Make no mistake, Panic Room - hailing all the way from the year 2002 - is director David Fincher’s underrated masterpiece.  There are moments of suspense in this neo-noir gem which are definitely not for the weak of heart, with one early stand-out sequence has to be when Jodie Foster has to race a trio of robbers, played by Forest Whitaker, Dwight Yoakam, and Jared Leto, back to the safety of her panic room before they beat her to what’s hidden inside.  It’s a pulse-pounding scene which is rivaled only by the camera’s lingering - a mix of practical and CGI efforts - over the single location of this thriller, a massive set designed by production designer Arthur Max.

Panic Room is also his take on the suspense thrillers of Alfred Hitchcock as one woman goes toe-to-toe with a trio of armed robbers while protecting her young daughter in their new townhouse.  From beginning to end, this sound-stage set thriller - disguising nothing about its B-movie leanings - operates as a tribute to the master of suspense.  Even the opening titles ring some very familiar North By Northwest bells with their super-sized script sandwiched between buildings and familiar NYC landscapes.  And you know what?  I don’t mind one bit.

Fincher’s work is a genuine nail-biter of a good time, resembling a much thought out game of mental chess, complete with unexpected moves and narrative twists that its actors, working at the top of their game, are definitely up to.

Panic Room, about a home invasion turned upside down by a determined mother, her young daughter, and their specially designed "panic room", was not widely appreciated when it was originally released, but now, thanks to Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, the film gets a chance to impress audiences here with its 4K debut, which is quite an upgrade from its SuperBit DVD release from years ago.

Starring Jodie Foster and a young Kristen Stewart as the mother and daughter at the center of this robbery gone wrong, Panic Room wastes no time in getting to its game of cat-and-mouse as they explore and eventually move into a large apartment townhouse in New York City.  That’s all thanks to David Koepp's script, which mixes pop culture references with a home invasion narrative, made all the more memorable thanks to its tightly-wound sound design from Ren Klyce.  The atmosphere is threatening and the story is simple; all of this works in Fincher’s favor as a New York brownstone becomes the playground for Burnham (Forest Whitaker), Raoul (Dwight Yoakam) and Junior (Jared Leto)  who want the bearer bonds locked inside a floor safe in the panic room.

The film finally debuts on 4K Ultra HD as a limited edition SteelBook!  Scoop this classic up today!  Complete with hours of in-depth special features about the pre-production, production and post-production of this unique film, this release is definitely worth owning.

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital 4K - Steelbook

Home Video Distributor: Sony Pictures
Available on Blu-ray - February 18, 2025
Screen Formats: 2.39:1
Subtitles: English SDH, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Arabic, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Korean, Mandarin (Simplified), Norwegian, Swedish, Thai, Turkish
Audio: English: Dolby Atmos; English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1; English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; German: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Discs: 4K Ultra HD; Blu-ray Disc; three-disc set
Region Encoding: 4K region-free; blu-ray locked to Region A

Trapped in their New York brownstone's panic room, a hidden chamber built as a sanctuary in the event of break-ins, newly divorced Meg Altman (Jodie Foster) and her daughter, Sarah (Kristen Stewart),play a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with three intruders--Burnham (Forest Whitaker), Raoul (Dwight Yoakam) and Junior (Jared Leto) -- during a brutal home invasion. But the room itself is the focal point because what the intruders really want is inside it.

VIDEO

Taken from a NEW 4K Scan From The Original DI Film NegativeTaken from a NEW 4K Scan From The Original Negative, the new transfer of the film is seriously golden. The film is presented in this crackling 4K release from Sony. The sets are loaded with details unseen before. Overall, the film looks gloriously fresh and buzzes with a new sense of urgency as the crisp visuals are punctuated in a way I previously had not noticed. The building within the set is rich with details and bold black levels. Interiors, especially in the home sequence, are solid and expressive. Black levels are strong throughout, revealing layers in the shadows as the building from top to bottom is presented with warmth and clarity.

AUDIO

Presented In Dolby Vision And Dolby Atmos, the new release is thundering when it comes to its sonic presentation.

Supplements:

Commentary:

• There are three feature-length commentaries: the first with director David Fincher, the second with Jodie Foster, Forest Whitaker and Dwight Yoakam, and the third with writer David Koepp and a special guest.

Special Features:

Fans get a total of 3 Discs with this release.  And, as all the supplemental items are found on disc 2 and 3, this is a gold mine for anyone with any interest in film production.  Hours of material to dive into.  Also of note, there are three feature-length commentaries: the first with director David Fincher, the second with Jodie Foster, Forest Whitaker and Dwight Yoakam, and the third with writer David Koepp and a special guest.

• Three Audio Commentaries
• Pre-Production
• Production
• Easter Eggs
• Visual Effects
• Scoring
• Sound Design
• Digital Intermediate
• Super 35 Technical Explanation
• Sequence Breakdowns
• Trailers

	Movie
	Video
	Audio
	Extras
Composite Blu-ray Grade

MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime: 112 mins
Director: David Fincher
Writer: David Koepp
Cast: Jodie Foster; Kristen Stewart; Forest Whitaker
Genre: Drama | Thriller
Tagline:
Memorable Movie Quote: "How do you live in New York and not have a single percocet?"
Theatrical Distributor: Sony Pictures
Official Site:
Release Date: March 29, 2002
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: February 18, 2025.
Synopsis: A divorced woman and her diabetic daughter take refuge in their newly-purchased house's safe room when three men break-in, searching for a missing fortune.