Along Came a Spider Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A detective with past trauma solves a kidnapping case only to discover everyone is playing 4D chess and the real villain was hiding in plain sight like a bad magic trick.

🍿 Along Came a Spider: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Detective Haunted by Loss

Detective Alex Cross is reeling from the death of his partner during a botched operation. Overcome with guilt, he withdraws from active duty. This sets the stage for his reluctant return when a high-profile case demands his unique skills.

The Kidnapping

Megan Rose, the daughter of a senator, is kidnapped from her highly secured private school. The kidnapper, Gary Soneji, a teacher at the school, initiates contact with Cross, indicating a personal connection and a desire to involve him in the case. This sets off a complex investigation where nothing is as it seems.

Unraveling the Motives

As Cross delves deeper, he uncovers Soneji’s fascination with the Lindbergh kidnapping. The investigation also reveals that Soneji planned to kidnap Dimitri Starodubov, the son of the Russian President. The kidnapping becomes more than just a simple ransom case, evolving into a play for notoriety.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Alex Cross (Morgan Freeman): A detective and forensic psychologist haunted by the loss of his partner, who is drawn into a kidnapping case.
• Jezzie Flannigan (Monica Potter): A Secret Service agent who teams up with Alex Cross to solve the kidnapping, but harbors a dark secret.
• Gary Soneji (Michael Wincott): A calculating kidnapper posing as a teacher, seeking fame by emulating infamous crimes.
• Megan Rose (Mika Boorem): The senator’s daughter who becomes the victim of a meticulously planned kidnapping.
• Ben Devine (Billy Burke): A secret service agent involved with Jezzie in a plot to get ransom.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Alex Cross: “You do what you are, Jezzie.” – Cross is trying to explain that she needs to be true to her instincts and gifts.
• Alex Cross: “You mean you are what you do.” – Jezzie replies to Alex questioning his theory.
• Alex Cross: “No, I mean, you do what you are. You’re born with a gift. If not that, then you get good at something along the way. And what you’re good at, you don’t take for granted. You don’t betray it.” – Cross explains Jezzie that everyone must remain true to their skills.
• Jezzie Flannigan: “What if you do, betray your gift?” – Jezzie wonders what happens if someone goes astray.
• Alex Cross: “Then you betray yourself. That’s a sad thing.” – Cross warns of the consequences of straying.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $60,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $74,078,174
• Worldwide Gross: $105,178,561

💥 Along Came a Spider Reviews

Personal Review

I remember watching this movie as a teenager and being genuinely surprised by the twist! Morgan Freeman is always great, and this role suits him perfectly. It has a slightly darker feel to it, compared to Kiss the Girls, but the story is intriguing. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat, and I enjoyed trying to figure out who the real villain was.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of crime thrillers”
  • “Those who enjoy detective stories with plot twists”
  • “Viewers who appreciate Morgan Freeman’s performances”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence”
  • “Kidnapping”
  • “Brief strong language”

Professional Reviews

• IMDb: “While ‘Along Came a Spider’ delivers suspense and thrills, the plot relies too heavily on familiar clichés and twists. Morgan Freeman shines, but the script’s recycled scenes and plot holes distract. It’s entertaining enough, but lacks originality and depth. Still worth watching.
• Rotten Tomatoes: “The movie has a predictable plot that contains nothing new and some of the acting is sub-par. Dialog is weak and full of cliché. A great disappointment.
• Metacritic: “Despite credibility issues, Morgan Freeman is excellent in what is a pretty solid film. The movie is a bit too low key with profanity for such a sordid subject matter. Still, he is the main reason to see the picture. It’s methodical and resolute, but with more than his fair share of implausible assumptions that always turn out to be correct.

Audience Reactions

The unexpected plot twists keep you guessing until the very end.: Suspenseful storytelling and Morgan Freeman’s compelling performance make it a worthwhile thriller.

Monica Potter adds a unique dynamic to the investigation, creating a captivating on-screen presence.: Great plot and great twists.

Overall Consensus: A suspenseful but somewhat predictable thriller, elevated by Morgan Freeman’s performance and a few surprising twists.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The ending of the film was re-shot due to negative reactions from test audiences. This suggests the original ending was significantly different.”
• “The U.S. Secret Service does not protect Senators and their families, which is a factual inaccuracy in the film.”

🖥️ How to Watch Along Came a Spider?

Along Came a Spider is available to rent or buy on various platforms. Check services like Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu for streaming options. Physical copies on Blu-ray and DVD can be found at retailers such as Amazon and Walmart. Availability may vary by region.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Along Came a Spider, you might like these similar films:

• Kiss the Girls (1997): This is the first movie featuring Morgan Freeman as Alex Cross, making it a direct comparison and a good starting point for fans of the character.
• The Bone Collector (1999): Features a similar pairing of a seasoned detective and a younger partner investigating a series of intricate crimes.
• Silence of the Lambs (1991): Another detective thriller with a brilliant criminal mastermind at the center.
• Manhunter (1986): FBI profiler Will Graham hunts a mysterious serial killer only known as the Tooth Fairy.
• Prisoners (2013): A modern thriller dealing with the kidnapping of children and the desperate measures taken to find them.

🛒 Along Came a Spider Related Products

• Kiss the Girls (Collector’s Edition) [Blu-ray]: A must-have for Morgan Freeman fans, featuring a remastered version of the prequel that started the Alex Cross series.
• Alex Cross, Run: (Alex Cross 20): Dive into the world of Alex Cross with James Patterson’s thriller novel
• Morgan Freeman: An American Treasure: A tribute to his career, filled with iconic scenes and insights into his roles.
• Criminal Minds: The Complete Series [DVD]: For fans of psychological thrillers, the complete series of Criminal Minds offers similar dark themes and criminal profiling.

🎧 Soundtrack

Along Came a Spider features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Main Title” – performed by Jerry Goldsmith
• “The Abduction” – performed by Jerry Goldsmith
• “Alone” – performed by Jerry Goldsmith

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

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