Along Came a Spider: A Nostalgic Look at a Bygone Detective Era
The boom in imported detective novels has long subsided, thanks to the rise of local authors. “Murder mysteries” can now be closer to reality – reality allows it. Therefore, the American detective film “Along Came a Spider,” if watched at all, is purely for nostalgic reasons. It’s almost a shame it’s not styled as “retro,” as that might have worked better.
Lee Tamahori (“Mulholland Falls”) directed his new film based on the first novel in James Patterson’s series about the black psychologist, Dr. Alex Cross. Interestingly, Alex Cross (Morgan Freeman) appeared on our screens a few years ago in the adaptation of the second novel in the series, “Kiss the Girls.” However, even then, the problem was the same: the exhaustion of the pure genre and its lack of cinematic reinforcement.
The Plot Unravels
This time, the aging Dr. Cross, who left the police force after the death of his partner, is drawn into an investigation by the main villain himself. The villain spent a couple of years posing as a computer literacy teacher at an exclusive private school to eventually kidnap the senator’s daughter. However, the villain doesn’t want a ransom; he only wants to play a game, and he chose Dr. Cross because he is also a famous writer. The psychological aspect of the investigation revolves around the senator’s daughter’s bodyguard, who insists on becoming Dr. Cross’s partner, and he frantically tries to protect her. But he shouldn’t, as will become clear later…
Standard Detective Tropes with a Few Modern Twists
The standard detective search for the child, punctuated by a couple of brutal murders, is “revived” by only a few effects. The villain wore a prosthetic mask for two years while working at the school, concealing his true face. Children now play with computers as if they were sandboxes. The son of the Russian president attends the same American school, leading to some snide remarks about Russian bodyguards. Finally, the most striking moment is when Dr. Cross runs through New York against the clock. The villain demands a ransom, which must be delivered according to instructions received from various public telephones. Morgan Freeman, a considerably older man, is impressively fast as he races between phones, weaving through rush-hour traffic and navigating the suburban train station. Freeman is in good physical shape, although this is the only notable aspect of the Oscar winner’s performance.
The Unrealistic Elements Undermine the Suspense
The effects are not enough to mask the unreality of the plot. Why did the villain endure two years in disguise, and how did no one notice his mask, given the suspicious puffiness and immobility of his face, visible even on screen? Why did he wear a mask at all if no one knew him without it, and he soon approached Dr. Cross without it? Why did he lure the Russian president’s son out of the embassy, and why does this sweet boy even live in the embassy? Moreover, the “Russian” elements feel outdated, as do the forced associations with the “Lindbergh baby.” In the early 1930s, the kidnapping of the famous aviator Lindbergh’s daughter was a high-profile case in America, but the circumstances were entirely different…
Final Verdict
Overall, “Along Came a Spider” is more presentable than some other films, but watching something more contemporary is far more engaging. It has more relevance to life, and you don’t even have to leave your home.