I admit I'm a little paranoid. Growing up, I used to lock my bedroom door at night in fear of kidnappers and serial killers. If I had a "panic room" in my house, I probably would have slept in there.

However, after seeing Jodie Foster's ordeal in her own Panic Room, even the most secure room in the house no longer seems completely safe.

In the film Jodie Foster plays Meg Altman, a recently- divorced mother of one. Meg and her daughter Sam find a townhouse in New York City that they cannot pass up.

The house features a "panic room," full of the most advanced security technology for the paranoid homeowner.

Meg is skeptical about the room; yet she and her daughter move in. But there's not much time for them to get comfortable: their first night in the house brings three unwelcome visitors.

When Meg notices the intruders on the surveillance camera, she grabs her daughter and locks the two of them in the panic room.

From the advertisements, Panic Room seems really scary. The thought of people breaking into my house and trying to get me is one of my worst nightmares. But about 20minutes into the movie, the audience realizes that the men aren't attacking Jodie Foster; they are after money hidden in the panic room.

This plot point lost my attention; the movie ceased being scary and basically became a lack of communication between criminal and victim.

There was a simple answer that could have saved a lot of time and effort -- a negotiation! But I guess that would have made for a pretty lousy movie.

Although I was disappointed at the movie's lower fright quotient, the film partially redeemed itself. Though the story is weak, the script by David Koepp is still good. It is surprisingly funny and well-conceived. The film was unexpectedly funny, plus the characters are interesting and display depth.

I don't know if I was supposed to, but I actually liked two of the three crooks. Also, the mother-daughter relationship between Foster and her child was enjoyable to watch unfold.

David Fincher, who also directed Fight Club and Seven, is one of the most innovative directors working in Hollywood today.

With his dynamic visual style and technical know-how, he was able to take a weak story and make it captivating. Fincher uses long panning shots, many of which take us through walls, down steps and all around the house.

This proved effective, allowing the viewer to see how the action is progressing in the house and where the characters are in relation to each other.

Burnham (Forrest Whitaker) is shown from the outside of the house trying each door.

The camera, in one, long uncut shot, then simply pans through empty rooms until we see his silhouette in another door, then he moves on to the next door, all without cutting.

Such shots were unique and built tension; Fincher's vision made Panic Room interesting to watch. It wasn't that scary of a movie, just tense.

I was expecting to see a movie that would make me want to lock my bedroom door again -- instead I saw a good thriller that puts you on the edge of your seat.

Two-time Academy Award winner Jodie Foster gives a tough and believable performance as the protective mother, and her daughter, played by Kirsten Stewart, displays her evident acting talent. I have a feeling we will be seeing Stewart in more films.

The three thieves, Whitaker, Jared Leto and Dwight Yokum, played their roles well and expressed the necessary emotions that allowed us insight into their characters.

Overall, Panic Room isn't that believable. While not bone-chilling, it is entertaining, eliciting the occasional applause and cheers from the audience.

I am always impressed when a movie can stir the viewers' emotions to that point. It shows they're invested in the onscreen action.