The Watcher (2000 film)

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The Watcher
Theatrical poster
Directed byJoe Charbanic
Screenplay by
  • David Elliot
  • Clay Ayers
Story by
  • Darcy Meyers
  • David Elliot
Produced byChristopher Eberts
Elliott Lewitt
Jeff Rice
Clark Peterson
Starring
CinematographyMichael Chapman
Edited byRichard Nord
Music byMarco Beltrami
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • September 8, 2000 (2000-09-08)
Running time
97 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$33 million[1]
Box office$47.2 million[2]

The Watcher is a 2000 American

FBI agent who is stalked and taunted by a serial killer
.

Plot

In

Special Agent Joel Campbell is moments too late to save a young woman from a serial killer he has been investigating, who escapes. Campbell quits his job and moves to Chicago, where he is plagued by guilt-induced migraines. Campbell attends therapy
sessions with Dr. Polly Beilman, but otherwise has no friends or social life.

Campbell learns that a woman who lived in his apartment building has been murdered. He does not pay it much attention until he opens his mail and finds that a picture of the woman had been sent to his apartment three days before the murder. He brings this information to the attention of the detective on the case, Det. Mackie, and comes to the conclusion that the same serial killer has arrived in Chicago. FBI

Special Agent in Charge
Ibby tries to persuade Campbell to return to the case, but he refuses.

One night Campbell receives a phone call from the killer, David Allen Griffin, who reveals that he followed Campbell to Chicago and wants to rebuild the "rapport" they once had. Griffin tells Campbell that he will send a photo of a woman in the morning and that Campbell has until 9:00 pm that night to find her. Campbell tells Ibby that he wants back in on the case, and his request is granted.

Campbell works together with Mackie and the rest of the team in getting the word out on finding the woman before the deadline. However, by the time Campbell gets her house number and calls, Griffin is already there, and has killed her. Griffin suggests that they continue their "game" with a different woman. The next day, Campbell and his team try to find the next intended victim before the 9:00 pm deadline. They corner and almost catch Griffin, but he manages to once again kill the woman and escape. Later that night, Campbell is found unconscious in his apartment by his colleagues.

The next day, another photo arrives, but it turns out to be the image of Lisa Anton, Campbell's former lover who was killed by Griffin back in

cell phone
to call Mackie, cluing him in on the situation. Griffin takes Campbell to the warehouse, knocks him out, and restrains him while he starts to strangle Beilman. Campbell distracts Griffin by saying 'thank you'. When Griffin asks Campbell to repeat himself, Campbell does, and proceeds to stab him in the neck with a pen before shooting him in the shoulder with a double-barrelled shotgun. Campbell rescues Beilman and gets them both to safety as the warehouse explodes, killing Griffin.

When Campbell and Beilman are safe, Campbell goes over to Griffin's charred corpse and looks at it to make sure he is dead.

Cast

  • Special Agent
    Joel Campbell
  • Marisa Tomei as Dr. Polly Beilman
  • Keanu Reeves as David Allen Griffin
  • Special Agent In Charge
    Mike Ibby
  • Chris Ellis as Detective Hollis Mackie
  • Robert Cicchini as FBI Special Agent Mitch Casper
  • Jenny McShane as FBI Agent Diana
  • Gina Alexander as FBI Agent Sharon
  • Andrew Rothenberg as FBI Agent Jack Fray
  • David Pasquesi as FBI Agent Norton
  • Michael Guido as FBI Agent Mendel
  • Mindy Bell as Supervising Agent
  • Yvonne Niami as Lisa Marie Anton
  • Rebekah Louise Smith as Ellie Buckner, Third Chicago Victim
  • Jillian Peterson as Jessica, Fourth Chicago Victim
  • Michele DiMaso as Rachel, Jessica's Mother
  • Joseph Sikora as Skater
  • Jimmy Star as FBI Agent (uncredited)

Production

Reeves has stated that he was not interested in the script but was forced into doing the film when his friend, the film's director Joe Charbanic, forged his signature on a contract. He performed the role rather than get involved in a lengthy legal battle. Reeves was forced to accept 'union scale' salary, while James Spader and Marisa Tomei earned $1 million apiece for their work.[3]

After

Chicago, Illinois and Oak Park, Illinois
.

This movie featured the 1996 hit "6 Underground" performed by Sneaker Pimps.

Reception

The film was panned by film critics. On

Razzie Award nomination as Worst Supporting Actor for his performance, "losing" the award to Barry Pepper for Battlefield Earth
.

Box office

The film opened at the top spot of the North American box office making $9,062,295

USD in its opening weekend. The September 15–17, 2000 weekend had one of the worst box offices since the 1980s.[10] It had a 36% decline in gross earnings the following week but that was enough to keep the film at the top spot. Its total domestic gross was $28,946,615. The film was profitable for domestic distributor Universal Pictures.[11]

References

  1. ^ "The Watcher (2000) - Financial Information". The Numbers.
  2. ^ "The Watcher (2000)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  3. ^ "A Reluctant Serial Killer: Keanu Reeves Bit Off Bigger Role Than Expected in The Watcher :: WINM :: Keanu Reeves Articles & Interviews Archive". www.whoaisnotme.net.
  4. ^ "A Reluctant Serial Killer: Keanu Reeves Bit Off Bigger Role Than Expected in The Watcher :: WINM :: Keanu Reeves Articles & Interviews Archive". www.whoaisnotme.net.
  5. ^ Swanson, Tim (September 19, 2001). "Inside Move: 'Watcher' dogs Reeves".
  6. ^ "Keanu: I was tricked into making film". The Guardian. 11 September 2001. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  7. ^ "The Watcher (2000)" – via www.rottentomatoes.com.
  8. Fandom, Inc.
    Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  9. ^ "Home". CinemaScore. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  10. ^ Barnes, Brooks (March 15, 2020). "Movie Ticket Sales Fall to Historic Low". The New York Times.
  11. ^ "Box Office Analysis: Sept. 9". hollywood.com. 9 Sep 2001. Retrieved 17 Oct 2020.

External links