Along Came a Spider

After an obligatory prologue in which its detective hero suffers a tragic professional setback, Along Came a Spider sets about its business of luring the viewer into its nefarious plot, relying on the magician's technique of misdirection to reveal a double-whammy surprise. The clever, late-coming plot twist is a bit too mechanical but effectively unexpected, making this a satisfying prequel to the hit thriller Kiss the Girls--based on the first of James Patterson's Alex Cross detective novels--and a welcomed addition to a promising movie franchise. It's no better or worse than a good vintage episode of Peter Falk's Columbo, adhering closely to the mystery-thriller's time-honored traditions, but with Morgan Freeman settling comfortably into his role as seasoned sleuth Alex Cross, familiar formula is given fresh vitality. When a senator's daughter is kidnapped from her high-security private school, the kidnapper (nicely played by the underrated Michael Wincott) draws Cross into the case, knowing that the psychologist-detective's involvement will bring high-profile publicity. Cross partners with the Secret Service agent (Monica Potter) who botched her assignment, but wait... the movie's got a rabbit in its hat... and that rabbit has an ace up its sleeve... and director Lee Tamahori (who brought similar intensity to The Edge) handles the sleight-of-hand with slick precision, dispensing just enough information to keep the viewer off guard without resorting to cheap manipulation. Don't look for much depth of character here, but Along Came a Spider is well served by everyone involved. It's the movie equivalent of a bestseller you'd impulsively buy at the grocery-store checkout, and on those terms it succeeds.-From Amazon.com Cast List: Morgan Freeman ... Alex Cross/ Monica Potter ... Jezzie Flannigan/ Michael Wincott ... Gary Soneji/ Dylan Baker ... Ollie McArthur/ Mika Boorem ... Megan Rose/ Anton Yelchin ... Dimitri Starodubov/ Kimberly Hawthorne ... Agent Hickley/ Jay O. Sanders ... Kyle Craig/ Billy Burke ... Ben Devine/ Michael Moriarty ... Senator Hank Rose/ Penelope Ann Miller ... Elizabeth Rose/ Anna Maria Horsford ... Vickie/ Scott Heindl ... Floyd the Fisherman/ Christopher Shyer ... Jim/ Jill Teed ... Tracie/ Ian Marsh ... Sam/ Raoul Ganeev ... Bodyguard/ Samantha Ferris ... Mrs. Hume/ Ocean Hellman ... Amy Masterson/ Tom McBeath ... Country Chief Cabell/ Tamara Taggart ... Reporter/ Suzette Meyers ... Reporter/ Brian Arnold ... Reporter/ Chris Robson ... Reporter/ Jonathan Walker ... Reporter/ Debra Donohue ... Reporter/ Mila Dobrozdravich ... Hannah/ Aaron Joseph ... Kennedy/ Ravil Issyanov ... Lermontov/ Ronin Wong ... Medical Examiner/ Campbell Lane ... Mathias/ Charles Andre ... Diplomatic Patrol Officer/ Claire Riley ... News Anchor/ Paul Carson ... News Anchor/ Donna Lysell ... News Anchor/ Kevin Hayes ... News Co-Anchor/ Steve Makaj ... News Co-Anchor/ Nathaniel DeVeaux ... Coast Guard Captain/ Nguyen Hall ... Watergate Employee/ Charles Andison ... McArthur Entourage/ Tarie Tennessey ... McArthur Entourage/ Darryl Scheelar ... McArthur Entourage/ Craig March ... McArthur Entourage/ Darryl Dillard ... D.C. Policeman/ Carter Jahncke ... Man Who Can't Answer Phone/ Jim Hild ... Potentially Evil Guy on Train/ Charles A. Lindbergh ... Himself/ Director: Lee Tamahori. Distributed by Paramount Home Video.