Critics have often noted the film's preoccupation with visual motifs—specifically mirrors and feet—which director Roland Joffé utilizes to create a sense of fragmented reality. While the thriller mechanics occasionally falter under the weight of its own twists, the film succeeds as a "genre send-up." It even includes a seemingly incidental serial killer character (played by ) to further muddy the waters of who the true villain is. Critical Legacy

: Played by Ellen DeGeneres , the detective provides a caustic, dry wit that sends up the conventional "straight man" investigator. Her interactions with her religious partner (Ray McKinnon) provide a comedic counterpoint to the film's darker elements. Style Over Substance?

: A femme fatale who isn't just dangerous, but "cheerily immoral," treating life and death with the same detached professionalism as a house viewing.