The Alarmist

Play trailer

The Alarmist

R

1997

1h 32m

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

56%

Tomatometer

16 Reviews

12%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

After Tommy Hudler (David Arquette) starts working at a home security firm run by Heinrich Grigoris (Stanley Tucci), he falls for a customer, an attractive woman named Gale (Kate Capshaw). Heinrich eventually tells Tommy about a scam he operates where he breaks into the homes of his clients to demonstrate the importance of the alarms. When an incident happens at the home of Gale in which she and her teenage son, Howie (Ryan Reynolds), are harmed, Tommy suspects Heinrich may be involved.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Leonard Klady

Variety

It's a film of small delights rather than a home run, and an encouraging first foray for Dunsky.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Stephen Holden

New York Times

Unable to decide where to go or what tone to adopt, it ends up treading water.

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Edward Guthmann

San Francisco Chronicle

As a showcase for Tucci's comic skills, "The Alarmist" succeeds. We start the film feeling buoyed by his roosterlike energy and audacity, and we end it feeling let down by a script that can't quite decide what it wants to say.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Electric performances, the plot, and the cheerful guitar score by Christophe Beck, help make The Alarmist a fun and... well... "quirky" experience.

Rated: 2.5/4

May 26, 2006

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Oct 14, 2005

Full Review

James Rocchi

Netflix

Rated: 2/5

Nov 7, 2002

Full Review

Read all reviews

steve d

A bit dark but never funny.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An awful movie that I couldn't turn away from.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

New Feature here---Fridays Flick Pick---picking movies that many people dont know about that I found surprisingly good,........THE ALARMIST........Dont read the summary of this movie is gives away 2 huge plot points. David Arquette, Stanley Tucci and Kate Capshaw star in this quirky comedy/thriller. Look for a very very young Ryan Rennolds in probably hes weirdest role to date.......4 out of 5 stars.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Childish and obvious; stuttering continuity and mediocre all round. Maybe titivated the teenage fantacists; this doesn't get under the skin of the characters. But the actors didn't stand a chance.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

Audience Member

David Arquette is so cute! And I like him so much！

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Good movie, good plot, excellent cast. As sad as this may sound, as funny as the movie can be, it is also serious. Someone who installs a security system of some sort may actually break into your house or car.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Evan Dunsky

Director

David Arquette

Tommy Hudler

Stanley Tucci

Heinrich Grigoris

Kate Capshaw

Gale Ancona

Mary McCormack

Sally

Ryan Reynolds

Howard Ancona

8 Heads in a Duffel Bag

7%

35%

8 Heads in a Duffel Bag

Watchlist

Blood Guts Bullets & Octane

43%

42%

Blood Guts Bullets & Octane

Watchlist

Analyze This

70%

62%

Analyze This

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Analyze This

Rushmore

90%

91%

Rushmore

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Rushmore

The Daytrippers

73%

74%

The Daytrippers

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

After Tommy Hudler (David Arquette) starts working at a home security firm run by Heinrich Grigoris (Stanley Tucci), he falls for a customer, an attractive woman named Gale (Kate Capshaw). Heinrich eventually tells Tommy about a scam he operates where he breaks into the homes of his clients to demonstrate the importance of the alarms. When an incident happens at the home of Gale in which she and her teenage son, Howie (Ryan Reynolds), are harmed, Tommy suspects Heinrich may be involved.

Director: Evan Dunsky
Producer: Dan Stone, Lisa Zimble
Screenwriter: Keith Reddin, Evan Dunsky
Distributor: Columbia Tristar
Production Co: Key Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 7, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $61.7K
Runtime: 1h 32m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby

Most Popular at Home Now