I remember seeing this film right around the same time my interest in true crime started, it was perfect timing really as I was a novice with both this type of film and the subject matter so I was easily drawn in and fascinated by the story.
Sigourney Weaver has stated that she was most proud of her work in this film and has regretted that the movie was lost in a shuffle of thrillers at the time. She is amazing in this film (as usual) and she brings a lot of intensity to the screen.
I recently rewatched this after not viewing it for a very long time and I was apprehensive as I was afraid it wouldn’t be the same but luckily it was just as great as I remembered it to be, which really pleased me. The writing is incredible, so clever.
“Copycat” is a film that deserves so much more recognition, if you’re a fan of true crime then it’s definitely a must see!
Miscellaneous facts about the film:
Harry Connick Jr. was asked by Amiel to come up with a slang term for ladies’ panties, which ended up as “squirrel covers,” an expression he had heard his brother-in-law use.
Sigourney Weaver is almost a foot taller than Holly Hunter, thus for many scenes Weaver would be sitting down to make their heights appear more equal.
To research her role, Sigourney Weaver consulted with leading forensic psychiatrist Park Dietz, who had interviewed serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.
The climactic bathroom scene took 8 days to film.
Harry Connick Jr. spent weeks watching documentaries on serial killers in preparation for his role.
In the German dubbed version, the line “Heil Hitler” was replaced with “Yes boss”.
Holly Hunter hung about with several homicide detectives in downtown L.A. to help her get into her character.
James Newton Howard was approached to score the film, but turned it down to work on Waterworld (1995) instead. Christopher Young replaced him, and Jon Amiel was so happy with the result, he renewed his collaboration with Young on several other films.
In earlier versions of the script, the character of M.J. Monahan was written as a man and a romance would develop between Monahan and Helen Hudson.
Sigourney Weaver and J.E. Freeman later appeared together in Alien: Resurrection (1997).
Sigourney Weaver’s stuntwoman had her nose broken in the fight scene with William McNamara.
In one scene, serial killer Peter Foley uses the name “Peter Kurten”. This is also a copycat reference to the so-called “Vampire of Dusseldorf”, on whose activities Fritz Lang’s M (1931) was based.
In 1995, due to the recent attack on two girls; of which one died, Copycat was banned in Abbotsford, B.C. Canada cinemas – many other lower mainland theaters followed suit. The similarities between the films Peter Foley and the real life “Abbotsford Killer,” Terry Driver were enough for local law enforcement to grow concerned about fueling Driver, or panicking the public.
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