Somebody's Watching Me
Under Surveillance Gets Under Your Skin

In 1954's classic Rear Window, Alfred Hitchcock created a masterpiece of suspense set in a single room where a man with a broken leg watched his neighbors through his window. He saw into their windows and watched their lives unfold. He made observations and uncovered a murder plot in his own backyard. Half a century later, director Dave Campfield tries to recreate that suspense using the modern technolgy of the surveillance camera.

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Rick (Dave Campfield, left) and Justin (Eric Conley) delve into the private lives of their neighbors in the independent thriller Under Surveillance. (Cut Entertainment Group, 2005)
Directed by: Dave Campfield
Written by: Dave Campfield
Starring: Eric Conley, Felissa Rose, David Rigg, Mark Love, Dave Campfield, Fred DeReau, and Brenda Abbandandolo

Rated Not Rated
Running time: 89 min.

FilmGuru's Rating : 7 out of 10.

In Under Surveillance, there's a not-so-fine line between a neighborhood watch and an invasion of privacy. When Justin (Eric Conley) movies in with his estranged father, he is lead to believe that someone in their building may be responsible for some gruesome ritualistic murders. With the help of some friends, he wires the building with pinhole cameras and begins to observe the strange and often unfathomable lives of his neighbors.

Heidi Broonen (Felissa Rose) lives with her sister, Sonja. While Heidi seems to be a party girl, Sonja is decidedly maladjusted. In the next apartment is Robert (Chris Cooke), a man with a penchant for prostitutes and prescription drugs. In the last apartment are a husband and wife. The husband (Mark Love) is a garbage man and verbally abusive. His wife (Sara Baker Bahr) seems to be a mail-order bride.

The story plays out at its own pace, introducing characters and situations slowly. The plot is filled with twists, but the end resolution is clear. It's a surprise, but one might say it is an expected surprise.

The film is well directed, using the point-of-view of the pinhole cameras as necessary to tell the story. Thankfully, this effect is clear and gives a good vantage point for the audience. How realistic these shots are is debateable, but the security camera look does not interfere with the storytelling.

Technical aspects aside, the story does drag a bit at times. It is difficult to maintain a certain level of suspense throughout a film, and Campfield does not The character of Justin seemed to have some interesting backstory, but I don't think it was explored enough. Because the film centers on Justin, the other tenants in the building are only given the barest of characterization, much of which plays on stereotypes. However, the stereotypes often give way to deeper realizations about the characters later in the film.

Most of the acting in Under Surveillance is pretty good. I thought both Conley and David Rigg (who played his father Kurt) did very well. Campfield does double duty as a director and actor, a common occurance in independent films and usually a mistake. Nevertheless, he manages his time on camera sparingly and it doesn't adversely affect the direction of the film.

Unlike Hitchcock's masterpiece, there is an intent to invade the private lives of others and see what they do behind closed doors. In Rear Window, a warm summer has led to open curtains and windows, allowing anyone who wanted to look in on their neighbors. What we see in Under Surveillance is more menacing because it is illegal. Interestingly enough, Justin never seems to concerned about violating the civil rights of the other tenants.

Overall, Under Surveillance is a good film. It's not Hitchcock, but it's entertaining and well written. The film is a great suspense story, with actors who are capable of handling some complex characters. If you get a chance, it's worth a look.

You can find out more on the film's official web site: http://us.davecampfield.com/