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The Alarmist

Original title: Life During Wartime
  • 1997
  • R
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
David Arquette, Kate Capshaw, and Stanley Tucci in The Alarmist (1997)
Dark ComedySatireComedy

A young and hungry salesman lands a job with a company that installs alarm systems. He strikes up a sexual relationship with a woman client who is also a single mother and then learns some p... Read allA young and hungry salesman lands a job with a company that installs alarm systems. He strikes up a sexual relationship with a woman client who is also a single mother and then learns some pretty unsavory things about the business.A young and hungry salesman lands a job with a company that installs alarm systems. He strikes up a sexual relationship with a woman client who is also a single mother and then learns some pretty unsavory things about the business.

  • Director
    • Evan Dunsky
  • Writers
    • Keith Reddin
    • Evan Dunsky
  • Stars
    • David Arquette
    • Stanley Tucci
    • Kate Capshaw
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.2/10
    1.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Evan Dunsky
    • Writers
      • Keith Reddin
      • Evan Dunsky
    • Stars
      • David Arquette
      • Stanley Tucci
      • Kate Capshaw
    • 22User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    The Alarmist
    Trailer 2:18
    The Alarmist

    Photos16

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    Top cast25

    Edit
    David Arquette
    David Arquette
    • Tommy Hudler
    Stanley Tucci
    Stanley Tucci
    • Heinrich Grigoris
    Kate Capshaw
    Kate Capshaw
    • Gale Ancona
    Mary McCormack
    Mary McCormack
    • Sally
    Ryan Reynolds
    Ryan Reynolds
    • Howard Ancona
    Tricia Vessey
    Tricia Vessey
    • April Brody
    Ruth Miller
    • Mrs. Fielding
    Hoke Howell
    Hoke Howell
    • Mr. Fielding
    Michael Learned
    Michael Learned
    • Beth Hudler
    Lewis Arquette
    Lewis Arquette
    • Bruce Hudler
    Richmond Arquette
    Richmond Arquette
    • Andrew Hudler
    Gabriel Dell Jr.
    • Skippy Hudler
    Valerie Long
    • Doris
    Kim Tobin
    • Bambi
    Colin Campbell
    Colin Campbell
    • Waiter
    Eric Zivot
    Eric Zivot
    • Shelly
    Vinnie Bilancio
    Vinnie Bilancio
    • Assistant Director
    • (as Vincent J. Bilancio)
    Clea DuVall
    Clea DuVall
    • Suzy
    • (as Clea Duvall)
    • Director
      • Evan Dunsky
    • Writers
      • Keith Reddin
      • Evan Dunsky
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews22

    5.21K
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    Featured reviews

    7ipswich-2

    Dark, humorous, quirky and melodramatic.

    Dark, humorous, quirky and melodramatic. The mix of this movie may not gel and disappoint some, but on the whole I found it fun and entertaining. Dave Arquette, Stan Tucci and Kate Capeshaw give fine performances in this very offbeat movie that starts dark but ends with a comedic twist. Perhaps the plot could be better but there's plenty enough to give viewers amusement and chuckles. A strange one you'd either hate or enjoy. For myself, I found it on the plus side.
    5bek-12

    "So much potential, wasted..."

    The first time I saw this movie, I joined in right before the mood got dark--during the overnight stay with the parents, and this movie knocked my socks off. Very quirky and interesting, but not "Tarentino-like" at all, as someone else has said. So tonight I rented the movie and watched it start to finish. Ugh! I feel like the first time I saw it, I only saw the very best of the movie! It's got one dark, nice twist, but otherwise, this is a mediocre movie at best. Stay away unless you're very bored!
    6Kiosky

    A good satire along the lines of The Player.

    Aside from David Arquette's irritating performance, this is solid and fairly competent work. Although the characters may be dead-hollow, the events that ensue during the 90 minute run of the film are both amusing and inspired. Genuinely good.
    jakeloves

    Simply a masterpiece!

    It's rather sad to see that so many people seem turned off by this comedy. Just like Romeo is Bleeding, too many people seem to just give up when they're finally shown something that truly creates an original tone for itself. This movie walks a tight-wire between the absurd and offbeat while still seemingly plausible and realistic. The plot twists with wonderfully subversive glee. I could not help but fall hopelessly in love with this charming movie. Don't listen to all the negative comments. Rent it and judge for yourself. You just might be wonderfully surprised.
    8Harry-22

    Quirky, Funny... Enjoy the vignettes

    I was surprised by the number of times I caught myself smiling or laughing quietly during The Alarmist (AKA Life During Wartime), a film where the parts are definitely greater than the whole. Be prepared to all but ignore the plot, which is unnecessary except as a place to loosely hang some wonderful performances by everyone involved.

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    Related interests

    Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Sian Clifford in Fleabag (2016)
    Dark Comedy
    Peter Sellers in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
    Satire
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The only film directed by Evan Dunsky.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Pleasantville/The Alarmist/The Lion King II: Simba's Pride/Apt Pupil/Life is Beautiful (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Life On the Bottom
      by Bob Beland, Peter Curry

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    FAQ18

    • How long is The Alarmist?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 16, 1998 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Konsten att sälja tjuvlarm
    • Filming locations
      • Little Rock Lake, Palmdale, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Bandeira Entertainment
      • Dan Stone, Flynn-Simchowitz
      • Key Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $59,864
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $7,787
      • Oct 18, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $59,864
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 32m(92 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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