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Surveillance
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Metascore
31 out of 100

Generally unfavorable - based on 12 Critics What's this?

User Score
5.1 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 15 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Starring: Julia Ormond, Pell James
  • Summary: It’s been a hell of a day on the highway. When Federal Officers Elizabeth Anderson (Julia Ormond) and Sam Hallaway (Bill Pullman) arrive at Captain Billing’s office, they have three sets of stories to figure out and a string of vicious murders to consider. One zealot cop, a strung out junkie and an eight year old girl all sit in testimony to the roadside rampage, but as the Feds begin to expose the fragile little details each witness conceals so carefully with a well practiced lie, they soon discover that uncovering ‘the truth’ can come at a very big cost. (Magnolia Pictures)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 12
  3. Negative: 5 out of 12
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Owen Gleiberman
    83
    A grubby, disturbing serial-killer mystery, a kind of blood-simple "Rashomon."
  2. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Melissa Anderson
    60
    Surveillance is the work of a director who has made significant strides in both storytelling and control of the medium, deftly interweaving a grisly thriller, a sicko "Rashômon," a switcheroo, a psychotic love story, an imaginative paean to children, and an inspired resurrection of Julia Ormond.
  3. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Robert Abele
    30
    At the end, all is horrifically explained, the body count inflates, yet hardly anything makes sense. In Papa Lynch's films, little is explained, yet because he's so gifted at mining our deepest fears and scariest desires, logic is excused.

See all 12 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 2 out of 4
  1. afxcollin
    8
    This was a great pyschological horror-drama type thing that delivers what it intended to do - disturb and confuse you, and in that I give this movie a 8. It was entertaining, although slow, but otherwise the endings payoff is quit disturbing and twisted. This movie isn't for everyone and shouldn't be view by the faint of heart.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. JayH.
    6
    Tense psychological thriller, fine performances and an effective setting. The twist ending will either delight or infuriate, but either way, the film held my interest.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. JayM.
    1
    Vying thus far for the worst film of the year. Ms. Lynch's crude sensibility results in an excruciating film experience; if Hal Needham had a dark side, it might resemble this dull debacle. I rate it a 1 rather than zero soley based on Bill Pullman's performance and Julia Ormand's looks. Sadly, they cannot rise above the dreck.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 4 User Reviews

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