i thoroughly enjoy this movie the first time i saw it ten year ago . the film remind me of some of my favorite hitchcock flick and namely shadow of a doubt and notorious . the story build slowly and generate just enough paranoia of impend danger to keep the audience interested . by the time everything come together and the audience have an emotional investment in the main character and experience genuine anxiety at her ordeal . this be so refreshingly different from the movie that slice and dice cardboard character in an attempt to generate suspense . after see how poorly people have react to this film and i revisit it to see if my memory serve me correctly . my assessment remain the same . jessica lange give a stellar performance a the homicidal control freak . gwyneth paltrow be easy to empathize with a the paranoid daughter in law . nina foch be hysterical a the cheerful old lady who know all the family secret . i have meet each of these character in the real world . the only reason i would hesitate to call this a masterpiece be because there be no hitchcock cameo . still and this be a worthy imitation of the master work .