Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

The Alarmist

Play trailer Poster for The Alarmist R 1997 1h 32m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
56% Tomatometer 16 Reviews 14% 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

Where to Watch

The Alarmist

Critics Reviews

View More
Leonard Klady Variety 03/26/2009
It's a film of small delights rather than a home run, and an encouraging first foray for Dunsky. Go to Full Review
Stephen Holden New York Times 01/01/2000
Unable to decide where to go or what tone to adopt, it ends up treading water. Go to Full Review
Edward Guthmann San Francisco Chronicle 01/01/2000
2/4
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. Go to Full Review
Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid 05/26/2006
2.5/4
Electric performances, the plot, and the cheerful guitar score by Christophe Beck, help make The Alarmist a fun and... well... "quirky" experience. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 10/14/2005
2/5
James Rocchi Netflix 11/07/2002
2/5
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
steve d 07/06/2020 A bit dark but never funny. See more 06/09/2012 An awful movie that I couldn't turn away from. See more 06/08/2012 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. See more 02/21/2011 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. See more 11/23/2010 David Arquette is so cute! And I like him so much! See more 05/20/2010 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. See more Read all reviews
The Alarmist

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW
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% 75% The Daytrippers Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

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