adonis98-743-186503 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 using his forensic knowledge to gain entry when she's quite alone, subdues her and administers a long, torturous death. Despite the big names such as Spader, Tomei, Hudson and Reeves 'The Watcher' is a poorly made and written thriller that it doesn't define it's storyline or it's characters actions and it's definitely a huge and forgettable disappointment.

FlashCallahan A detective tracking a serial killer gives up all hope of solving the crimes and moves to another city. After he's settled in to his new home, the old acquaintance makes himself known. The serial killer has resurrected and continues to send him pictures of his next victim.......The Watcher is more famous for exploiting Keanu Reeves and his star power, and he's apparently disowned the film whenever he's asked about it, but underneath all it's notoriety, there's a decent serial killer film hidden in there.Granted, these dark serial killer films were everywhere after the advent of Se7en, and this, and maybe Along Came A Spider, spelled the death knell do this sub genre, so maybe if this film was made in the mod nineties, it would've been more of a success in my humble opinion.So we have James Spader struggling to come to terms with the killers obsession with him, and the fact that in less than ten years he will lose his hair and put on a ton of weight. And Marisa Tomei co-stars as the person who has to listen to him.So far, so mundane, so thank heavens for Reeves, who honestly puts in an amazing performance as Griffin, the serial killer obsessed with perfecting his art by studying his victims for weeks.It's really against type for him, but this makes his character more intense, because he's literally so nice in every one of his previous films. He really is great as the antagonist.Other than that, it ticks all the boxes in a cat and mouse thriller, the killer is always one step ahead of Spader, and Spader gets that little more frustrated, maybe he is beginning to feel some psychotic tendencies.There is nothing new to offer in the thriller genre, but one film the film does is show that Reeves can put in a decent performance, especially when he plays against type.

LeonLouisRicci The inevitable influence of MTV and Music Videos on Mainstream Movies is glaringly evident in this hyper-kinetic Serial Killer Film that is nothing if an attempt to stimulate the synapses with razzle-dazzle beyond belief.A Casting reversal is haunting as things unfold in this almost average presentation of pomp and circumstance that is inconsistent and at times, especially in the end, incoherent. Spader would have been a better choice as the charming Serial Killer and Reeves would have been more at home with his limited Acting chops as the Detective.It is not bad but nothing memorable. How many of those dated Music Videos from MTV's Golden Age are lingering in the Mind. So here it is, a Video influenced Movie with little depth of field, bright and shiny, Whizzy and Bangy, images separating and splintering, with light trails everywhere. But in the end it just goes Poof, gone like a smoke ring.

PeterMitchell-506-564364 This thriller kind of seems old hat or may'be it came a little too late, but whatever, it's a refreshing serial killer pic. We see less and less of them now, and back when it came out in 2001, in the chronological footsteps of Hannibal, it was an open relief, there was another serial killer pic on standby. The Watcher is fun and totally entertaining, despite a terrible performance from Reeves, as a demented twisted nut who strangles young innocent women, loners, strays runaways, with piano wire, his motives kept under lock and key here. Enter retired and haunted Detective Spader, who was working the case, now reduced to what little life he has, in his new city, seeing a shrink (Marissa Tomei-the best out of the three leads) and dining at the same lousy Vietnamese restaurant. But guess who's back in town on the taunt. Pulled back into action, Spader now works with the cops in tracking down Reeves, who's sending him photographs by envelope of intended murder victims, and so begins a race against time, where Spader's given so many days to find them. Spader's off to a good start as he's not a daily mail checker. By photo, he has to make out the location, then doorknock, etc. There's moments of great intensity, amidst some lashings of heavy gore at times (remember piano wire can really cut deep) and we see Keanu waltz with one of the chosen, before the young stray senses this guys odd, and makes an exit. There's something definitely odd about Keanu's performance. He doesn't even come across as a serial killer, his straight hair that gives him more of an ordinary look. It's probably one of the worst casting decisions I've ever seen in my life. The Watcher does have bits of great suspense, plus an explosive, you would say and cool car chase, that really proves what this nuts capable of. Spader later is summoned by Keanu to a cemetery that provides some funny moments. When Tomei becomes in danger, Spader must save her and kill Keanu and finally puts his demons to rest. A highly entertaining serial killer flick, of course not in the same vein as Hannibal, and with such helpless victims here, who've never done any harm to anybody, it makes you wanna get up and shout at Reeves, and tell him to actually get a life instead of taking one.