day, I’m still on high alert at rest stops.”
Another person went on to say, “I remember seeing this in theaters. I was freaked out in public restrooms for months!”
Three decades on, Cioycat has remained a popular thriller among existing and new viewers, which is why it has ranked high on Netflix’s watch list.