Surveillance (2008)

Director:

Jennifer Chambers Lynch

Writers:

Kent Harper (writer)
Jennifer Chambers Lynch (writer)

Release Date:

17 July 2008 (Portugal)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

An FBI agent tracks a serial killer with the help of three of his would-be victims - all of whom have wildly different stories to tell.

Plot Keywords:

FBI Agent | Serial Killer | Female Agent | Murder | Hyperrealism

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Caroline Aaron	...	Janet
Hugh Dillon	...	Dad
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
Jennifer Miles	...	TV Reporter
Mac Miller	...	Johnny
Charlie Newmark	...	Officer Wright
Julia Ormond	...	Elizabeth Anderson

Also Known As:

Unter Kontrolle (Germany)

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:18 | Ireland:16 | Finland:K-15 | Netherlands:16 | USA:R | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Germany:18 | New Zealand:R18 | Mexico:B15 | France:-12 (with warning)

Filming Locations:

Canada Saskatchewan Production Studios, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

Company:

Lago Film

Trivia:

Billy Burke was originally cast as the character Sam Hallaway. Days before filming was to begin, he dropped out of the film. Lynch family friend Bill Pullman was then cast to replace him.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: 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).

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Surveillance: The Watched Are Watching (2009) (V)

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")