Plot: What’s it about?
Joel Campbell (James Spader) has taken some time off from his police work, thanks to an elusive serial killer that drove him to the brink of insanity. Campbell moved to Chicago to escape the case, but has constant mental pain and personal trauma to remind him of what he went through back in Los Angeles. Now he takes all sorts of medications for all sorts of ailments, as well as his usual visits to his therapist, Polly (Marisa Tomei). Even with the killer in the distance, Campbell has trouble handling his life, which soon becomes even more troubled, once a rash of killings start in Chicago as well. The victims are all young women, strangled with piano wire and as Campbell knows, that fits his killer to perfection. But when Campbell learns he was sent photos of the victims, before they were killed, he knows the killer, David Allen Griffith (Keanu Reeves) has returned. Griffith then telephones Campbell, informs him that he will kill again and again, but he will send a photo of the victim, which gives Campbell and the police one day to find her and save her life. But even if Campbell can prevent the death of one of the girls, can he ever defeat Griffith and move ahead with what is left of his life?
I know serial killer thrillers are a dime a dozen, but I guess I am just a sucker for a mass murderer, as I end up watching all these kind of movies. Some are terrific, some are bad, but most of them fall within the range of tolerable to decent enough, which is where The Watcher ends up. I like certain elements in the movie a lot, but other scenes make me wonder what the crew was smoking on that day, which balances out the good parts. So this one could have been better, but it also could have been worse, so I am pleased to have a decent enough serial killer flick to check out here. I like the premise of The Watcher a lot and while the details sometimes become hard to swallow, I think the storyline plays out well enough, save a massive chase sequence that boggles the mind. But cheap chase aside, I found the back and forth of our leads to be solid, which is what makes the weak elements so frustrating, such as the deadpan deliveries of James Spader and Keanu Reeves. The two have a nice spark at times, but neither seems to be all that interested here, which results in below average turns. So is The Watcher a suspense classic? Of course not, but if you’re a fan of the serial killer thriller genre, then this one is well worth a rental.
I never would have guessed Keanu Reeves would be cast as a serial killer, unless slapstick comedy was involved, but here he is in The Watcher. Reeves does better than I expected, but since I didn’t think he’d even remember his lines, that isn’t saying much in the end. He stumbles over a lot of lines in tough places and often looks out of place, but Reeves does his best and in most instances, that is just enough to power the role. In laid back sequences, Reeves fares his usual average status, but when he is called on to work a little, he is unable to deliver, especially in the more tense moments, which lessens the mood more than a little. But Reeves can’t be blamed too much I suppose, as he does what he can and in the end, I think he was hired on for some name value. Other films with Reeves include The Replacements, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Point Break, The Devil’s Advocate, Chain Reaction, and The Matrix. The rest of the cast here includes James Spader (Supernova, Stargate), Marisa Tomei (My Cousin Vinny, What Women Want), Chris Ellis (Armageddon, Apollo 13), Jenny McShane (Shark Attack, U.S. Seals), and Ernie Hudson (The Substitute, Ghostbusters).
Video: How does it look?
The Watcher is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This is a dark film in almost all instances, but the transfer here never slips, another terrific effort from Universal. The shadow depth is excellent at all times, which means detail is never obscured and black levels can shine, which is vital in such a dark picture. When the image brightens up, the colors and contrast take on a more natural scope and look good, no real complaints in the least here. I was unable to spot any compression flaws here and aside from some grain in a couple darker sequences, I can’t find much to report in terms of problems.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included Dolby Digital 5.1 track is terrific, lots of atmosphere and presence, as well as power when needed. The surrounds are used all the time with this one, whether via subtle background audio or all out dynamic use, such as explosions or gunshots. I was very pleased with how active this option was, as these thriller tracks sometimes lack the atmosphere they deserve, not here though. The musical soundtrack is also well presented, very rich and well placed at all times. I had no problems with the dialogue either, as vocals were sharp and crisp throughout, no volume errors to report in the least. The disc also houses a French 5.1 surround option, as well as English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes some production notes, talent files, some DVD ROM content, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
