Nicole Kidman was originally to star in the role of Meg Altman, but had to back out due to a knee injury she sustained during the filming of ''Moulin Rouge!''. However, she did add her voice to the movie portraying Steven Altman's girlfriend and talking with Meg Altman on the phone.
Although not particularly lauded for its performances, ''Panic Room'' was hailed for its intelligently written script and sleek cinematography that showed director David Fincher's trademark technique of moving the camera through various objects using special effects.
Tagline
*''It was supposed to be the safest room in the house ...''Cast
| Actor | Role |
| Jodie Foster | Meg Altman |
| Kristen Stewart | Sarah Altman |
| Forest Whitaker | Burnham |
| Dwight Yoakam | Raoul |
| Jared Leto | Junior |
| Patrick Bauchau | Steven Altman |
| Ann Magnuson | Lydia Lynch |
| Ian Buchanan | Evan Kurlander |
| Andrew Kevin Walker | Sleepy Neighbor |
| Paul Schulze | Officer Keeney |
| Mel Rodriguez | Officer Morales |
| Richard Conant | SWAT Cop |
| Paul Simon | SWAT Cop |
| Victor Thrash | SWAT Cop |
| Ken Turner | SWAT Cop |
Plot
The film focuses on a '''panic room''', a safe shelter usually located inside a residence. The panic room in this film is protected by a four-inch-thick steel door and an impressive security system, and features a phone line not connected to the residence.The residence is 38 West 94th Street in Manhattan, a four-story townhouse that was previously owned by a disabled reclusive millionaire. Following the owner's death, the house was bought by Meg Altman (Foster), a woman, recently divorced from the owner of a pharmaceutical giant, who is planning to go back to college. Meg has a 9-year-old hypoglycemical daughter, Sarah (Stewart).
On the night the two move into the home, it is broken into by Junior (Leto), the grandson of the previous owner, and Burnham (Whitaker), an employee of the security company used by the residence. The two are after $22 million in bearer bonds, which is stored inside the panic room. Unbeknownst to Burnham until after they've broken in, Junior has recruited Raoul (Yoakam), a bus driver who lives in Flatbush, to assist in the heist.
After discovering that the Altmans have moved into the home two weeks before they anticipated, the burglars decide to go on as planned with the heist, but Meg wakes up and before the three can stop her, she wakes Sarah and they escape to the panic room.
The three make several attempts to get into the room, including filling the room with propane to get the Altmans to come out, and tunneling in from underneath. Both do not work.
The Altmans make several attempts to call for help, including signaling a nearby neighbor with a flashlight (who they can only see from the opening of a water pipe) and tapping into the main telephone line to call for help (because Meg has not yet hooked up the panic room's phone). Only one works; the two get through to Meg's husband and Sarah's father, Stephen, before the burglars cut them off.
When all attempts to get into the room fail, Junior lets it slip that there is much more money in the panic room than he let on, and gives up. Upon trying to leave the house, he is shot in the head by Raoul. Stephen Altman arrives at the home and is then taken hostage by Raoul and Burnham. Raoul beats him to a pulp.
Following another hostage situation (this time with Sarah as the victim), Raoul is killed by Burnham as he attempts to kill Meg with a sledgehammer. Burnham is then captured by police as he makes his getaway with the bonds.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack was released in 16 April 2002 on Varese Sarabande records. The music is composed and conducted by Howard Shore, and contains nine songs. The record has been criticized because of its short playing time, but Varese came with an economic explanation why some of their records only last 30 minutes.'''Tracklist''':
*01. Main Titles
*02. Caution - Flammable
*03. Working Elevator
*04. Fourth Floor Hallway
*05. Locking us In
*06. Castle Keep
*07. What We Want is in that Room
*08. Zone 19 Disabled
*09. A very emotional Property
Total playing time 30:09 min.
