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James Spader, Marisa Tomei, Keanu Reeves, Ernie Hudson, Chris Ellis ... see more see more... , Robert Cicchini , Yvonne Niami , Jenny McShane , Gina Alexander , Rebakah Louise Smith , Joe Sikora , Tarri Markel

A detective is urged on by the lunatic he's trying to put behind bars in this crime thriller. Joel Campbell (James Spader) is a police detective who has recently relocated to Chicago after spending ei... read more read more...ght frustrating years trying to track down a vicious serial killer who has been terrorizing Los Angeles. However, the slayer, David Allen Griffin (Keanu Reeves), doesn't want the game of cat and mouse to end; even though he previously put his murderous activities on hold, Griffin has started murdering young women again -- and is sending clues to Campbell, mailing him photos of his intended victims and urging Campbell to save them while he still can. Also starring Marisa Tomei, Ernie Hudson, and Chris Ellis, The Watcher was directed by Joe Charbanic. It marked Charbanic's first feature project after directing videos for a number of alternative rock groups, including Soul Coughing, Sonic Youth, and Reeves' band, Dogstar. The film was produced under the title Driven. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

35% liked it

20,941 ratings

Critics

10% liked it

88 critics

R, 1 hr. 37 min.

Directed by: Joe Charbanic

Release Date: September 8, 2000

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DVD Release Date: September 2, 2003

Stats: 678 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (678)

  • LWOODS04
    July 23, 2010
    LWOODS04
    Cast: James Spader, Keanu Reeves, Marisa Tomei, Ernie Hudson, Chris Ellis, Robert Cicchini, Jenny McShane, Rich Komenich

    Director: Joe Charbanic, Jeff Jensen

    Summary: Burned out after failing to bust a sadistic serial killer in Los Angeles, FBI agent Joel Campbell (James Sp... read moreader) retires to Chicago. But the killer (Keanu Reeves) refuses to leave the lawman alone, and begins furnishing new clues designed to drive him mad. To motivate Campbell to rejoin the cat-and-mouse chase, the killer sends photos of his next victims. But it's up to Campbell to try to save them first.

    My Thoughts: "I liked it. Thought it was a good thriller. It's just you see so many movies about serial killers they all start looking the same. But I enjoyed Keanu Reeves playing the bad guy. Love him, Spader and Tomei. They were my reasons for watching this flick. They all did a great job. The movie is never slow, and it keeps you interested all the way through. Good rental."
  • deano
    June 11, 2009
    deano
    Tense, twisting plot, great ending. The relationship between the characters in this crime drama sets it apart from other serial killer movies. In fact, I would have like another 15 minutes in the movie to bring out these relationship even more. I would have like a little more ela... read moreboration on what happened in the past between James Spader and Keanu Reeves. Reeves plays as the serial killer is very well.
  • Deano78
    October 26, 2008
    Deano78
    An average thriller about a serial killer who taunts the FBI detective who has been on his case for the past few years. Watchable, but pretty straight forward compared to most thrillers.
  • dreamfaeries
    September 24, 2008
    dreamfaeries
    I love bad Keanu. :)
  • kiriyamakazou
    July 30, 2008
    kiriyamakazou
    According to reports of Keanu never wanting to do this film it comes as no surprise his performance is more vacant and uninteresting than usual. Spader has a few moments to shine but a lot of the film moves very quickly and then stops suddenly. We are treated to a repetitous plot... read more as not 1 but 2 girls are hunted, one straight after the other. It adds to nothing as in the end Keanu just presents himself. Not in the shocking Se&en type way, just casually. Ther eis a lot of talk about the Ying and Yang, cop not being able to live without the villain and vice versa but it's hidden under a turd of a film. The useless stylistic choices for flashbacks and so forth also distract rather than capture the imagination. Not dark, not interesting and quite frankly it wouldn't of mattered to me who had died, lived, won or lost.
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    June 8, 2008
    DragonEyeMorrison
    Another stinker i watched thanks to some friends. Probably the laziest performances i have seen in my life. Yes, Keanu is even duller here from what he usually is.
  • mrbungle7821
    February 23, 2006
    mrbungle7821
    [font=Arial][color=darkred]'The Watcher' doesn't do much, if realistically anything important, but it does prove that Keanu Reeves is more cardboard than cut-out. Reeves plays a serial killer with no distinct edge or angle, in fact he'd be more of a stalking man child if he just ... read moredidn't kill his victims in the end. Anyway, the plot is a rehash of other serial killer vehicals; James Spader has a limited time to rescue a victim, he's haunted by the ones he's failed, Keanu is a killer with too much free time to overly plan elaborate set-ups etc.[/color][/font]

    [font=Arial][color=darkred]The film's shattering pillar is personified in Keanu. Keanu may be the goofiest serial killer in all of western civilization. Every twitch, dumbfounded stare of aloofness, or one-toned droning moronic voice only add to the feelings of Keanu as a wanderingly lost special needs student and not as someone dangerous. Maybe this was the desired effect but I doubt it.[/color][/font]

    [font=Arial][color=darkred]A more interesting prospect arouses when you consider what the movie could've been had the male leads switched characters. As it stands, 'The Watcher' is a lifeless and tired strain of an experience. One, I might add, that allows Keanu to light entire rooms with dainty candles with his added spare time.[/color][/font]

    [font=Arial][color=darkred]Nate's Grade: D+ [/color][/font]
  • lopcar1993
    September 8, 2009
    lopcar1993
    This film is unique in it's approach towards the serial killer story. Does it draw you in? Yes it does. Does it give you a dark, foreboding and sinister story? Oh you bet it does! The Watcher is an extremely entertaining if not almost borderline on brilliant film making on a... read more rare and unique scale. This film embodies a certain flare and style that you have to be open minded and somewhat of a serial Killer thriller lover to really appreciate this film style and grandeur of it to see the murky and dark brilliance that lays beneath it all.


    This movie is not a particularly mind blowing SK thriller but it does have it's moments that it really jumps out at you and there are a few moments in the movie that you just jump in fright and that's when you know your watching a good thriller. Keanu( Who I thought was good in this as the SK but not quite good enough.) turns in a rather impressive performance as David Alan Griffin a man who lives to kill, a man who thrives on taking away another' s life. A man who lurks in the shadows and watches you and admires you like a cat before he kills a mouse Keanu's serial killer was ingenious in his planning and his methods were very smart and clean but what lacked here was the fact that none of his victim's had an adverse affect on the story, that was the only let down but besides that it was interesting to watch him work.


    James Spader plays a very convincing cop in this film, but not to convincing there are some scenes where you see almost no emotion or empathy for the victims of Griffin at all but that is easy to put to the side what redeems Spader in this film is his relentless chase of Griffin and his iron determination to bring him down. That's what saves Spader and that's what makes it fun to watch him work.

    Marisa Tomei this film could have done with out she really lowered the standards with her bland and very bad performance as the compassionate Psychiatrist( I mean she won an oscar for crying out loud!! She can do better than than this!) she really made it almost a drag to see her on screen (but hey at least she's nice to look at.) all in all she was the main weak point in this film not Keanu.



    When you over look the main outer layers of the story and get dug and see the inner layers you can fully comprehend and see the near greatness of this film and the great style it brings to the the thriller genre all in all The Watcher delivers great edge of your seat, blow out the lights entertainment you can't over look. Basically this film flat out rocks.
  • jimbotender
    January 17, 2009
    jimbotender
    Hollywood crap-festo with yet another lukewarm serial-killer,by Jove,women are his target!!!Spader is doing his best,alas..the wills of nature cry out loud..: stop harassing the police/horror genre!!!!
  • debmm
    November 27, 2008
    debmm
    Interesting plot but it could have been a lot more thrilling.

View All The Watcher Reviews

Critic Reviews

Liam Lacey
April 25, 2003
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

You can't buy Keanu as a sadist, but you do worry about the guys who wrote the screenplay. Full Review

Steven Rea
January 1, 2000
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

It's a mystery why anybody -- the director, the cast -- would want to devote a significant chunk of their lives to this murky tale.

Steve Murray
January 1, 2000
Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

He likes to watch, but you might not. Full Review

Tom Long
January 1, 2000
Tom Long, Detroit News

The Watcher isn't that hard to watch, but you could find better things to do with your eyes. Full Review

Mary Elizabeth Williams
January 1, 2000
Mary Elizabeth Williams, Salon.com

Exactly the kind of movie you might happen upon while watching Cinemax in your hotel room and think, 'This'll do till Conan comes on.' Full Review

Andy Seiler
January 1, 2000
Andy Seiler, USA Today

The same sick story. Even the small touches seem stale.

Kevin Thomas
January 1, 2000
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

While intelligently plotted and well-acted by James Spader, Keanu Reeves and Marisa Tomei, it is neither acutely suspenseful nor particularly thrilling but instead mainly numbing. Full Review

Bob Graham
January 1, 2000
Bob Graham, San Francisco Chronicle

A hodgepodge of half-baked visual styles. Not many thrills, either. Full Review

Jay Carr
January 1, 2000
Jay Carr, Boston Globe

To borrow a phrase from another Chicagoan, John Belushi, The Watcher is a 'but nooooo' movie.

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

The movie is called The Watcher and, let me tell you, it's something no one should watch. Not this weekend. Not on video. Not in this lifetime. Full Review

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The Watcher Trivia

  • You're my job, you're paperwork" is a quote from what movie?  Answer »
  • Name of the watcher in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"  Answer »
  • Keanu Reeves, James Spader and Marisa Tomei. Name the film?  Answer »
  • What is name of the octopus like creature, in the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, that attacks the fellowship at the gates of Moria?  Answer »
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