MovieChat Forums > The Watcher (2000) Discussion > Did Griffin have some sort of crush on C...

Did Griffin have some sort of crush on Campbell?


At times it seemed like Griffin had some sort of psycho stalker crush on Campbell, hence why he got rid of any female that got in his way(like lisa and polly). The whole movie and dynamic between the characters was just off/odd, it just feels rushed and kinda flat.

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I thought it was a good film but I'm partial to any film that's made in Chicago.

For some reason, Joe didn't have time to explore Griffin's feelings for Joel but it seemed that David was hot for Joel. Hum...when I think about it, I believe Keanu and Charbanic spent a lot of time drinking and using large quanities of drugs while they were friends. Griffin drove Joel to drugs...I wonder if there was any non-fiction mixed in with the fiction?

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Possibly, I just think that this film was not terrible, it could be much better. I wish it was about 45 minutes longer, that way all of the loose ends could be tied up. Whatever they were referencing was vague, we don't really see why Griffin is the way he is, and Polly's character was just kinda there until the very end, Joel is a a burnt out cop on drugs.

We also never get a complete or a least partial explanation of why Griffin is so obsessed with Campbell, just "we need each other". This is why it comes off as David being hot for Joel like some kind of strange/sick crush, I am not sure what Charbanic meant to portray but that is how it comes off. Overall the film was kinda flat due to this. The climax at the end fell short.

I personally think the film went downhill after the ludicrous car chase.

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I don't think so guys, The way it comes across is, you'll watch the movie and see the obsession between the 2 guy characters and homoerotic tension will be perceived. I get that i do, I'm a girl and i saw the same thing, but look at it from another point of view:

Keanu is a serial killer and kills people to satisfy his lust for the kill, Spader is the burnt out cop connected to the murders in a very personal way. The zodiac killer sent cryptic letters to the police because when you boil it down there is a profile for serial killers - think narcissistic, lacking empathy, violent etc.

Now add in attention seeking, many of these real killers have a need for infamy, they need to be acknowledged for how they see themselves - great, genius, superior etc. Many of them suffer trauma in childhood that made them feel inadequate and unloved, they don't develop proper relationships from a young age and become twisted and broken because of it. They grow up with violent fantasies and buried urges that they begin to act on.

In the movie the killer is enacting a game with the cop - A cat and mouse game "We need each other" it's true, as sick as it is the game is what keeps them both connected to life, Spader is abusing drugs and depressed and clearly wants to check out, Keanu keeps upping the game with Spader to up the thrill for himself.

If the game ends for Keanu so does the excitement and fixation. It's the thrill of the chase cause ultimately Keanu sees himself as superior than all and there's only that perceived kinship between him and Spader because he's made it happen. If the chase ends so does the game and that's no fun. It's a fixation for sure but it's based on the killer's narcissism and need for attention to his art per se.

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Hey I really like your viewpoints. ...are you single ?? ;)

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Here it is 2016 and I'm just now watching this movie from 2000 (and I'm not young). Came here to see what people are saying (or said) like I always do.

Rochey_1, this is one of the most insightful and well written posts I've ever read. Thank you for putting time into wording this exactly how I think it to be. Except I couldn't articulate it as well as you did. Bravo.

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Campbell almost caught him. He considered him a worthy opponent and wanted to continue the challenge.

Same motivation as the Clint Eastwood movie Bloodwork.

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