The Watcher (2000)

David is a serial killer of young women. Joel was in charge of catching him in LA. He moved to Chicago a broken man. So did David and sends him photos of his next victims 24 hours before the murders.

Director:

Joe Charbanic

Writers:

Darcy Meyers (story), David Elliot (story)

Stars:

James Spader, Keanu Reeves, Marisa Tomei

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Spader	...	Campbell
Marisa Tomei	...	Polly
Keanu Reeves	...	Griffin
Ernie Hudson	...	Ibby
Chris Ellis	...	Hollis
Robert Cicchini	...	Mitch
Yvonne Niami	...	Lisa
Jenny McShane	...	Diana (as Jennifer McShane)
Gina Alexander	...	Sharon
Rebekah Nanfria	...	Ellie (as Rebakah Louise Smith)
Joseph Sikora	...	Skater (as Joe Sikora)
Jillian Peterson	...	Jessica
Michele DiMaso	...	Rachel (as Michelle Dimaso)
Andrew Rothenberg	...	Jack Fray
David Pasquesi	...	Norton

Storyline

David Allen Griffin is a cool killer- time and time again, he chooses a female victim, studies her for weeks till he knows her routine to the smallest detail, makes meticulous preparations using his forensic knowledge to gain entry when she's quite alone, subdues her and administers a long, torturous death. Joel Campbell got so frustrated by his failure to capture Griffin in Los Angeles, that he quit the FBI, moved to Chicago, and remains in psychiatric therapy, unable to function normally. Then he realizes, when opening his mail very late, that a new murder victim is Griffin's, and the killer sent him pictures of her. Campbell reports this to the police, but is unwilling to join them in the search, suggesting Griffin is too slick and clever; yet he won't get out of it that easily.

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Plot Keywords:

american horror | serial murder | villain | maniac | bad guy | 

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Taglines:

Someone wants to play.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Third-billed Keanu Reeves gave his verbal agreement to director Joe Charbanic several years before production started, after reading his original script. With his involvement, the filmmakers were able to attract a bigger cast and budget than originally envisioned, and Reeves' part (originally little more than a cameo) was substantially re-written to feature him more prominently. Reportedly, Keanu Reeves, who would be paid scale while his co-stars James Spader and Marisa Tomei would get one million dollar paychecks, tried to drop out of the film, but eventually changed his mind (apparently influenced by the legal precedent of the Kim Basinger/Boxing Helena (1993) debacle). He eventually agreed to do the picture, and abstain from badmouthing it in interviews, on the condition that his involvement in the film be downplayed in all promotional material for the film, including trailers.

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Goofs

Near the end of the police chase when Griffin hits the gas pumps, gas is spraying like rain. He then lights it and it blows up. From a long shot we see fire, but then we go back to a shot of his car reversing and it is still raining gas.

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Quotes

Joel Campbell: It's never quite that easy. You go through the door, and they're never just sitting there waiting for you with a welcoming smile on their face. best you can do is hope they fuck up and do what you can to be there when they do.
Dr. Polly Beilman: And then blame yourself for the killings?
Joel Campbell: Oh, no. I blame the asshole who did them.

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Connections

Referenced in Not Another Teen Movie (2001)

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Soundtracks

ROADS
Written by Geoff Barrow, Beth Gibbons, Adrian Utley
Performed by Portishead
Courtesy of Go! Beat/London Records 90 Limited
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Wrong role for Keanu Reeves. Him and the Detective should switch roles.

Funny the detective has some serious Serial Killer vibes to him...like taking all those med injections in the gut for migraines? He also has crazy eyes...Keanu is wayyyyy too clean and looks/talks like himself as always...Nothing scary about him! it's like they got Keanu Reeves and just wanted to show him off, keep his face in the spot light, and make him look nice /neat...so one thing the movie got all wrong was the roles the actors played.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Vietnamese

Release Date:

8 September 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Driven

Filming Locations:

Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,062,295, 10 September 2000

Gross USA:

$28,946,615

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$47,267,829

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lewitt / Eberts Productions, Choi / Niami Productions, Driven Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1