David Fincher’s dark, brooding thriller Gone Girl landed in the UK over the weekend, to critical acclaim from audiences and a sense that this is how to do an adaptation. This is how you do it. Based on Gillian Flynn’s explosive bestseller, Gone Girl follows the marriage trials and tribulations of Nick Dunne and his beautiful wife Amy.

Gone GirlBen Affleck in David Fincher's superb 'Gone Girl'

When Amy goes missing, Nick comes under the scrutiny of the national media, and the police have their suspicions too. His strange behaviour and deceitful lies do nothing for his public persona – Did Nick Dunne kill his wife is the question on everybody’s lips.

“Gone Girl grabs you by making you first believe one thing, then another, quite the opposite. It's that woman! No, it's that man!” said Dave Sexton of This Is London.

More: Tyler Perry "wouldn't have done" Gone Girl if he'd have known Fincher was directing

“Director David Fincher lands a tone for Gone Girl that's broad and precise enough to encourage a series of witty performances within the thriller framework” said Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle.

“Fans of Flynn's 2012 novel will not be one tiny bit disappointed” said Liam Lacey of the Globe & Mail.

Watch the 'Gone Girl' trailer:

“In the end, 'Gone Girl' echoes what experience has taught, in that with marriage you think you are getting what you desire when in reality you are getting what you deserve,” said Mathew DeKinder of Suburban Journals of St. Louis.

“Is Gone Girl on the same level as Fincher's flawless masterpieces such as Seven, Fight Club, and The Social Network? Not quite, but it's damned close” wrote Matt Neal of the Standard.

Gone Girl pulled in $38 million in the U.S and Fincher’s adaptation made a cool £4.3 million from British audiences, confirming itself as an international hit and a movie that will almost certainly vie for the major awards.

More: 'Gone Girl' has 100% on Rotten Tomatoes