Surveillance

Name: Surveillance
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Released: June 26, 2009
Duration: 97 min
Rating: 31
Cast: Julia Ormond, Pell James

2009

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 12 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 21 Ratings

See All

5.6

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

5.6	Your Score
5.6	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 21 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Surveillance

Now Playing: Surveillance

Movie Details & Credits

Magnet Releasing | Release Date: June 26, 2009 | R

Starring: Julia Ormond, Pell James

Summary: It’s been a hell of a day on the highway. When Federal Officers Elizabeth Anderson (Julia Ormond) and Sam Hallaway (Bill Pullman) arrive at Captain Billing’s office, they have three sets of stories to figure out and a string of vicious murders to consider. One zealot cop, a strung out junkie and an eight year old girl all sit in testimonyIt’s been a hell of a day on the highway. When Federal Officers Elizabeth Anderson (Julia Ormond) and Sam Hallaway (Bill Pullman) arrive at Captain Billing’s office, they have three sets of stories to figure out and a string of vicious murders to consider. One zealot cop, a strung out junkie and an eight year old girl all sit in testimony to the roadside rampage, but as the Feds begin to expose the fragile little details each witness conceals so carefully with a well practiced lie, they soon discover that uncovering ‘the truth’ can come at a very big cost. (Magnolia Pictures)… Expand

Director: Jennifer Chambers Lynch

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 97 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Owen Gleiberman

A grubby, disturbing serial-killer mystery, a kind of blood-simple "Rashomon." Read full review

Melissa Anderson

Surveillance is the work of a director who has made significant strides in both storytelling and control of the medium, deftly interweaving a grisly thriller, a sicko "Rashômon," a switcheroo, a psychotic love story, an imaginative paean to children, and an inspired resurrection of Julia Ormond. Read full review

Ray Bennett

Surveillance will please the B-movie crowd in theaters and on into the ancillaries Read full review

Leslie Felperin

A mildly amusing trifle with one of the genre's dafter plot twists. Read full review

Robert Abele

At the end, all is horrifically explained, the body count inflates, yet hardly anything makes sense. In Papa Lynch's films, little is explained, yet because he's so gifted at mining our deepest fears and scariest desires, logic is excused. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

The most enjoyable way to watch Surveillance - "enjoyable," in the relative sense - is to take its awfulness for granted and pay attention to everything Bill Pullman does. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

It seems doubtful that Surveillance, a would-be transgression that tries to squeeze dark laughs from the spectacle of human suffering, would be taking up space in theaters if its director were not the daughter of a name filmmaker. Read full review

SEE ALL 12 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

AWareham

Apr 14, 2018

This is perhaps the most overlooked movie of recent years, maybe due to Boxing Helena. This one has everything, including a final few scenes that will blow your away. Just Brilliant.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

afxcollin

Oct 30, 2010

This was a great pyschological horror-drama type thing that delivers what it intended to do - disturb and confuse you, and in that I give this movie a 8. It was entertaining, although slow, but otherwise the endings payoff is quit disturbing and twisted. This movie isn't for everyone andThis was a great pyschological horror-drama type thing that delivers what it intended to do - disturb and confuse you, and in that I give this movie a 8. It was entertaining, although slow, but otherwise the endings payoff is quit disturbing and twisted. This movie isn't for everyone and shouldn't be view by the faint of heart.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JayH.

Aug 13, 2009

Tense psychological thriller, fine performances and an effective setting. The twist ending will either delight or infuriate, but either way, the film held my interest.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

k9wazere

Oct 30, 2015

Easily sooner than half way into the film, you could see the plot twist. Only it was such a ridiculous plot twist you were willing yourself to be wrong. "They can't do something that stupid, surely?"

And then they did. This film has one of the worst plot twists I've ever seen. ItEasily sooner than half way into the film, you could see the plot twist. Only it was such a ridiculous plot twist you were willing yourself to be wrong. "They can't do something that stupid, surely?"

And then they did.

This film has one of the worst plot twists I've ever seen. It literally destroys any enjoyment you might have extracted from the film. It makes you question if you really want to live in a world this dumb.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

vudumindscience

Oct 16, 2018

Slow, meandering and self-indulgent, filled with eye-rolling cliches and tired tropes. It's also aged quite poorly. A movie to avoid.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JayM.

Aug 21, 2009

Vying thus far for the worst film of the year. Ms. Lynch's crude sensibility results in an excruciating film experience; if Hal Needham had a dark side, it might resemble this dull debacle. I rate it a 1 rather than zero soley based on Bill Pullman's performance and Julia Vying thus far for the worst film of the year. Ms. Lynch's crude sensibility results in an excruciating film experience; if Hal Needham had a dark side, it might resemble this dull debacle. I rate it a 1 rather than zero soley based on Bill Pullman's performance and Julia Ormand's looks. Sadly, they cannot rise above the dreck.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

JesusG.

Aug 9, 2009

I, like the writer of the NY Daily News, was asking myself as I watched he movie, "Any other movie that didn't get made because of this one would probably have been better." It's depressing that people find financing for movies like this, and even more depressing that there are I, like the writer of the NY Daily News, was asking myself as I watched he movie, "Any other movie that didn't get made because of this one would probably have been better." It's depressing that people find financing for movies like this, and even more depressing that there are people who enjoy them. Neither the characters or the plot (which seems to have been written by someone in junior high) are very believable. In summary, it was an unpleasant experience.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

SEE ALL 7 REVIEWS