Along Came a Spider (2001)

Director:
Lee Tamahori
Starring:
Morgan Freeman, Mika Boorem, Monica Potter, Michael Wincott
Genre:
Thriller / Crime
Rating:
A tense, well-cast thriller featuring Alex Cross.

A suspenseful and well-cast thriller featuring detective Alex Cross (Morgan Freeman), based on the second hit novel by James Patterson to be adapted for the screen.

Alex Cross remains haunted by the tragic loss of his partner, only to be pulled back into the fray when a senator's daughter is abducted by a brilliant psychopath.

Criminal psychologist Alex Cross is still struggling eight months after the death of his colleague, Tracie. He is deeply mourning and has grown weary of the hunt for psychotic criminals until duty calls him back to Washington D.C.

Senator Hank Rose's daughter, Megan (Mika Boorem), has been kidnapped by Gary Soneji (Michael Wincott), a man posing as a teacher at her elite school. Working alongside Secret Service agent Jezzie Flannigan (Monica Potter), Alex must navigate a complex web of clues.

As Alex uncovers leads through digital footprints and school connections, the hunt intensifies. Little Megan shows incredible courage as the tension builds toward a finale you truly have to see on the big screen.

Reviewed by Iva (August 2001)
Editor's Note (2026): Morgan Freeman’s portrayal of Alex Cross remains a cornerstone of the early 2000s thriller genre. It is fascinating to revisit Monica Potter’s performance here, who at the time was projected as the next major breakout star.

The Iva Bring-Johansson Collection Project

Originally produced as a weekly segment for HIT FM Stockholm, these reviews represent a lifetime of cinematic insight. Today, the archive is an evolving digital project, meticulously translating Iva’s original 1979–2021 work into English.

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