Perfect Stranger (2007)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

James Foley

Writers (WGA):

Todd Komarnicki (screenplay)
Jon Bokenkamp (story)

Release Date:

13 April 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

How Far Would You Go To Keep A Secret?

Plot:

A journalist goes undercover to ferret out businessman Harrison Hill as her best friend's killer. Posing as one of his temps, she enters into a game of online cat-and-mouse.

Plot Keywords:

Secret | Childhood Friend | Murder | Senator | Best Friend

Cast

Halle Berry	...	Rowena Price
Bruce Willis	...	Harrison Hill
Giovanni Ribisi	...	Miles Haley
Richard Portnow	...	Narron
Gary Dourdan	...	Cameron
Florencia Lozano	...	Lieutenant Tejada
Nicki Aycox	...	Grace
Kathleen Chalfant	...	Elizabeth Clayton
Gordon MacDonald	...	Senator Sachs
Daniella Van Graas	...	Josie
Paula Miranda	...	Mia Hill
Patti D'Arbanville	...	Esmeralda
Clea Lewis	...	Gina
Tamara Feldman	...	Bethany
Gerry Becker	...	Jon Kirshenbaum
Jared Burke	...	Kenneth Phelps
Jay Wilkison	...	Jesse Drake
Aaron Nauta	...	Gunnar Hope
Jane Bradbury	...	Toni
Jeffrey Bellamy	...	Capital Policeman
Charles Thomas	...	Coroner
Jason Antoon	...	Bill Patel
Heidi Klum	...	Victoria's Secret Party Host
Daniel A. Thomas	...	District Attorney
Jack Menz	...	Defense Attorney
Liliane Thomas	...	Jury Foreman
Todd Komarnicki	...	CSI Witness
Daniel Cheswick	...	CSI Guy
James Mazzola	...	CSI Analyst
Emma Heming	...	Donna
Kristy Hinze	...	Carol Whittier
Jay Coyle	...	Banker
Stephen J. Eads	...	Photographer's Assistant (as Stephen Eads)
Michael Tolan	...	Judge
Yvonna Kopacz Wright	...	Ro's Mother (as Yvonna Kopacz)
Jacqueline Cannon	...	Rowena's Older Mother
Vincent Lamberti	...	Ro's Father
Maya N. Blake	...	9-Year-Old Ro
Nadine Jacobson	...	9-Year-Old Grace
Jonathan Ave	...	Reebok Executive
Thomas Michael Sullivan	...	Reebok Executive (as Thomas Sullivan)
Pat Pritchett Lewis	...	Human Resources Woman
Gaetano Lisi	...	Newsstand Vendor
Brandhyze Stanley	...	Coffee Stand Vendor
Maurice Ballard	...	Maurice Ballard
Justin Ritson	...	Man on Elevator
Lauren Potter	...	Client
Robert L. Haber	...	Client
Mitch Giannunzio	...	Client #3
John Heinlein	...	NYPD Computer Tech
Mike O'Brien	...	Man in Bar
Joe Paparone	...	Hill's Doorman
James 'D-Train' Williams	...	Singer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ilana Becker	...	H2A Secretary (uncredited)
John Crann	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Tony Galtieri	...	Victoria Secrets Employee (uncredited)
Christy Bella Joiner	...	Model at Party (uncredited)
Amelia Kallman	...	Allison (uncredited)
Deirdre Lorenz	...	Veronica - the office temp (uncredited)
Loukas Papas	...	Business CEO (uncredited)

Directed by
James Foley

Writing credits (WGA)
Todd Komarnicki		(screenplay)
Jon Bokenkamp		(story)

Produced by
Ronald M. Bozman	....	executive producer (as Ron Bozman)
Stephen J. Eads	....	associate producer (as Stephen Eads)
Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas	....	producer
Stephanie Langhoff	....	co-producer
Charles Newirth	....	executive producer
Deborah Schindler	....	executive producer
Daniel A. Thomas	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Antonio Pinto

Cinematography by
Anastas N. Michos		(director of photography) (as Anastas Michos)

Film Editing by
Christopher Tellefsen

Casting by
Todd M. Thaler		(as Todd Thaler)

Production Design by
Bill Groom

Art Direction by
Charley Beal

Set Decoration by
Susan Bode		(as Susan Tyson)

Costume Design by
Renee Ehrlich Kalfus		(as Renée Ehrlich Kalfus)

Makeup Department
Linda Arnold	....	hair stylist: Mr. Willis
Richard Dean	....	co-key makeup artist
Richard Dean	....	makeup artist: Mr. Willis
Leslie Fuller	....	co-key makeup artist
Wayne Herndon	....	department head hair
Norma Hill-Patton	....	makeup artist: Ms. Berry
Paula Kelly	....	additional makeup artist
Frances A. Kolar	....	makeup artist
Barbara Lorenz	....	hair stylist: Ms. Berry
Diana Sikes	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Ronald M. Bozman	....	unit production manager (as Ron Bozman)
Paul A. Levin	....	post-production supervisor
Harvey Waldman	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Chris DeAngelis	....	second second assistant director
Matthew McLoota	....	dga trainee
Eddie Micallef	....	second assistant director
Glen Trotiner	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Rand Angelicola	....	scenic artist
Michael Auszura	....	assistant art director
Emily Beck	....	assistant art director
Brian Becker	....	shop craft foreman
Vince Biscano	....	best boy construction grip (as Vincent J. Biscaino)
Rolf H. Bortner	....	key construction grip
Steve Brennan	....	on-set dresser
Jason Brown	....	set dresser (as Jason A. Brown)
Lauren Buckley	....	art department coordinator (as Judith L. Buckley)
Stephen Caldwell	....	scenic artist
Ruth Deleon	....	on-set dresser (as Riuth A. Deleon)
Gerard J. Furey	....	key shop craftsman (as Gerard Furey)
David Scott Gagnon	....	second set dresser (as D. Scott Gagnon)
Steven Glazman	....	storyboard artist
Bruce Lee Gross	....	leadman
Heesoo Kim	....	assistant art director
Hank Liebeskind	....	set dresser
Todd MacNicholl	....	key construction grip
Vinny Mazzarella	....	assistant property master
James Mazzola	....	property master (as Jim Mazzola)
Lyvan A. Munlyn	....	scenic foreman
Joseph S. Patire	....	shop craftsman
Mark Pollard	....	assistant art director
Mark Pollard	....	graphic artist
Kevin L. Raper	....	graphic artist
Diane Rich	....	scenic artist
Charles Romanello	....	shop craft foreman
Maggie Ryan	....	scenic foreperson
Raymond M. Samitz	....	construction coordinator
David Shanker	....	assistant property master (as Dave Shanker)
Robert Topol	....	master scenic artist
M. Tony Trotta	....	camera scenic artist
James Whelan	....	set dresser
Tonero Williams	....	assistant property master
Alyssa Winter	....	assistant set decorator
Adam Jones	....	scenic shopman (uncredited)
Victor Littlejohn	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Eugene Paul Lynch	....	key construction electric (uncredited)
Eric M. Metzger	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Eric Pastore	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Ronnie Petagna	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Peter Regnier	....	swing gang set dresser (uncredited)
Jennifer Santucci	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Ajamu Walker	....	scenic shopman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gina Alfano	....	supervising adr editor (as Gina R. Alfano)
Michael Barry	....	sound re-recording mixer
Carlie Bergman	....	adr recordist
Chad Birmingham	....	assistant sound editor
Leslie Bloom	....	foley artist
Ron Bochar	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ron Bochar	....	supervising sound editor
Allan Byer	....	sound mixer
Kam Chan	....	foley editor
Heather Gross	....	sound effects editor
Eric Hirsch	....	re-recording engineer
George A. Lara	....	foley engineer
Marissa Littlefield	....	adr editor
Branka Mrkic	....	dialogue editor (as Branka Mrkic-Tana)
Douglas Murray	....	adr mixer
Mary Ellen Porto	....	adr editor
Serge Stanley	....	apprentice sound editor
Lidia Tamplenizza	....	apprentice sound editor
Alexa Zimmerman	....	assistant sound editor
Daniel McIntosh	....	sound mixer: additional photography (uncredited)
Paul Pouthier	....	second boom operator (uncredited)
Greg Zimmerman	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Mark Bero	....	special effects coordinator
Robert J. Scupp	....	special effects foreman (as Bob Scupp)
Douglas W. Beard	....	special effects technician: re-shoot (uncredited)
Phillip Beck	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Richard Bryan Douglas	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Karen Bianca	....	visual effects producer: RhinoFX (as Karen Bianca Bisignano)
Kent Blocher	....	visual effects editor
Elena Casanova	....	visual effects coordinator: RhinoFX
Rodrigo de la Parra	....	compositor: RhinoFX
Chris DiFiore	....	design lead: RhinoFX
Mitchell Ferm	....	visual effects associate producer: RhinoFX
Camille Geier	....	visual effects executive producer: RhinoFX
Nitant Karnik	....	compositor: RhinoFX
Jeff Lopez	....	lead animator: RhinoFX
Krista Maryanski	....	post production coordinator
Arman Matin	....	visual effects art director: RhinoFX
Arman Matin	....	visual effects supervisor: RhinoFX
John Sosnovski	....	visual effects producer (as John Sosnovsky)
John J. Budion	....	Flame artist: RhinoFX (uncredited)
Chris Gelles	....	visual effects executive producer: & Company (uncredited)
David Isyomin	....	visual effects supervisor: & Company (uncredited)
Bogdan Mihajlovic	....	visual effects onset supervisor: RhinoFX (uncredited)
Vadim Turchin	....	lead technical director (uncredited)
Craig Veytia	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Ji Hyun Yoon	....	visual effects (uncredited)

Stunts
G.A. Aguilar	....	stunt coordinator (as George Aguilar)
John Cenatiempo	....	stunt coordinator
Anthony Vincent	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Bill Almeida	....	lamp operator
Tony Arnaud	....	grip
Will Arnot	....	Steadicam operator
Will Arnot	....	camera operator: "b" camera
David Baney	....	lamp operator
Matt Blades	....	dolly grip
Kelly Britt	....	lighting board operator
Geb Byers	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Gregory Cahill	....	dolly grip
Patrick Capone	....	camera operator
Brian Carmichael	....	video assist operator
Ralph G. Crowley	....	best boy electric (as Ralph Crowley)
Andy Day	....	gaffer
James Domorski	....	24 frame video supervisor
Kevin Flynn	....	key rigging grip (as Kevin W. Flynn)
Jamie Gallagher	....	lamp operator
Gerald Gloster	....	grip
Charlie Grubbs	....	rigging gaffer (as Charles Grubbs)
William Hines	....	best boy rigging electric
Amanda Hudson	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Michael Hunold	....	lamp operator
Chris Kilduff	....	best boy grip
William MacGhee	....	lamp operator
William D. Moran	....	grip (as William Moran)
Ed Nessen	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Heather Norton	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Balint Pinczehelyi	....	grip
Tom Prate	....	key grip
Noah Prince	....	construction electric
Peter Russell	....	lamp operator
Pierson Silver	....	assistant camera
Joseph Trammell	....	video assist operator (as Joe Trammell)
Joshua Van Praag	....	lamp operator
Barry Wetcher	....	still photographer
Franz Yeich	....	best boy rigging grip (as Franz J. Yeich)
Michael Appel	....	lighting programmer (uncredited)
Pamela Bertini	....	camera operator: additional photography (uncredited)
John-Paul Chase	....	grip (uncredited)
Peter Colavito	....	electrician (uncredited)
Chris Drechsler	....	electrician (uncredited)
Lauren E. Enfield	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
John Gatland	....	additional grip (uncredited)
Paul Goroff	....	super technocrane operator (uncredited)
Andrew Greve	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Kevin Groff	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
James Harker	....	electrician (uncredited)
Timothy Healy	....	generator operator (uncredited)
Gregory F. Johnson	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Peter Kantor	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
James Klayer	....	additional camera loader (uncredited)
Denny Kortze	....	additional second assistant camera (uncredited)
John Krause	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Michael A. Leo	....	electrician (uncredited)
Todd Lichtenstein	....	electrician (uncredited)
Lou Massa	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Paul C. McKenna	....	crane technician: Technocrane (uncredited)
Christopher Murphy	....	digital video assist operator (uncredited)
Justin Panzanaro	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Antonio Ponti	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Joe Sarao	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Jonathan Stern	....	additional rigging electrician (uncredited)
Ryan Webb	....	electrician (uncredited)
John Woods	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
J. Dan Wright	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Lee Genick	....	background casting
Philip Huffman	....	casting assistant
Sondra James	....	adr voice casting
Sylvia Fay	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rhonney Greene	....	key background costumer
Joni M. Huth	....	costume shop supervisor
Nina Johnston	....	dresser: Ms. Berry
Mary Jo McGrath	....	costume supervisor (as M.J. McGrath)
Jennifer M. Moore	....	key costumer
Richard Schurkamp	....	assistant costume designer
Thomas Stokes	....	costume supervisor
Michelle Elaine Teague	....	dresser: Mr. Willis (as Michelle Teague)
Clifford Wray	....	wardrobe assistant
MacKenzie Fallon	....	wardrobe intern (uncredited)
Daniel Lawson	....	assistant costume designer (uncredited)
David Paulin	....	costume ager/dyer (uncredited)
Patrick Sarni	....	wardrobe assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Emery Anderson	....	digital intermediate engineer: Technicolor
Kent Blocher	....	first assistant editor
Dana Bloder	....	digital intermediate producer: Technicolor
Joe Gawler	....	digital colorist: Technicolor
Ann Gray	....	post-production coordinator
Jesse Morrow	....	digital intermediate editor: Technicolor
Chris Regan	....	lab color timer: Technicolor
John Sosnovski	....	assistant editor (as John Sosnovsky)
Michael P. Whipple	....	digital intermediate engineer: Technicolor (as Mike Whipple)

Music Department
Gui Amabis	....	additional music crew
Gui Amabis	....	music programmer
Ed Cortês	....	orchestrator
Tony Finno	....	music copyist
Bruce Fowler	....	conductor
Marilia Franco	....	score coordinator
Mick Gormaley	....	music editor
John Kurlander	....	score mixer (as John J. Kurlander)
Denise Luiso	....	music supervisor
Sandra Park	....	music contractor
Nic Ratner	....	music editor
Matt Chiaravalle	....	music producer (uncredited)
Justin Reeve	....	music coordinator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Mike Buckman	....	driver
Joseph Buonocore	....	driver (as Joseph J. Buonocore Jr.)
Dan Connolly	....	driver
William 'Telly' Davis	....	driver (as Telly Davis)
Robert Dwyer	....	driver (as Bob Dwyer)
Billy Featherstone	....	driver (as William Featherstone)
Roy Fortier	....	driver
Brian Hogan	....	driver
Joseeph J. Parvis	....	driver (as Joseph J. Parvis)
Timothy Shannon	....	driver (as Timothy J. Shannon)
Timothy Shannon	....	transportation co-captain (as Timothy J. Shannon)
James Patrick Whalen Jr.	....	transportation captain (as James P. Whalen Jr.)
Donald Yeager	....	driver
Carl Hettling	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Deborah Becker	....	assistant accountant (as Deborah A. Becker)
Adam Bernard	....	production assistant
Pamela Bertini	....	assistant production coordinator: reshoots
Maria T. Bierniak	....	location manager
Antonio Bonilla	....	production assistant
Natalie S. Brown	....	production assistant
Maurice Cabrera	....	parking coordinator
Filipe Campos de Pinho de Bessa	....	production assistant (as Filipe Bessa)
Kate Carcaterra	....	production assistant
Al Cerullo	....	helicopter pilot
Brian Chang	....	production assistant
Dawn Clounch	....	assistant: Mr. Newirth
Kathy Cossu	....	set medic
Gabrielle Cran	....	assistant: Mr. Bozman
Brian Cruey	....	assistant: Mr. Langhoff
Betsy Davis	....	production secretary
Katherine DeJesus	....	accounting clerk
Sean Dooley	....	assistant: Ms. Goldsmith-Thomas
John Edmunds	....	chef
Guy Efrat	....	assistant location manager
Massoumeh Emami	....	script supervisor
Mike Fermin	....	parking coordinator
Glenn Ferrara	....	production assistant
Danielle Goldsmith	....	production assistant
Lindsay Jaeger	....	assistant: Mr. Foley
Jessica Kantor	....	assistant: Ms. Schindler
Amir Khan	....	production assistant
Kendra Levenberg	....	production assistant
Ian MacGregor	....	assistant location manager
SiddeeQah Na'Imah Malik	....	carmera trainee (as Sideeqah Na'Imah Malik)
Theresa Marsh	....	assistant accountant (as Theresa L. Marsh)
Jeremy Mohler	....	production assistant
Eric Myers	....	unit publicist
Jennie Myers	....	accounting clerk
Kip Myers	....	assistant location manager (as Kip Davis Myers)
Meegan Neeb	....	assistant production coordinator
Anne Nevin	....	production coordinator
Wayne Petrucelli	....	security coordinator
Mike Phillips	....	production accountant
Matthew Pratt-Hewitt	....	production assistant (as Matthew S. Pratt-Hewitt)
Justin Ritson	....	production assistant
Angel Rivas	....	craft service
Marcia Rivas	....	craft service
Wilson Rivas	....	craft service
Aton Roberts	....	production assistant
Chris Rodriguez	....	production assistant
Kate Ryan Roth	....	production assistant
Brooke Schaiberger	....	assistant: Ms. Goldsmith-Thomas
Christopher Sileo	....	security
Darryl A. Smith	....	payroll accountant
Jan Claire Tynes	....	stage manager
Omar Vaid	....	production assistant
Michelle Vicidomini-Serdaros	....	assistant: Mr. Thomas (as Michelle Vicidomini)
Joe Violante	....	dailies advisor: Technicolor (as Joey Violante)
Ryan S. Westphal	....	production assistant (as Ryan Westphal)
Zach Wolf	....	production assistant
John Wu	....	production assistant
Zachary Zirlin	....	production assistant
Hernando Bansuelo	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Laura Berning	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)
Jason Bush	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Erica Fishman	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jani Foley	....	additional production assistant (uncredited)
Jani Foley	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Ran Francke	....	security: Halle Berry (uncredited)
Rebecca Heller	....	stills assistant (uncredited)
Karen Tsen Lee	....	adr voice (uncredited)
Casey Madigan	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Mario Nila	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Sean Oliver	....	adr artist (uncredited)
Eric Papa	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Antonio Ponti	....	photosonics technician (uncredited)
Michael A. Rizzo	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Daniel M. Rosenberg	....	production executive (uncredited)
Nina Saxon	....	title designer (uncredited)
Daniel Silverman	....	film recorder (uncredited)
Yorgo Stathopoulos	....	location scout (uncredited)
Bill Timoney	....	adr voice group (uncredited)
Heather Zicko	....	assistant: Todd Komarnicki (uncredited)

Thanks
Mike Marcucci	....	special thanks
Dara McQuillan	....	special thanks
Larry Silverstein	....	special thanks (as Larry A. Silverstein)

Production Companies

• Revolution Studios

Distributors

• Buena Vista International (2007) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures (2007) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2007) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• SF Norge A/S (2007) (Norway) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2007) (UK) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2007) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2007) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (2007) (Japan) (theatrical)
• LK-TEL (2007) (Argentina) (DVD)
• RTL Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (TV) (RTL4)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (2008) (Japan) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2007) (Sweden) (DVD)

Special Effects

• RhinoFX (visual effects)
• & Company (additional visual effects)
• K.N.B. Effects Group (special makeup effects) (as KNB EFX Group)
• CEG Media (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Nina Saxon Film Design  titles
• C5  post services
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes
• David Haddad  transportation equipment
• G.S.I.S.  security: Ms. Berry
• Haddad's  transportation equipment
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• Nina Saxon Film Design  end titles (as Nina Saxon Design)
• Orbit Digital  Avids / HD services
• Scarlet Letters  end titles
• Soundtrack  ADR Facility
• Sylvia Fay/Lee Genick & Associates Casting  extras casting
• Technicolor  digital intermediate
• Tomkats Catering  catering (as Tomkats)
• audiomachine  advertising

MPAA:

Rated R for sexual content, nudity, some disturbing violent images and language.

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:R | Netherlands:16 | UK:15 | Singapore:M18 | Ireland:16 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Singapore:NC-16 (edited version) | Argentina:13 | Brazil:14 | Australia:M (original rating) | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Germany:16 | Portugal:M/12 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | Chile:14 | South Korea:18 | Malaysia:18PL | Peru:14 | Japan:PG-12 | Spain:18 | Finland:K-15 | New Zealand:R16

Filming Locations:

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Revolution Studios

Trivia:

The filmmakers filmed three different endings to the film, each with a different character as the killer.

Goofs:

Continuity: When hill goes to hit Ro when you see him from the front his fist is clenched when you see him from the back its unclenched.

Quotes:

[from trailer]
Harrison Hill: Do you have any idea what loyalty is?
Ro: I bet your wife is wondering the same thing!
Harrison Hill: BAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: The Worst of 2007" (2008)

Soundtrack:

A Transa

What's the point of guessing if the movie doesn't play fair?

After viewing Perfect Stranger, I went on the film's page at the IMDb, and found out that there were three different endings filmed, each one with a different character being guilty. This does not surprise me at all. This is a movie that jerks us around simply for the sole fact that it wants to jerk us around. It doesn't want us to figure it out, and it doesn't play fair. When I realized that there was no point in following the clues and the movie simply plays to the demands of the filmmaker and which ending worked best with test audiences, it made me hate this shallow and silly excuse for a thriller even more.

The film centers on an investigative journalist named Rowena (Halle Berry) who specializes in going undercover and exposing corporate and political frauds with the help of her creepy best friend and co-worker Miles (Giovanni Ribisi) who seems to have a certain unhealthy obsession with her that is painfully obvious to the audience, yet Rowena seems blissfully ignorant to. Rowena's having a tough time after she quits her job due to one of her stories falling through and a childhood friend of hers named Grace (Nicki Aycox) turns up dead. The two women just happened to have a chance meeting in a subway shortly before Grace's murder, and she told Rowena about how she had been having an on-line affair with a powerful New York ad executive named Harrison Hill (Bruce Willis). Grace had mentioned that their relationship had recently soured, and that Harrison was no longer talking to her. When evidence pops up that Grace may have been pregnant, Harrison becomes all the more suspicious to Rowena, especially since the man is married and has a long history of past affairs. Deciding to investigate on her own, Rowena turns up at Harrison's corporate office as a Temp and tries to get close to him, with Miles trying to dig up more dirt on the guy. Naturally, things are not what they seem, and the movie has more red herrings than a fresh fish market to keep us guessing in sheer futility.

There's nothing exactly wrong with the concept behind Perfect Stranger, and director James Foley certainly gives the movie an attractive look. The problem lies with the screenplay by Todd Komarnicki. He seems to be trying to make an erotic murder thriller along the lines of Basic Instinct, but the movie is not very erotic nor is it very thrilling. The pace is leisurely to the point of being nearly stagnant, and the few sex scenes contained within the film are completely and instantly forgettable. I guess we're supposed to be enthralled by the twisting plot that casts everyone who plays a major role into a shadowy light. The movie stresses time and time again that everyone has dirty secrets, and yes, many secrets are exposed. The problem is almost all of these secrets exist simply to throw us off course. Not one leads to the correct answer. The answer exists simply in whatever of the three endings worked out the best. A thriller like this has to be planned out and lead to one true answer, not whatever answer the filmmakers feel like.

Long before we find out that the movie doesn't even want to play fair, Perfect Stranger never truly captures our attention to start with. The characters are murky at best and, as previously mentioned, exist simply to lead us in multiple directions. They are victims of a plot that knows it's clever. They have no personality and no real motivation other than to act as red herrings. A good example is the character of Harrison Hill, who is slimy simply because he is supposed to be slimy for the sake of the story. He cheats on his wife, he threatens his business enemies, and when he finds out that one of his employees has been leaking info to an outside source, he physically abuses him right in front of all the other employees. None of these actions truly matter. They have no motivation and they do not drive his character to any sort of goal. We can't become attached to these people, because they're not even human to start with.

Since winning the Oscar for Monster's Ball, Halle Berry seems to be on a strange single-minded quest to kill her career. Chalk up another loss for Berry. She's passable at best, but just about any other actress could have filled her shoes, and she brings nothing to the character. Same goes for Bruce Willis, who has absolutely no charisma, and we cannot understand why he is such a ladies man except for the fact that the movie tells us he is. The only performance that does stand out is Giovanni Ribisi as Miles, and it's for all the wrong reasons. He is immediately suspicious to us, because Ribisi plays up the weirdness of his character almost from the instant he walks onto the screen. This makes the fact that Berry's character does not even seem the least bit unnerved by him make her come across as a total idiot.

I will not reveal the ending of Perfect Stranger, but I will say this. When the ending comes, did you personally see anything during the course of the movie that could have led us to the conclusion it wants to lead us to? We don't get the full story beforehand. All the clues, all the evidence, all the paths it had led us down had nothing to do with anything. The movie is a great big exploding cigar that laughs at us when everything blows up in our face. There are no right and wrong answers. Just one very uninteresting movie that doesn't even have the nerve to play fair.