Gone Girl

On the surface, Gone Girl might seem like a conventional mainstream kidnapping thriller by the standards of director David Fincher.

And it’s true that this skillful adaptation of the novel by Gillian Flynn should have plenty of widespread appeal. Yet dig beneath that melodramatic surface, and it becomes a powerful exploration of public perception, the assumption of female victimhood, and the ability to persuade and convict in the age of a 24-hour news cycle eager to sensationalize the latest scandal.

The film also showcases the latest in a recent series of superb performances by Ben Affleck, who continues to prove himself as a versatile dramatic leading man.

Affleck plays Nick, a Missouri writer who returns home on his fifth anniversary to discover his living room has been ransacked and his wife, Amy (Rosamund Pike) — a well-known children’s author — is missing. Their marriage is tumultuous, yet Nick’s concerns escalate as he teams up with Amy’s parents for a nationwide media campaign to find her.

As his frustration mounts, the suspicion of those around Nick starts to grow, as media outlets treat him more as a murder suspect than the husband of a kidnapping victim. Everybody is left searching for the truth, or at least the best story.

Flynn, who adapted her own screenplay, takes her time establishing characters and backgrounds — much of it through abundant flashbacks — but the layered film remains engaging as it steadily builds suspense, even when it strains credibility. The chronological jumbling is more than just a simple gimmick.

There’s plenty of devious scheming that keeps the audience guessing as to suspects and motives, and just when you think you have it figured out, there are more twists. That’s true even for fans of the source material, who will find a few key differences that don’t sacrifice its impact.

Along the way, Affleck’s character delicately becomes both sympathetic and flawed, as viewers watch the mystery unfold through his eyes. They know as much as he does, and are left asking the same questions. Meanwhile, Amy is a fascinating and enigmatic role that Pike portrays with a potent mix of strength and vulnerability.

Although Gone Girl has a somewhat generic noir premise and a mechanical structure, it’s not an average procedural. Fincher keeps the pace lively and finds the right balance between provocative and playful, right down to an ending that leaves you stunned.

Rated R, 149 minutes.