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Surveillance

Play trailer Poster for Surveillance R 2009 1h 37m Mystery & Thriller Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
55% Tomatometer 74 Reviews 43% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
After a spree of horrific murders in the New Mexico desert, two FBI agents arrive at a small Santa Fe police station to interview the key witnesses. Using elaborate surveillance equipment to view the interrogations simultaneously, Sam Hallaway watches as his partner cross-examines the three survivors. As several inconsistencies emerge, it becomes clear that somebody in the room knows the truth behind the slayings.
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Surveillance

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Critics Consensus

This dark psycho-thriller from Jennifer Lynch, is violent, sharp and baffling, but not to everyone's taste.

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Critics Reviews

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Candice Frederick Reel Talk Online Sep 12, 2017
B+
It's a great whodunit. Go to Full Review Jason Anderson Toronto Star Jul 24, 2009
2/4
Pullman's striking performance here is undermined by Lynch's overreliance on those same grisly shock tactics, as well as a script that fails to capitalize on a promising premise and then swiftly collapses upon the revelation of a not-so-shocking twist. Go to Full Review James Adams Globe and Mail Jul 24, 2009
1/4
The film's a failure. Go to Full Review Joe Lipsett Anatomy of a Scream Podcast Network Nov 11, 2025
4/5
Lynch's 2nd film is a twisty crime thriller filled with unconventional casting decisions, bold colour-coded cinematography, and brief (but visceral) outbursts of violence. A great indicator of what Lynch is capable of when her vision isn't compromised Go to Full Review Debbie Lynn Elias Behind The Lens Nov 15, 2019
Taut, edgy, titillating, thrilling. Surveillance is a masterful examination into the dark side of the human condition. Go to Full Review David Harris Spectrum Culture Oct 9, 2019
1.5/5
Surveillance will create almost no ripples whatsoever as it slithers in and out of theaters to find a second life on late-night cable. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Carol R @RT59771237 Aug 4, 2026 One of the sickest most disturbing movies I've ever watched. Don't waste your time! See more Jeffrey P @vanillavoodoo1 Aug 26, 2024 One of the darker films dealing with the subject of corrupt police that one will see. From top to bottom, all the way through the end, a top notch degenerate tale. See more Aug 10, 2022 I regret giving some bad critics to some low budget movies when i watched this movie.... what a bad plot, i mean it looks like the director was in a resstaurent had some drinks and the said lets do a movid where 2 FBI agents will be the killers... of course his friends laughed and said yeaaaah great idea... the next day the went filming .... it s bad, the characters are paper i was worried about them i hope they had good career after this bad bad ... really bad movie See more Dec 18, 2021 Felt this was a reasonable watch. It has a promising premise, starts well, interesting format, very well shot (IMHO), and then speeds up towards the end following a big revelation. Could be better but, enjoyable nevertheless. See more nilufer e @Nilicim Apr 10, 2021 I quite enjoyed it and I believe it was under-rated. The acting was good and I loved the twists. It was thrilling and exciting even though it was a low budget flick. See more Mar 6, 2021 Obviously Lynchesque, This modern film noir plays upon the stereotipical fears that permeates consistently throughout the history of hollywood storytelling - authority and untamed depravity. Despite the text book thrills there is enough here to push the genre forward. Strong, diverse female characters, dealing with a mysoginistic society are a welcome addition and then of course there is the western obsession with the ultimate, alternative American Dream - Bonnie and Clyde. See more Read all reviews
Surveillance

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Cast & Crew

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Jennifer Chambers Lynch

Director

Julia Ormond

Elizabeth Anderson

Bill Pullman

Sam Hallaway

Pell James

Bobbi Prescott

Ryan Simpkins

Stephanie

Cheri Oteri

Mom

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Surveillance

Surveillance (2008) Surveillance (2008) Surveillance (2008) Bill Pullman as Sam and Julia Ormond as Elizabeth in "Surveillance." Ryan Simpkins as Stephanie and French Stewart as Officer Jim Conrad in "Surveillance." Ryan Simpkins as Stephanie in "Surveillance." Ryan Simpkins as Stephanie in "Surveillance." Bill Pullman as Sam in "Surveillance." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis After a spree of horrific murders in the New Mexico desert, two FBI agents arrive at a small Santa Fe police station to interview the key witnesses. Using elaborate surveillance equipment to view the interrogations simultaneously, Sam Hallaway watches as his partner cross-examines the three survivors. As several inconsistencies emerge, it becomes clear that somebody in the room knows the truth behind the slayings.
Director
Jennifer Chambers Lynch
Producer
Kent Harper, David Michaels, Marco Mehlitz
Screenwriter
Jennifer Chambers Lynch, Kent Harper
Distributor
Magnolia Pictures
Production Co
Film Star Pictures, Blue Rider Pictures, See Film, Lago Film, Stephen Onda Productions
Rating
R (Scene of Aberrant Sexuality|Pervasive Language|Some Drug Use|Strong Bloody Violence)
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 26, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 18, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$25.4K
Runtime
1h 37m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
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