Local extras prominent in 'Gone Girl,' professor says

Those planning to watch "Gone Girl" to scope for familiar faces may want to watch the film twice.

Local extras who stood in line among thousands of people for casting calls last summer will be pleased to see they play a prominent role in the 20th Century Fox film, local professor and media expert Jim Dufek said. The city of Cape Girardeau, portrayed as North Carthage, Missouri, in the film, makes plenty of noticeable appearances as well, he said.

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Dufek attended the Friday debut of "Gone Girl" at the New York Film Festival and said he was pleasantly surprised to see how many familiar faces and locations he saw. He also warned that viewers might have to look quickly for the local element in some scenes.

"We have four prominent homes that are within this movie for quite a long time and just hundreds and hundreds of extras," Dufek said. "It's a pretty quick edit on some of these scenes, but you're going to be able to recognize a lot of people that you see. It's pretty exciting."

SEE: A guide to North Carthage: 18 filming locations in Cape Girardeau

It's a struggle trying to spot friends and family members in the background while focusing on the ever-twisting story line, he said, so he recommends multiple viewings.

"It's a really good movie, but I think you've got to see it a few times if you're in it, just to be able to appreciate what the story is, as well as the experience you had while you were making it," Dufek said.

But viewers will have no problem spotting the scenes played out in Cape Girardeau. The downtown area, the riverfront and especially the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge are easily visible, Dufek said.

"The bridge is in there quite often -- daytime, nighttime shots. The bridge played a pretty significant role and it's used quite a bit," he said.

Locals anticipating the premier of the film have been warned Cape Girardeau might not be portrayed in the most positive light. Author Gillian Flynn describes North Carthage in the novel as a shabby town well past its glory days, riddled with rundown homes and buildings.

Dufek said a few shots focus on that "downtrodden" aspect, but "you can tell right away, it's not Cape."

"We see a small part of the desolate part of [the town], but it's a fraction of the time that the movie portrays," he said.

While those who read the novel will come prepared for the twists in the mystery-thriller, Dufek said those unfamiliar with the story line should be prepared for some dark scenes.

"There's some disturbing stuff in this story. But once you get past that, you can just enjoy the experience of this major film," he said.

Many critics have enjoyed the film, praising Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike for their starring roles, and doting on director David Fincher. Dufek said he expected the film to be well-received, but still has been surprised by the numerous positive reviews. The critical praise is an especially great experience for the extras, he said.

"[When I saw the film] I was more excited about the extras because I know how much work they put into making this happen, giving up a lot of their time and energy," Dufek said. "And to be part of this story, that's really exciting for some people, it really is."

srinehart@semissourian.com

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