Gone Girl, based off the best-selling novel by Gillian Flynn is a brilliant thriller mystery film. When the book was first published in 2012 I have to admit I did not fancy reading it as sometimes the more hyped up something is, the more I don’t want to find out why. However, when I saw the film trailer I was drawn into the dark and mysterious world it had to offer and decided that it was a must see, despite being a little apprehensive. I could not have been more wrong.
Directed by David Fincher, the adaptation is simply brilliant. Gone Girl is a thrilling tale about Amy (Rosamund Pike), a privileged middle class woman, who on the morning of her fifth wedding anniversary goes missing. Her husband Nick (Ben Affleck) quickly becomes prime suspect for her disappearance. However, this is no ordinary murder mystery case. As the story unravels, so do our expectations and current understandings of the minds of each character. We are consistently surprised with every carefully construed twist and turn. Alongside the gritty thrill of a missing person case, the film correctly makes an important point on the role of the media in our society.
As the audience, we are manipulated by the characters in the same way that they are manipulated by the media in everyday society. The film’s portrayal of stereotypical news reporters is steeped in satire and we are left to acknowledge that the world of the media is not necessarily always the truth but simple speculation.
In terms of the actors, Rosamund Pike gave the performance of her career. You are simultaneously drawn to and repelled by her character at various parts of the film thanks to Pike’s admirable portrayal of a person who is hauntingly unhinged. There were moments that were just painful to watch, with Pike’s raw and limitless attitude to her character. Similarly, Ben Affleck gave a flawless performance of a man who has betrayed his wife but has to fight tooth and nail to escape the label of a murderer. I don’t think the cast could have been more perfect.
Overall, Gone Girl is a must see. It incorporates the right amount of sex, violence and swearing to make it a film that even your boyfriend won’t be able to complain about. While it is certainly not for the faint hearted, it is not all doom and gloom. There were moments of humour which provided some light relief from the disturbing and serious nature of the film. I feel that David Fincher has directed a stunning and Oscar worthy masterpiece – something which Gillian Flynn should be extremely proud of.