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.

**THIS REVIEW COULD CONTAIN A LOT OF SPOILERS. IF THE READER DOESN'T WANT THE FILM POSSIBLY SPOILED FOR THEM, I SUGGEST VIEWING THE FILM FIRST.**First off, Keanu (David) is a serial killer who decides to kill the girlfriend of this current FBI agent, who was married to another man. The serial killer is really good at setting up booby traps, so I noticed in the movie anyway. When the woman is left home alone, the detective comes over to visit her, to find out she's tied up to a chair in the house. He sees Keanu run out the back, and decides to chase him. Little does this "FBI agent" know that there was some kind of rig he had set up, that burnt the lady to a charred leafy crisp a short time after he kicked in the door to the house. This kind of pulled me into the movie a little bit. It got me connected to the detective's character more, but boy was it a depressing connection.Without giving too much away, and spoiling the film entirely, we'll just say the former FBI agent returns to the force as a detective for the Chicago police. He's all drugged up on medications for psychosis (due to guilt of getting that lady killed), migraines, and diabetes. He's just a complete wreck, until his therapist turns his confidence around. The movie is a game of cat and mouse from there. There's a few good killing scenes. It's really suspenseful as well. All-in-all, I think the acting was good, the script was okay (could've been better), and the dialog was good. I would recommend this movie for those who like police mystery/suspense movies for a one time watch.

This dreadful film is one of the best examples available of Hollywood crap! In place of an intriguing plot, there is gee-whiz camera work. Instead of crisp dialogue, there are pointless shifts from positive images to negative colour. Instead of catchy drama, there is mindless and sensational violence and a head thumping soundtrack. Technically, it is well done. But then impressive high technology is not unique to movies. It's also used effectively in the processing of garbage, where this DVD most certainly will find its deserved fate. I bought the DVD at a garage sale. Better had I spent my one (Canadian) dollar on the leaky ballpoint pen or the scratched up Mitch Miller LP.

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.