Critics weren’t exactly wowed by The Bone Collector, but for Angelina Jolie, it made a lasting impact – in more ways than one.

In the wake of the huge success of Seven (1995), every studio was scrambling to create their own serial killer thriller.

Universal Pictures’ response to the growing demand for intense thrillers came in the form of The Bone Collector, based on Jeffery Deaver’s 1997 crime novel. The film boasts a star-studded cast, including two Oscar winners — Angelina Jolie and Denzel Washington — and one Oscar nominee, Queen Latifah.

Set in the gritty streets of New York City, the film follows a brilliant but quadriplegic homicide detective, played by Denzel Washington. Despite his physical limitations, his razor-sharp mind remains unrivaled, making him a key player in solving the city’s most twisted and perplexing murders.

Alongside him is the newly recruited patrol officer Amelia, played by Angelina Jolie. She’s eager but inexperienced, as the two delve deep into a chilling series of homicides. As they race against time, uncovering clues that lead them closer to a deadly killer, the city itself becomes a labyrinth of danger and deception.

It’s said that when Angelina Jolie first read the script for The Bone Collector, she found herself completely captivated. She remembered being alone in her apartment, feeling a sense of fear as she couldn’t put the script down.

”It scared me to death,” she once confessed. ”I couldn’t stop reading it, and when I finally put it down, I couldn’t forget about it. It haunted me.”