Surveillance (V)
| release date | August 18 2009 |
| studio | Magnolia Pictures/Magnet releasing |
| director | Jennifer Chambers Lynch |
| writer | Jennifer Chambers Lynch, Kent Harper |
| starring | Julia Ormond, Bill Pullman, Pell James, Ryan Simpkins, French Stewart, Kent Harper, Michael Ironside |
2 Comments
A solid procedural unfortunately scuppered by its own determination to be odd, Surveillance comes across very much as the work of a director a little too determined to follow in her father’s footsteps. However, despite the sometimes cloying attempts at comic surreality the film has a lot to praise. Its simple premise is well executed, the acting is fine (Pullman rules!) and it retains a sense of uneasy dread throughout. Whilst it’s a huge step up from Boxing Helena (if ever there were a debut it would take a decade and a half for someone to recover from) it will be far more intersting to see what Lynch has to offer when and if she realises that she doesn’t have to play in dad’s shadow.
Found out the twist in the first 20 min. For a movie that plays up the twist, it really makes it too obvious and towards the end, leaves no other possibilities about who has committed the murders. That didn’t make Sureveillance bad, though. This movie had awesome cinematography and style that could have merited a wide theatrical release. The acting and immersive storytelling is what really got me, though. It was just a very well done film. There was a good amount of blood spilled when needed, but the film isn’t as raunchy or disturbing as it pretends to be. If you have been interested enough to atleast read this review, go rent it. You won’t be disappointed.
I must’ve saw a different movie. The bloody scenes were good but other than that I was bored out of my mind.
Unlike the others, I did not catch the twist so fast, though I’m usually pretty cued in on those kind of things. The style and story of this film were great. Bill Pullman was at his best and it was good to see Julia Ormond outside of her normally docile roles. The only thing that bugged me about this movie was the way the cops characters role’s played out. Seemed way to ficticious and contrived. Other than that, a solid work to be sure!
I believe this movie doesn’t belong in Horror Section…
Quite a good story, and a very surprising ending.
I’m very disappointed in the choices Bill Pullman makes as an actor, although I’m not sure if it was him or if he was directed to be so OBVIOUS. It certainly made me guess the twist very early on which is unfortunate because Jennifer Lynch has come a long way since her dreadful debut so many years ago. I particularly enjoyed Julia Ormond and many of the other actors. It’s a shame everything was undermined by this one flaw.
I figured out who it was in the first 10 mins… But other then that the gore was pretty cool for this kind of movie. Love one scene with a van. that was sick. Good acting. Bill Pullman owns. But it’s a lynch film so you gotta go in knowing that. That they are never normal, and they always take normal people and make them fucked in the head. I hated those cops. DICKS. good movie though to killer a hour and 30 with.
oh man this flick blew me away! I loved it! And ESPECIALLY THE ENDING! I usually figure that shit out but WOW! Great work Lynch! Great cast also especially Ormond, Pell James, and Pullman!(maybe his best ever)
The acting was great. Too bad it was easy to see the “twist” coming from the beginning. Seemed like it was a build up to the obvious.
My suggestion would be wait till it hits your local library.
Hehehehehe what a crazy ride of a movie.Yes Very predictable, however pretty entertaining.Maybe you could guess the twist in the first 15 min.Still you wanted to see how it was gonna play out and I wasnt disappointed. Acting was great, and the Characters were great. The movie had every kind of character you see in movies. Its called Surveillance, meaning you are observing someone to see what they are doing and how they react. I dont think the point of the movie was to keep the twist hidden, however to see how one story can have so many different ways to be told. Its a good movie! Kinda different.
A film full of unredeamable scumbag degenerate characters and twists and its stories like this that help keep me grounded. Their is so much body language and physical expression in this movie this is a must see movie. The movie reminded me that cops can be just as bad as the people they are supposed to protect us from…. The law enforcers in this movie are beyond dirty they are pirates with badges. Shooting out car tires and robbing citicens of their wallets for kicks. Perverted groapers who are so consumed with power. This film is full of gory images and violent scenes is Surveillance. A movie made by Jennifer Lynch the daughter of David Lynch who quickly proves that she is a chip off the old block and that she can stunt like her daddy. This film can really be put into more then one catagory to me it is a mystery thriller and a horror movie full of villanous, bloodthirsty, greedy lowlives and creeps and most of these characters are cival servants. The only decent person in the movie is a traumatised little girl who watches her family die. I am calling this film a must see. If its produced by the Lynch family then its got to be interesting. Pirate cops and violated citicens. This film is a instant classic. Their is not a doubt in my mind that the events in this movie happen all the time.
Cheri O’Teri is in this film, really?
Overall, it was good. Predictable Lynch-type movie though in every way.
I watched this cold without seeing any previews or reading any reviews, and it….I won’t spoil it for you. Just watch it. REALLY good!
That the twist is easy to see is of no consequence–what a cool little thriller to kick with a few brews and enjoy. Nothing crazy or new, but a totally entertaining murder piece with some cool work by Pullman and Ormand. Got this on the “please take this off our hands” rack at the local vid store–recommended under the radar dvd.
this is a really cool film. definately worth checking out. some twists and turn, but you’ll probably figure them out. doesn’t matter though, Lynch films usually get your attention and this one does. never liked Pullman, but he is good here. Ormond is still hotter than ever. worth checking out.
very predictable, i could see were it was going but it had its perks but nit that many
A nifty little thriller with a helluva twist. Well executed but suffers from some stiff dialogue.