Corrected entry: In one scene, one of the intruders gets his hand caught in the door of the panic room as it slams shut. However, it is shown earlier in the film that the panic room door is equipped with motion sensors to avoid just such an accident.
jshy7979
8th Apr 2002
Panic Room (2002)
Correction: The sensors are spaced quite widely - they'll stop the door slamming on a large blockage, but not a small one, like a hand.
The chap showing them the panic room in the earlier scenes demonstrated the effect of the motion sensor using his hand. Why wouldn't a hand stop it later?
When we see the guy at the beginning demonstrate it with his hand, we see the laser cross his hand, roughly at shoulder level. He then states that there is another one at ankle level. There are only two safety sensors, and Raul's hand, being roughly at knee level, does not trigger either one of them.
Hands/fingers (especially a child's) were probably most likely to be injured before the introduction of sensors; it wouldn't make sense to install a sensor incapable of sensing hands/fingers or small objects. Even a section of clothing (e.g, shirt arm) would be picked up. My garage door's sensor is sensitive to a small leaf, one black oil sunflower seed, and a bug (to name a few).
20th Sep 2019
Panic Room (2002)
Stupidity: When the police turn up the first time the mother lies to them to get them to go away but the burglars can't hear the conversation. She could have told them exactly what was happening and that she had to make it look like she'd got rid of them. She could have then smashed all the cameras and just let them in.
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Suggested correction: This was a character decision, and a completely understandable one. Her daughter was being held hostage in the panic room. She decided to cooperate with their demands for the safety of her daughter. Your idea is a solid one, but she simply did not think of it in her state of mind. She opted to get rid of the police, and her decision is not a movie mistake.
21st Oct 2020
Panic Room (2002)
Other mistake: According to the cops at the door, Meg's husband revealed to them that Meg said "There are three" on the phone before the line was cut off. However, earlier in the film during the call, Meg said "There are three men..." and then the line was cut by Burnham. The husband would have heard the word "men" as well to give to the cops.
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Suggested correction: Steven (the husband) was just woken up in the middle of the night to a frantic phone call from his wife. Very possible he did not hear, or simply did not recall hearing that one word.
30th Jun 2003
Panic Room (2002)
Corrected entry: Jodie Foster's call to 911 would force the police to investigate even after she hung up when being placed on hold. This is standard operating procedure for all police departments.
Correction: The very next thing she does is call her ex husband, who immediately calls the police. The cops do show up, in response to his call, making the need to investigate her hang up irrelevant.
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Correction: The real estate guy put his hand in the center of the whole area so the sensors picked it up - Raul's hand was on the edge of the door so it would not be as easy for the general sensor to reach that exact spot.