You’ve likely seen the ads popping up everywhere in recent weeks. The thriller of the season. Gone Girl, based on the novel by Gillian Flynn hit theaters Friday, and has promised to be exciting to viewers, whether you read the book or not.

As someone who has read the book and loved it, I had high expectations for the film. I went with a few girls on Friday to the opening show. We arrived at the perfect time to steal some decent seats. The movie was in such high demand that we found ourselves incorrectly standing in line for the 10:40 showing, when we were actually there for the showing at 7.

Are you interested in seeing “Gone Girl”? Let me answer some questions that might be lingering before you buy your ticket:

Do I need to read the book before I see the movie?

No, the movie can be enjoyed if you haven’t read the book. And vice-versa. However, I do recommend it. It’s a good, exciting, and suspensful read!

How well did the movie portray the story in the book?

Excellent. While we heard rumors that the ending of the movie was going to be a twist on the one in the book, the theatrical version proved to follow the same ending as the book. My guess is that an alternate ending may appear when the film is available on DVD.

What about the cast? How well did they play the characters?

Spot-on. Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) is our main character. We follow the troubled relationship of him and his wife, Amy Elliot Dunne (Rosamund Pike).  But “troubled” doesn’t even scratch the surface. The chemistry between Affleck and Pike is quite explosive, and I mean that in a good way–as it needs to be to accurately capture the twisted nature of the couple in the book. Neil Patrick Harris, loved by many for his character on “How I met your mother” shows us a different side in: Gone Girl. He’s creepy, easily manipulated, and poised. His acting is brilliant. Other notable performances are that of Margo Dunne (Carrie Coon) who plays Nick’s twin sister. Also fantastic is Tyler Perry as Tanner Bolt, the high-profile lawyer that Nick seeks out.

What about everything else? The direction, progression?

Anyone who has read the book knows that the story jumps back and forth between Amy’s point of view and Nick’s. There is a diary involved, and thus flashbacks are necessary. The movie is laid out in a way that makes sense. It gives us enough background about the characters to easy follow what is happening. The progession of the movie also follows a realistic pace. For example, the problems between Nick and Amy don’t just magically appear, but we see events that lead up to the chaos, allowing the audience to understand how and part of why it got to the point it did.

Who should I bring?

Bring your significant other or your friends. Don’t bring the kids. Rated R and rightly so: For some nudity, sexual activity, and a little gory violence.

The bottom line: It’s worth seeing. I am an impatient person, but the 2 hour and 25 minute run time of the film left me completely enthralled, not looking at the time even once.

Score: 5/5