The Watcher (2000)

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 ... See full summary »

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

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, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$28,927,720, 29 October 2000

Company Credits

Production Co:

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

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

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 filmakers were later able to attract a bigger cast and budget than originally envisioned, and Reeves' part (originally meant as 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 bad mouthing it in interviews, on the condition that his involvment in the film be downplayed in all promotional material for the film, including trailers.

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Goofs

In the photo shop, Campbell calls Jane Doe I's home and Griffin answers. Campbell then asks his policemen to trace the call when he had consulted her employee file to get the phone number. And anyway, why wasn't he already on his way?

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Quotes

Joel Campbell: [frustrated that victim never saw her bulletin picture on TV] Ellie Buckner. Single, 24, parents live in Florida. So far no known boy friend. She has a cat named Frank. Apparently he doesn't watch the news.

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Connections

Referenced in Not Another Teen Movie (2001)

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Soundtracks

Driven To This
Written by Damir Price (as Damir Prcic)
Performed by Jacqui Lynn
Produced by Marco Beltrami, Damir Price (as Damir Prcic)
Courtesy of Mouthful Records

User Reviews

The interaction between Keanu Reeves, James Spader and Marisa Tomei make this film

The relationship between the characters in the Watcher sets it apart from other serial killer movies. In fact, I would have liked another 15 minutes in the movie to bring out those relationships even more. I would have liked a little more elaboration on what happened in the past between James Spader and Keanu Reeves. Also, I wish the movie had shown part of the session between the Psychologist, played by Marisa Tomei, and the serial killer, played by Keanu Reeves. Marisa Tomei's facial reaction to Keanu Reeves' comment prior to the session was perfect. "Do clients come to see you because you are good or because you are very pretty." (Line by Reeves to Tomei - maybe not verbatum)

Keanu Reeves plays David Griffin very well. This is another example showing how Keanu Reeves can take any character and make it both believable and likeable to some extent. Both Reeves and Spader display the need for each other by the end of the film. Yes, I did detect at least a professional need by Spader for Reeves in the Watcher. So did Marisa Tomei I think. This movie had both a good balance of a crime drama, with the police and car chase scenes, and strong character development. My only complaint is like others have said on this board, I felt it was rushed.