Netflix fans ‘traumatised’ after watching ‘underrated’ film with ‘scariest opening scene’

Film enthusiasts are only just stumbling upon a genuinely gripping thriller on Netflix that has left viewers utterly "traumatised".

Initially launched in 1995, the psychological thriller Copycat features Sigourney Weaver portraying Dr Helen Hudson, a criminal psychologist battling severe agoraphobia.

The distinguished specialist withdrew from society following a harrowing assault that nearly resulted in her death at the hands of killer Daryll Lee Cullum (Harry Connick Jr).

Several years afterwards, Helen finds herself enlisted by San Francisco detective M. J. Monahan (Holly Hunter) to assist in tracking down a serial murderer who mimics the techniques of notorious killers, reports the Mirror.

Despite her terror of venturing outdoors, Helen employs her extensive knowledge and skills to help apprehend the individual responsible for the imitation murders whilst collaborating with M. J.

The ensemble cast of this production - which garnered a devoted fanbase over the years following its debut - also features performers including Dermot Mulroney, William McNamara and Will Patton.

Beyond Copycat performing admirably at cinemas - earning $79 million against a $27 million production cost - critics responded favourably as well, awarding it a 76% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Copycat arrived on UK Netflix last month - and it's evident the picture has discovered renewed popularity three decades after its original cinema run.

Via Facebook, Netflix shared Copycat's opening sequence featuring Helen's assault by Daryll in a public lavatory. Responding to a "traumatising" clip, one viewer commented: "Man! This scene made me afraid to use public bathrooms. I mean, even to this day I'm still on high alert at rest stops."

Another person remarked: "I remember seeing this in theaters. I was freaked out in public restrooms for months!"

A third viewer contributed: "This scene TRAUMATISED me when I saw it as a teenager, for years and years. I'd always be looking up when using the public bathroom to make sure it didn't happen to me."

However, others commended the film overall, with one fan stating: "I really liked this, one of the most underrated movies out there." Another concurred: "Great movie, it holds up and I agree no one really talks about it."

It wasn't merely the audience that Harry Connick Jr unsettled with his chilling depiction of murderer Daryll Lee Cullum. In 2024, he disclosed that Sigourney Weaver was so disturbed by his performance that 'she wouldn't talk to him' during filming.

"Every time I came around, she went the other way,. She was like, 'I don't want to be around that guy!'" he revealed to SiriusXM's The Jess Cagle Show with Julia Cunningham.