'Dragon Tattoo' Remake is a Haunting Beauty from Fincher

Rooney Mara assumes the mantle of anti-social cyber hacker, Lisabeth Salander in this remake.

As of late, it seems like Sweden has constantly been getting the goods. From 2008’s Let the Right One In to 2009’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, these titles have not only captivated Swedish cinemaphiles, but those abroad and particularly those here in the United States. The only drawback, reading subtitles. Granted there is a solution. Either dub the language or remake the film for domestic audiences. 

Enter 2010’s Let Me In, which actually gave horror an intellectual feel for a change and now one year later, an American version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. And what better way to reinterpret the first of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy than the master of serial killer thrillers himself, David Fincher. Like the Swedish adaptation, Fincher intricately crafts Tattoo as a thriller about a damaged publisher and an antisocial hacker recruited to uncover a decades-old mystery about the murder of a corporate heiress.

Fincher’s version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo can obviously be compared to the original source and the Swedish film, but an opinion would only be skewed by comparisons and contrasts, not giving the benefit of the doubt of actually seeing the film as a separate entity entirely. That being said, Fincher is the only director worthy of tackling such a feat like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, having such a consistent focus for serial killer films. Having seen his earlier films such as Seven or Zodiac, you really know what to expect from Fincher – graphic violence and at least two to two and half hours of being spoon fed cinematic beauty. His unique tone and style makes Dragon Tattoo a piece of art on a canvas of bipolar brushstrokes. The extremely graphic violence and cinematography don’t clash, but rather mesh together in a way that only Fincher can make possible.

Daniel Craig takes over the Mikael Blomkvist role from Michael Nyqvist, being equally as capable of handling the mystery along with the building relationship with his assistant and the family he is investigating. It really doesn’t matter what role Craig is in, whether it be James Bond or a mobster’s son, he nails it almost every time. But it’s Rooney Mara who steals the entire film as antisocial hacker, Lisbeth Salander. Coming off of The Social Network, also directed by Fincher, Mara comes off as authentically damaged and owns every minute of screen time. Christopher Plummer and Stellan Skarsgard round out the phenomenal cast as two member of the wealthy corporate family being investigated. Plummer is given a very minimal, but impactful role, yet his screen presence goes beyond the moments he is actually on screen.

Dragon Tattoo though beautiful to look at can sometimes be difficult to watch at times. Scenes of graphic violence and rape sometimes ask how they managed to get an R-rating. It is definitely more than audiences are normally used to, but it isn’t done to push the envelope even further. These scenes have a purpose in the film and if it’s too intense, which it might be at times, simply turn your head. 

Just like with Fincher’s The Social Network last year, what brings Dragon Tattoo together is its wonderful score by a reteaming Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Its soft cues are haunting and reminiscent of The Social Network, yet still having a memorable identity in this film. And if that’s not appetizing enough, add a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” played over the opening credits. Karen O’s cover of the Zeppelin classic is dark, catchy and works as impactful as the best James Bond themes.  

Viewers might have issues with the length, which clocks in close to 160 minutes, but once the plot begins to take shape, running time is the last thing on someone’s mind. The only instance where it becomes blatantly obvious is near the end, which concludes the film with its false endings and lengthy epilogue that almost tries to match the final Lord of the Rings. 

If you’re coming into the film cold without any inkling of a lengthy epilogue, it may seem a bit overdone, but Fincher’s staying true to the original source. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is another magnificent achievement for David Fincher, introducing audiences to one of the most influential and controversial trilogies of the past decade. Hopefully, Dragon Tattoo will have enough of a following to warrant the two sequels, because we can’t be left hanging like this.

GRADE: A (10/10)
This review is also available on Blu-Ray.com