It’s a tired debate but Gone Girl begs the question: is a faithful adaptation the best adaptation?

Gillian Flynn’s novel is the mystery du jour, a missing person’s case fit for a pessimistic post-recession society. And Fincher faithfully delivers the plot, beat by brilliant beat. But, much like poor Nick Dunne, he fails to make the story his own.

The score, by long-time collaborators Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, steeps every scene in a listless menace. Rosamund Pike is chillingly resplendent as Amy Elliott-Dunne, the missing-or-worse wife, and a third act burst of black humour is a welcome relief.

Gone Girl is the movie Flynn fans hoped for and sets Pike up for a worthy Oscar nomination but Fincher disappoints in failing to improve upon the already-brilliant book.

RATING: 4/5

INFORMATION

CAST: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Carrie Coon, Kim Dickens, Patrick Fugit and Tyler Perry

DIRECTOR: David Fincher

WRITER: Gillian Flynn

SYNOPSIS: Amy Elliott-Dunne (Pike) is missing. As her husband Nick (Affleck) fights to discover what has happened to his wife while struggling to play the media game, the case against him mounts. Did he kill his wife, or is there something more sinister at work?

About The Author

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I'm a television trainee whose favourite film is either Speed or Before Midnight. My love of film has been carefully cultivated by my unending pretence that I’m in one and an accidental five year subscription to Empire magazine. Other than 'working in TV’ and writing for ORWAV, I spend my time guiltily watching noughties rom-coms on Netflix, moping over how bad Batman v. Superman was and playing acoustic covers of Lady Gaga on my guitar. Follow me on twitter if you like @olivialuder – my retweets are pretty cracking.