Surveillance (2008)

Two FBI agents attempt to clarify the murders occurring in a desolate region. They approach the witnesses of the latest incident with the help of the local police. All of them hide something and all have wildly different stories to tell.

Director:

Jennifer Lynch

Writers:

Kent Harper, Jennifer Lynch

Stars:

Julia Ormond, Bill Pullman, Pell James

3 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Caroline Aaron	...	Janet
Hugh Dillon	...	Dad (Steven)
David Gane	...	Grocery Man
Gill Gayle	...	Officer Degrasso
Kent Harper	...	Officer Jack Bennett
Michael Ironside	...	Captain Billings
Pell James	...	Bobbi Prescott
Daryl Haney	...	Drug Dealer (as D.R. Haney)
Shannon Jardine	...	Elaine Meyer
Angela Lamarsh	...	Maid
Gerald Lenton-Young	...	Coroner (as Gerald Layton-Young)
Jennifer Miles	...	TV Reporter
Mac Miller	...	Johnny
Charlie Newmark	...	Officer Wright
Julia Ormond	...	Elizabeth Anderson

Storyline

Grisly murders occur in a small town. Two FBI agents arrive, set up their cameras in three interview rooms, and set up interviews of three survivors: a girl of about nine, a foul-mouthed cop with a bandaged hand, and a young woman of about 20 who uses drugs. Each tells their story as the male FBI agent listens and watches from a separate room: the girl draws for and talks to the female agent, the local chief interviews the injured cop, and two officers interview the young woman. As they tell their stories, some of which are inaccurate and self-serving, we see what actually happened the day before. Can the agents or anyone else put the pieces together?

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Plot Keywords:

video surveillance | lesbian kiss | interview | fbi agent | police | 

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Taglines:

Executive Producer David Lynch

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong bloody violence, pervasive language, some drug use and a scene of aberrant sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA Germany Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 July 2008 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Наблюдение

Filming Locations:

Canada Saskatchewan Production Studios, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$3,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,590, 28 June 2009

Gross USA:

$27,349

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,138,322

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lago Film, See Film, Film Star Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In Spain was released in 2012 -4 years later- only in Barcelona (Cinema Maldá) for 7 days in subtitled version.

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Goofs

The closing credits state that the cast is listed in alphabetical order, but Daryl Haney's name is listed after Kent Harper, Michael Ironside, and Pell James (despite the fact that it precedes all of them alphabetically).

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Quotes

[first lines]
Elizabeth Anderson: You're never going to sleep again.
Sam Hallaway: That's the point.

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Crazy Credits

After the credits the title appears, but now blood splattered

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Connections

Referenced in Surveillance: The Watched Are Watching (2008)

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Soundtracks

Speed Roadster
Written by David Lynch
Performed by David Lynch
Published by Bobkind Music Inc. (ASCAP)
Courtesy of David Lynch Music Company

User Reviews

Weird Thriller

The FBI agents Elizabeth Anderson (Julia Ormond) and Sam Hallaway (Bill Pullman) come to a police station in the middle of the desert to interview the three survivors of a massacre of a serial-killer that they are hunting. The girl Stephanie (Ryan Simpkins); the junkie Bobbi Prescott (Pell James) and the abusive patrol officer Jack Bennett (Kent Harper) are placed in separate rooms and their hearings are recorded through cameras under the surveillance of Agent Sam. Each one tells part of the gore event; when three bodies are found in a motel, the solution of the case seems to be near to be resolved.

"Surveillance" is a weird thriller that uses the idea of "Rashomon", with three persons telling different views of a tragic event. I personally disclosed the plot point based on the weird behavior of Sam Hallaway, but anyway the surprising twist gives a totally different sequence to the result of the investigation. After the uncomfortable "Boxing Helena", Jennifer Lynch returns with another sick and violent story and bizarre characters. I liked this movie but it is recommended for very specific audiences. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Sob Controle" ("Under Control")