ALONG CAME A SPIDER

Morgan Freeman as Dr. Alex Cross

ALONG CAME A SPIDER (2001). Director: Lee Tamahori. 

After a senator's young daughter, Megan (Mika Boorem), is kidnapped from an exclusive private school by her teacher, Soneji (Michael Wincott), the villain contacts profiler Alex Cross (Morgan Freeman), bringing him into the case. Cross works with Jezzie Flannigan (Monica Potter), who had been responsible for the child's safety. Together, and working with other agents, the two of them play cat and mouse with Soneji, trying to figure out where he is and what he really looks like. Cross is fairly certain that Soneji does not intend to kill the youngster, but can anyone be absolutely certain of that? 

Michael Wincott

Along Came a Spider is a smoothly directed and fast-paced suspense thriller with good sequences, and a couple of twists that you may or may not see coming. Freeman is okay, if unexciting; Potter plays her part to perfection; and Wincott makes a fairly dynamic and interesting bad guy. There is also nice work from Michael Moriarty and Penelope Ann Miller as the girl's worried parents; Dylan Baker and Billy Burke as agents; and Mika Boorem as the feisty Megan and Anton Yelchin as her young friend, Dimitri. The talented Yelchin died tragically at age 27. 

Verdict: Slick and exciting. ***.