This is a decent detective story, though it stretches believability and features a disappointing final twist. D.C.-based forensic psychologist Alex Cross, portrayed by Morgan Freeman, finds himself looking into the kidnapping of a senator’s daughter from her school. The perpetrator is a man fixated on the Lindbergh case, played by Michael Wincott. A Secret Service agent stationed at the school (Monica Potter) offers assistance with the inquiry. “Along Came a Spider” (2001), similar to its earlier adaptation “Kiss the Girls” (1997), presents itself as an improbable detective thriller—though it avoids imitating films like "Silence of the Lambs" (1991) or “Se7en” (1995). Both movies are based on novels by James Patterson. The film gets off to a strong start with a genuinely exciting scene involving a dam. The subsequent narrative surrounding the kidnapping and investigation is engaging, but as with the initial movie, an unexpected element disrupts the flow of events. I could accept that sort of thing, however, the ridiculous ‘big reveal’ at the conclusion felt like a clumsy attempt by the writers to trick the audience. While they may have managed to surprise me, it also damaged the film because of how predictable and over-the-top the twist was. As with “Kiss the Girls,” "Along Came a Spider" is enjoyable for those who appreciate well-made detective thrillers and like the actors involved; just be aware that you’re in for an extremely unrealistic story. The movie has a running time of 1 hour, 44 minutes and was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, as well as Owings Mills/Baltimore, Maryland (for the train sequence), with some establishing shots showcasing Washington DC. GRADE: C

Source on TMDB