By: Grant Vance ~Staff Writer~

Visionary director David Fincher returns to cinema in style with his masterful 10th feature film, “Gone Girl,” released on Oct. 1.

“Gone Girl,” adapted for the screen by Gillian Flynn from her best-selling novel of the same title, tells the story of Nick Dunne and his struggle to find an answer for the mysterious disappearance of his wife, Amy Dunne, after returning home to the violent crime scene of what appears to be a home invasion. As the investigation grows deeper, and more and more is revealed about Amy’s disappearance, all evidence gradually points to seemingly ambivalent
Nick as the prime suspect.

Although the film delivers perfectly in terms of genre with its “whodunnit?” style mystery, the
true admiration for this film can be found in its elegantly suspenseful cinematography and its frighteningly accurate commentary on the exploitation of local crime through the media.
Fincher, most notably recognized for films such as “Fight Club,” “Se7en” and “The Social
Network,” brings his dark, twisted approach to film through the lens of the media’s distorted approach to covering popular crime stories.
In his critique, Fincher carefully maps the road commonly found through the coverage of such a story through the perspective of the suspicious and odd husband, Nick. Although in the midst of dealing with a missing wife, Nick is also forced to deal with the harassment and assumptions made in regard to how the media portrays him.

There are several layers to this, all accenting the beautifully executed turn halfway through
the film. “Gone Girl” is a riveting film that delivers as far as story and style are concerned, but this complicated premise wouldn’t be possible without the expert performances given by its leads, Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike.

Affleck plays the role of Nick Dunne perfectly, keeping the audience guessing at his true motives and intentions until the last second of the film. Affleck hasn’t made a huge
screen presence outside of his own films in a while, so it is nice to see the often under-appreciated actor shine fully in his excellent portrayal.
Pike is equally as excellent, skillfully portraying Amy’s complicated personality with a consistently intricate portrayal. “Gone Girl” is a film that delivers every step of the way, offering something for fans of film and mystery alike. For more work by Fincher and Flynn, be on the lookout for HBO’s upcoming series, “Utopia,” currently in production.