FBI agent Jack Campbell (James Spader) has moved to Chicago after a series of murders of women in his home town. Thinking he is away from the crazy man, who has carried out these atrocities, he is seeking help from a psychiatrist to help him over the nightmare. Unbeknown to him, ‘the watcher’ has followed him to Chicago, and is about to start the horrendous killings again! His nightmare is about to re-start all over again.
Keanu Reeves plays David Allen Griffins- the serial killer. Campbell takes the case on, and during some telephone conversation he agrees to give the FBI a chance! Now instead of killing the victim without warning, he will send a photo of his next victim and allow the FBI until 9 o’clock to find her. IF they don’t find her, then her life is over!
Little clues point Campbell to the right place, shame he was too late by minutes! In one scene the girl is standing at the back of him, while in a lift!
Griffin’s picks his victim and then ‘watches’ them. He knows their every move! When they come home on what days: whether they come home alone: Everything, he kills with precision!
A few killings and a car chase or two later and we have the final countdown! With Campbell’s psychiatrist being held, Campbell manages to meet the killer in a graveyard. It is then Griffins take him to his next possible victim.
However all is not as simple as it may seem, the room is trapped to ignite into flames and explode with gas canisters in tow too: There is a way though which is revealed - by the killer himself.
Luckily the victim is alive and well, though tied to a chair. After a brief time the couple jump through the window just in time…. Does the killer survive to make ‘the watcher 2’?
GOOD OR BAD? ----------------------------------------------
In my opinion this film was average, predictable and nothing special. There was nothing to separate this from a hundred different other murder/serial killer movies. The acting was okay, again nothing to have you standing in your seats (Standing in your seats – did I say that?) One thing you note about these types of film is how brave everyone is. All the women lived alone (hence why they were his victim I expect): not one ever suspected a presence in their house, until it was too late of course. Not one quibbled when a stranger wanted to take their photo, a little strange maybe?
RECOMMEND OR NOT? ----------------------------------------------
Despite my criticisms of the film it is something to ‘watch’ should you have nothing better to do. However should you get the opportunity to ‘watch’ something like ‘101 Dalmatians’ then opt for that! If I had to mark this film out of ten it would get a five, despite quite good reviews from other sources.
Thanks for reading - Dave
Certificate 15 the film runs for about 93 minutes. Directed by Joe Charbanic Chapter selection only.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: Bharat Nalluri, Rob Bailey, Andy Wilson - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, David Oyelowo, Peter Firth, Jenny Agutter, Lisa Faulkner
Thriller - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Timothy West, Neil Morrissey, Tara Fitzgerald, Annette Crosbie, Pauline Quirke, Rob Brydon, Denise Van Outen, John Thomson, Kevin Whately, David Suchet
I would have liked to have had some info about the DVD's features, as this should really be a DVD review rather than a film review. If you re-write this op, then send a message to me in my guestbook and I will re-rate accordingly. Mike
whitewiner 16.02.2002 18:39
Good review, being interested in criminal psychology I usually enjoy these serial killer movies - will take a look and report back with my verdict! cheers Ali
FBI agent Joel Campbell (James Spader) has gone into hiding. Traumatized and beaten down ... more
after years of pursuing psychotic killers in Los Angeles he is trying to carve a new less stressful life for himself in Chicago. But his guilty past follows him....
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![The Watcher [DVD] [2001]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78523042.jpg "The Watcher [DVD] [2001]")
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