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The Watcher

  • 20002000
  • RR
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
27K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
6,790
356
The Watcher (2000)
Home Video Trailer from Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Play trailer0:32
1 Video
42 Photos
CrimeDramaMystery
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 u... Read allDavid 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 administ... Read allDavid 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 Gri... Read all
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
27K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
6,790
356
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Joe Charbanic
    • Writers
      • Darcy Meyers(story)
      • David Elliot(story)
      • Clay Ayers(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • James Spader
      • Keanu Reeves
      • Marisa Tomei
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Joe Charbanic
    • Writers
      • Darcy Meyers(story)
      • David Elliot(story)
      • Clay Ayers(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • James Spader
      • Keanu Reeves
      • Marisa Tomei
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 205User reviews
    • 92Critic reviews
    • 22Metascore
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Videos1

    The Watcher
    Trailer 0:32
    The Watcher

    Photos42

    Marisa Tomei stars as Polly
    James Spader stars as Campbell
    Keanu Reeves stars as Griffin
    Chris Ellis in The Watcher (2000)
    The Watcher (2000)
    Keanu Reeves in The Watcher (2000)
    Keanu Reeves in The Watcher (2000)
    Keanu Reeves in The Watcher (2000)
    Keanu Reeves in The Watcher (2000)
    Keanu Reeves in The Watcher (2000)
    Keanu Reeves in The Watcher (2000)
    Keanu Reeves in The Watcher (2000)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James Spader
    James Spader
    • Campbell
    Keanu Reeves
    Keanu Reeves
    • Griffin
    Marisa Tomei
    Marisa Tomei
    • Polly
    Ernie Hudson
    Ernie Hudson
    • Ibby
    Chris Ellis
    Chris Ellis
    • Hollis
    Robert Cicchini
    Robert Cicchini
    • Mitch
    Yvonne Niami
    Yvonne Niami
    • Lisa
    Jenny McShane
    Jenny McShane
    • Diana
    • (as Jennifer McShane)
    Gina Alexander
    • Sharon
    Rebekah Nanfria
    • Ellie
    • (as Rebakah Louise Smith)
    Joseph Sikora
    Joseph Sikora
    • Skater
    • (as Joe Sikora)
    Jillian Peterson
    Jillian Peterson
    • Jessica
    Michele DiMaso
    • Rachel
    • (as Michelle Dimaso)
    Andrew Rothenberg
    Andrew Rothenberg
    • Jack Fray
    David Pasquesi
    David Pasquesi
    • Norton
    Dana Kozlov
    • Anchorwoman
    Butch Jerinic
    • Flower Girl
    Marilyn Dodds Frank
    • Wanda
    • Director
      • Joe Charbanic
    • Writers
      • Darcy Meyers(story)
      • David Elliot(story) (screenplay)
      • Clay Ayers(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Reeves has stated that he was not interested in the script but was forced into doing the film when his assistant Brian forged his signature on a contract. He performed the role rather than get involved in a lengthy legal battle. He was contractually prevented from disclosing this until 12 months after the film's US release.
    • 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.
    • 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.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: The Early Line: The Academy Awards (2000)
    • 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 reviews205

    Review
    Top review
    Binary Opposition
    Joel Campbell (James Spader) and David Griffin (Keanu Reeves) are like binary stars that revolve around a common center of gravity. Each man needs the other for a sense of identity. They function as a single entity, even though their motives are in moral opposition. Actually, it's a rather tired film concept.

    In Chicago, Campbell introduces the story premise about serial killer Griffin who preys on young women, and uses his killings as a game to be played out with Campbell, who has no choice but to participate. The film's structure relies on tons of flashbacks to Campbell's previous involvement with the killer in California.

    The main problem here is that the film's plot depends on multiple film clichés. You've got your standard police chase scenes with flashing lights and screeching tires. You've got your standard melodramatic TV news, repeated over and over and over. You've got a killer who can miraculously overcome every obstacle thrown at him. The film's final twenty minutes are nothing but a string of cinematic clichés.

    You get the feeling that the filmmakers used a tried-and-true money making film concept as a template, hurriedly wrote a script, then attached well-known box-office actors to rev up the financial bottom line, for quick megabucks. If that was their plan, I don't think it worked. For many viewers, including myself, the film comes across as stale, insipid, and uninspired.

    The acting is not convincing. Both James Spader and Keanu Reeves sleepwalk through their roles, emotionally uninvolved. The casting of lovely Marisa Tomei as a psychiatrist is not credible, in a role meant for an older intellectual. But, of course, as a beautiful young woman, Tomei fits in nicely as a handy target for the killer. And the film's contemporary pumped up rock music I found irritating and distracting. The color cinematography is adequate, if conventional.

    "The Watcher" is just one more cop and killer movie in a saturated genre. The film has nothing new or original to offer viewers. Maybe the two lead actors will be a tad more discerning next time when they select screenplay roles.
    helpful•5
    2
    • Lechuguilla
    • Oct 7, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 8, 2000 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Vietnamese
    • Also known as
      • Driven
    • Filming locations
      • Chicago, Illinois, USA
    • Production companies
      • Lewitt / Eberts Productions
      • Choi / Niami Productions
      • Driven Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $30,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $28,946,615
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $9,062,295
      • Sep 10, 2000
    • Gross worldwide
      • $47,267,829
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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