One plot point that I don't get is, why does the whole SWAT team come storming in at the end?
The best I can figure is that when the two cops came to the door earlier, Jodie Foster tried to talk them down, but they had a hunch.
But come on ... you don't call out the swat team for a hunch. I imagine most police would walk away after a 60-second "everything's OK" speech.
I'd say she actually did blink to the cops, but the plot/movie wasn't supposed to show you at this point so it took place off screen.
Maybe because it would've taken away part of the tension of the finale.
Anyway it would've been easily possible so I don't think it's that big of a plothole...
Great, tense movie by the way. Maybe even a bit underrated.
"insanity runs in my family... It practically gallops."
Agreed, I like the movie. Decent suspense film, different. I think the five main cast did a good job in this. I especially liked Foster and Stewart in this, and also Whitaker.
shareKickstand, the husband had called the police, and I think they waited around for signs of activity in the house. If they got them, knowing there were THREE robbers around a small woman and girl, they'd need backup if they didn't want anyone dead.
shareI didn't see a SWAT team, they were just armoured cops. Anyway, there could be many reasons what tipped them off:
1.) The cops had a hunch. That's probably the main reason.
2.) The neighbours heard the noise, saw the light flashing and called them.
3.) Stephen's new wife was worried why he was taking so long (or could just be jealous and suspicious that something was going on between him and Meg, anyway so she called the cops).
4.) UMM... STEPHEN FIRED MULTIPLE SHOTS INTO THE WALL AND FLOOR OF THE HOUSE WHILE TRYING TO SHOOT RAOUL. The neighbours must have heard that. That's probably the biggest giveaway why such a huge team of cops arrived there.
She signaled them She didn't blink her eyes but she definitely signaled them. I won't tell you how she signaled them so as not to spoil it for other people but if you go back and watch the scene again you should be able to pick it up.
shareIt was quite obvious she was hiding something even though she put up a good front. I'm sure the cops saw through it.
shareI was really frustrated that she didn't blink to the cops at the last minute. I watched it again with my Mum and she noticed straight away the blood on Jodie's hands. If you watch the scene she has one hand on the lip of the door. The cop asks if she's in danger, Jodie makes a flippant remark about people in the house and then puts the blood covered hand in view of the officer.
The other thing is she said her ex-husband didn't come over, but if he called the cops he likely told them he was heading straight there. His vehicle would have been nearby. Whether that means she's sleeping with him or not is up to them.
Thirdly, it could be argued the officer stuck around to search the premise and heard some of the commotion/gun shots and called for back up.
"I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness"
Actually, there wasn't blood on her hand. What you see on her hand is the minor burn she got from setting the propane on fire earlier (if you look at the scene, you can see that the hand she used to shove the lighter into the vent and ignite it is the same hand she brushes her hair with for that scene with the cops).
But this one's eating my popcorn!