reeveeews(surveillance review)

Surveillance intrigued me months ago with it's trailer, and that fact that the film was directed by the daughter of my hero of sorts, David Lynch. Sure, Jennifer Lynch has done a number of films, sadly, when I watched this one, I sorta viewed it as David Lynch-lite. From parts ofthe score, the casting, some of the cinematography and finally to the general uneasy tone, it all screamed like Surveillance was a mainstream version of a Lynch thriller. This is not necessarily a bad thing, mind you. It just felt like a typical thriller dressed up in a D. Lynch costume.




Despite some reviews claiming it to be unpredictable, I guessed the twist right off the bat and ruined the surprise for those I watched the movie with. My bad.




But even then I did enjoy the movie. There was some "bad" acting, and bad stereotyping of basically all the characters, from corrupt cops, to crack addicts, to the nuclear family on vacation. I think this was all intentional, to maintain a strange, unreal feel to the film. I could be wrong, but while the acting at times would make me cringe, I took it in stride. The visuals were great.




In it's most basic, spoiler free form, Surveillance is a thriller about a small town (street with one hotel and a police station) that is terrorized by a serial killer. It straddles the line of being a serious police procedural, and being a satirical take on the genre. After the "twist" I thought the tension and acting ramped up and some of my favourite scenes are near the end. The last line of the film is That's the most romantic thing I've ever heard.", which had me lol-ing in it's brilliance.




I recommend, if you are into this sort of thing.




ADC




Bill Pullman and Julia Ormond are amazing, by the by.