Why ‘Gone Girl’ Will Leave You on the Edge of Your Seat

What would happen if one day you came home and your wife had disappeared? Would you worry yourself to death? Or would you send a little prayer of thanks?
What would happen if your wife disappeared and it looks like you killed her?

And this is where Gone Girl begins…<spoiler warning>

That’s where Nick Dunne finds himself one day when he returns home to find his wife gone. The cops are called in and find proof of foul play. While surprised by Nick’s careless attitude towards his wife’s disappearance, there isn’t evidence to bring him in.

Meanwhile, where is Amy? More importantly, who is Amy? Through a series of flashbacks, narrated by Amy as parts of her journal, we get a peek into Amy’s childhood, her and Nick’s early years of romance followed by a crumbling marriage.

In the present, police find holes in Nick’s stories. A trail of clues that convinces them Amy’s disappearance was an inside job – as in the husband did it. Smiling Instagram pictures with a volunteer, having a mistress, and generally not giving a shit about his wife doesn’t help Nick’s case.

Then the police find the golden ticket, Amy’s journal. The last sentence literally states- ‘He is going to kill me’.
A little convenient, don’t you think? I thought so too.

Seriously, if you haven’t watched Gone Girl yet, stop reading now.  Skip to ‘Why It Works’.

Amy was no ordinary mid-west housewife. She was a highly educated and accomplished city girl. She wasn’t going to stick around in an unhappy marriage that used up all her money. She wasn’t going to get cheated on. She was going to get even and how!

I wasn’t surprised that the elaborate setup was to frame Nick for the murder. What surprised me was how Amy chose to punish Nick, or the other men before him. It was as if she was fighting thousands and thousands of years of subjugation of wives all over the world. She also chose to punish men by falsely implying them in criminal acts that are most often true against women. She was beating them at their own game. In the end, sure she was a psycho bitch, but all those men, maybe deserved just a little bit of it. To call her a nut job would be an oversimplification.

Why It Works

Gone Girl, adapted from Gillian Flynn’s novel and directed by David Fincher, captivates viewers on multiple levels.

Firstly, it excels as a gripping whodunit, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats. Additionally, it serves as a compelling psychological thriller, populated by a fascinating ensemble of characters. Moreover, it offers a thought-provoking exploration of mental, sexual, and physical abuse within marriages, showcasing a distorted reflection of reality.
The film looks at the intrusion of media into our lives, emphasizing its significant role in shaping one’s destiny. Nick’s struggle extends beyond proving his innocence to the authorities; he also grapples with public perception. As his wife vanishes, he finds himself compelled to present his side of the story on talk shows.
Rosamund Pike delivers a remarkable performance, blending vulnerability with unwavering determination as Amy. Her portrayal eclipses the rest of the cast, while Ben Affleck aptly embodies the stoic demeanor of Nick. The movie maintains a dark tone throughout, even on the seemingly cheerful days in wintry New York. Gone Girl makes it to the top of my thriller favorites.

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