Psychological thrillers are a fan-favorite genre for a reason. They’re fun in a creepy sort of way. They keep us on our toes. And we tend to feel more than a little smug when we figure out the mystery before the main character inevitably discovers what’s going on. The early aughts were a prime time for these particular films, especially when it comes to underrated favorites like The Bone Collector (yes, we know it came out in 1999, but it’s just that good), A History of Violence, and Glass House all being released in theaters during that ten year long time frame.
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Another underrated favorite that is making a well-deserved streaming comeback with big viewing numbers is Along Came A Spider, a gripping psychological thriller starring Morgan Freeman and Michael Wincott. Part of James Patterson’s Alex Cross universe, the film centers around Cross as he attempts to rescue a senator’s kidnapped daughter. 24 years after its initial release, the film is sitting at 2.5 million views on Netflix, and it currently holds the #8 spot on the streamer’s Global Top 10 Movies of the Week list.
Why Along Came A Spider Deserves More Attention
The plot might sound a bit trite, but at no point does this movie disappoint. It’s a simple and effective premise, and Morgan Freeman delivers at every turn. Sure, it might get a bit busy in places, with potentially one too many plot twists and some unanswered questions, but that’s easy to overlook when the bones of the film are so good—especially for fans of the Alex Cross novels. And honestly, who doesn’t enjoy a movie that kicks off with a sting operation gone horribly wrong and a brooding, moody detective who can’t seem to get over the loss of his partner even a year on? The acting is great, the chemistry between characters and actors absolutely shines through, and the fight choreography is nothing short of fantastic with pacing never lets up—all things that make for a great thriller.
Along Came a Spider isn’t perfect by any means, but no movie is. At its core, it’s visually pleasing and follows characters worth going on a journey with, especially with all the twists and turns provided in the source material. It’s unfortunate how underappreciated it was in its time, but glad to see that it’s now pulling in the views that it deserves with the potential of becoming its own sort of thriller cult classic.
You Can’t Watch Along Came A Spider On Netflix (But Here’s Where You Can)
The movie isn’t currently available to stream in the US on Netflix, but you can find Along Came A Spider on Paramount+. You can also rent it on Amazon Prime and Apple TV.
Do you think Along Came A Spider deserves cult classic status? Tell us in the comments and join the conversation over at the ComicBook Forum.
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