Synopsis

Forensic psychologist Alex Cross travels to Durham, North Carolina, after his niece disappears amid a series of abductions. A kidnapped doctor escapes from the killer's underground prison and becomes Cross's crucial ally. As investigators race to locate the remaining captives, Cross uncovers a chilling connection between the crimes and someone close to the investigation.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film adapts James Patterson's 1995 novel of the same name and introduced Morgan Freeman's Alex Cross to the screen. A sequel, Along Came a Spider, followed in 2001.

• Principal photography took place from April 16 through July 10, 1996. Locations included Duke University, Chapel Hill, Research Triangle Park, and parts of Los Angeles.

• The Durham police station was built inside a downtown warehouse, while the tunnels and underground chambers were constructed on sound stages at Paramount Studios.

• Ashley Judd trained in kickboxing for the role and performed many of her stunts. A stuntman substituted for her during the dangerous waterfall jump.

• The final kitchen confrontation uses a split-diopter lens, keeping both a nearby and distant character in sharp focus at the same time.

• The film was withheld from some theaters in central Virginia because the area was dealing with the unsolved murders of three teenage girls. The decision was made out of respect for the victims' families and the local community.

• Denzel Washington was initially considered for the Alex Cross role but left the project because of scheduling conflicts.

• The movie opened in the United States on October 3, 1997, and earned approximately $100 million worldwide.