In the 1990s, Alfred Hitchcock's films were considered great, but that didn't stop Hollywood studios from remaking them. Alongside the shot-by-shot remake of Psycho came a new version of Hitchcock's classic thriller Dial M for Murder, directed by Andrew Davis, titled A Perfect Murder.
The film follows Steven Taylor (played by Michael Douglas), a cold and successful New York stockbroker who marries the wealthy heiress Emily Braydon (played by Gwyneth Paltrow). Behind his facade of business success, Steven is in deep debt and relies on his wife's money to save himself from bankruptcy. Emily, on the other hand, is involved in an extramarital affair with David Shaw (played by Viggo Mortensen), who has his own secrets. Steven blackmails David into a diabolical plan to kill Emily in exchange for money and freedom. However, things don't go as planned, and Steven must think on his feet to avoid trouble.
Compared to the shot-by-shot remake of Psycho, A Perfect Murder takes daring departures from Hitchcock's original. The characters are transformed, with Michael Douglas playing a calculating businessman and Viggo Mortensen portraying a different killer. Gwyneth Paltrow's portrayal of Emily resembles a modern Grace Kelly. Director Andrew Davis handles the film well, complemented by a solid musical score by James Newton Howard.
Despite its strengths, the script falters in the second half. The characters' moral alignments shift, and Emily's transformation into a conventional film heroine disappoints. The resolution of the intricate plot is marred by a predictable twist. While watchable, A Perfect Murder ultimately wastes its talented cast and potential.
RATING: 4/10 (+)
(Note: This review was originally posted in the Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.films.reviews on June 23, 2004)
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