The Film
It's obvious that Jennifer Lynch inherited the creepy gene from her dad, director David Lynch (Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet). Her style has a mark, like the Lynch family crest. Like her previous work, Boxing Helena, Surveillance is a bizarre, violent adventure. It's got your cops and, to some extent, your robbers. Just don't expect this thriller to wrap up in a nice neat package.
Bill Pullman and Julia Ormond are FBI agents/lovers investigating the brutal murders of a cop, a small family and a drug addict. Three witnesses are left behind, so the duo conducts a series of interviews to put all of the pieces together. Of course, a twist is revealed, as well as cameos by French Stewart (3rd Rock from the Sun) and Cheri Oteri (Saturday Night Live).
Despite those two names, Surveillance isn't funny -- not even close.
The film moves slowly in some spots, but that doesn't take away from a pretty interesting story. Plus, Pullman and Ormand make a nice couple, don't they?
The Picture
Overall, this 2.35:1 transfer is pretty grainy, but a lot of it is intentional and kind of interesting. Most of that grain pops up in the film's many flashbacks, which are also nerve-wracking and sometimes stomach turning. In other words, you probably won't even notice the grain. Back in real-time, there are gritty moments. At no point will you forget that you're watching an indie film. Still, there some decent colors (mostly reds), as well as pretty roadside shots.
The Sound
Wherever there's violence to be had, there's usually a pretty good soundtrack. The DTS-HD Master Audio here does not disappoint. Dialogue is sharp and engaging. Surround sounds aren't rampant, but are definitely there. Those same roadside shots deliver some nice background effects as do the sounds of the station. Of course, there are also punches and pops of gunfire to keep you alert and intrigued.
The Extras
Surveillance is an indie film, so it's not surprising that there are very few extras. "The Watched Are Watching" is interesting because it doesn't fluff up the production like most featurettes do. That would be what the HDNet short is for. However, in "Watched," we get a nice glimpse of Lynch, who is the spitting image of her father, complete with the Lynch family edge. Despite the insanity on-screen, she seems like the type director you'd want behind the camera, or at least getting your back in a bar fight, because as Stewart says, "It's like working with a sailor." Aside from that, there are some deleted scenes and an alternate ending, which is worth a peek.
Final Thoughts
Although the film runs only 97 minutes, Surveillance does move slowly in some spots. Still, it's dark, violent and very well acted. There's also a nice little surprise inside. It's not the best Blu-ray of the year, but it's definitely worth a peek.
Product Details
- Actors: Julia Ormond, Bill Pullman, Pell James, Ryan Simpkins, Michael Ironside
- Director: Jennifer Lynch
- Audio/Languages: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English)
- Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
- Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
- Region: A
- Number of Discs: 1
- Rating: R
- Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment
- Blu-ray Disc Release Date: August 18, 2009
- Run Time: 97 minutes
- List Price: $34.98
- Extras:
- Commentary with Jennifer Lynch, Mac Miller and Charlie Newmark
- Surveillance: The Watched Are Watching
- HDNet: A Look at Surveillance
- Deleted Scenes and Alternate Ending
