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Cruel and Unusual

Original title: Watchtower
  • 2001
  • R
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
4.6/10
850
YOUR RATING
Cruel and Unusual (2001)
Home Video Trailer from Columbia Pictures
Play trailer1:09
1 Video
8 Photos
DramaRomanceThriller

A brother and sister move to a sleepy Oregon town and are befriended by a stranger with a magnetic personality on a summer sabbatical.A brother and sister move to a sleepy Oregon town and are befriended by a stranger with a magnetic personality on a summer sabbatical.A brother and sister move to a sleepy Oregon town and are befriended by a stranger with a magnetic personality on a summer sabbatical.

  • Director
    • George Mihalka
  • Writers
    • Rod Browning
    • Robert Geoffrion
    • Dan Witt
  • Stars
    • Tom Berenger
    • Rachel Hayward
    • Tygh Runyan
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.6/10
    850
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • George Mihalka
    • Writers
      • Rod Browning
      • Robert Geoffrion
      • Dan Witt
    • Stars
      • Tom Berenger
      • Rachel Hayward
      • Tygh Runyan
    • 20User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Cruel and Unusual
    Trailer 1:09
    Cruel and Unusual

    Photos7

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    Top cast15

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    Tom Berenger
    Tom Berenger
    • Art Stoner
    Rachel Hayward
    Rachel Hayward
    • Kate O'Conner
    Tygh Runyan
    Tygh Runyan
    • Mike O'Conner
    Elizabeth Carol Savenkoff
    Elizabeth Carol Savenkoff
    • Cindy
    Eli Gabay
    Eli Gabay
    • Adam Terrell
    Ralph Alderman
    • Jack
    Bruce Dawson
    Bruce Dawson
    • Tom Blanton
    Mitchell Kosterman
    Mitchell Kosterman
    • Constable McMurty
    Michael Leisen
    • Wayne
    Leo Vernik
    Leo Vernik
    • Dick
    • (as Leo Vernick)
    Spencer Roy
    • Adam Terrell's Son
    James Ralph
    James Ralph
    • Bar Patron
    Martin Christopher
    • Principal
    • (uncredited)
    Denis Corbett
    Denis Corbett
    • Townsperson
    • (uncredited)
    Yolanda Corbett
    Yolanda Corbett
    • Townsperson
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • George Mihalka
    • Writers
      • Rod Browning
      • Robert Geoffrion
      • Dan Witt
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews20

    4.6850
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    10

    Featured reviews

    TheVid

    An underrated, superbly photographed psycho-thriller with sophisticated undercurrents.

    All the performances here are very good, and the eerie tone of this movie, about a serial murderer and his effect on the people he encounters, becomes it's driving force (as opposed to the usual cat-and-mouse, thriller premise). The motivations of the protagonists are subtly explored, and the movie is awash with sexual tension and scenic texture. The chess-game scene is remarkably creepy and effective. This little murder story is highly recommended for discriminating adults.
    chillindog7

    boring drivel

    This movie was very boring. The soundtrack had nothing to do with the movie, and seemed more fitting for Top Gun. The characters were very shallow, and were not developed at all. This movie was full of stilted dialogue, and how could anyone find a fat Tom Berenger the "town's most eligible bachelor," is beyond my imagination. Be sure to watch for the ludicrious guitar playing scenes on top of the lighthouse, where there is no amp or cords or anything. A comment was made during the viewing of this movie which stated, "I could find better actors than these in an alley, dead." The "surprise" ending really wasn't a surprise, but then again I didn't even care. One out of ten stars
    5ODDBear

    Good Berenger performance in an average film

    Tom Berenger playing a serial killer! That's something new and since I'm a huge fan of this underrated actor I was very eager to get my hands on this flick. Did it disappoint? Not really, but it's far from being anything special. Berenger plays a homicidal drifter who assumes the identity of his latest victim, a professor, and heads to a small community where he gets involved with a local woman and her brother. As his relationship with the woman progresses her brother becomes more and more suspicious of him and it's only a matter of time before things get nasty. A semi well written character study of a psychopath which sadly doesn't delve too deeply into his motivations, and thus, leaving the viewer wanting more. Berenger, as always, does well with his role but the fact is it's an underdeveloped one and therefore doesn't have the intended impact. The end conclusion is mostly satisfying but overall the film is long-winded, has stereotypical supporting characters, particularly the brother, and ultimately fails mostly in the suspense department along with being very predictable. In the end Berenger elevates the film with his performance and one is left with the impression that this film could have been so much better. Sadly it's just average.
    5ma-cortes

    Psycho-killer movie with suspense, tension and colorful Canadian landscapes

    This Canadian film starts with Art Stone(Tom Berenguer),he's a stranger with a magnetic personality.He results to be a psycho-killer who killed several people from South Carolina till Washington State.The psycho is picked up hitch-hiking on the roadway by a professor(Gabay) going to an Oregon watchtower.Stoner takes his identity and one time in the fishing village, he befriends two brothers, Kate(Rachel Hayward), an attractive spinster and Mike(Tygh Runyan), a troubled young man.

    This independent picture packs suspense, thriller, sensational outdoors and stunning performances. However contains some moments little boring and slow movement, furthermore a strong sexual scenes, for that reason is rated ¨R¨ for sexuality and language. Nice acting for starring pair, Tom Berenguer and Rachel Hayward, and enjoyable Tygh Runyan who plays with his guitar on the summit of the lighthouse, because he's actually a singer, playing in a Vancouver experimental band. The film displays a glimmer cinematography by Peter Benison, filmed in locations of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.The motion picture is regularly directed by George Mihalka who had previously directed similar stories( Psychic, Relative fear).He's usually movies television director( Crossbow, Da Vinci's inquest, Windsor protocol) and occasionally motion pictures director (Bullet to Beijing, the return of Harry Palmer). Rating : Average but entertaining for serial-killers genre buffs.
    4Jakealope

    Starts Out Interesting, But Sputters

    The movie had a good concept, about a serial killer on the move. It avoids excessive bloodshed and sensational mastermind manuevers and honks which plagues most serial killer flicks. This killer adopts the identity of the last victim, who is a prof on sabbatical going to man a lonely lighthouse and write a book. So our killer, Berenger ends up in a lonely fishing village with a troubled youth on parole and his independent fisher-woman sister. There is some interesting tension and not so innocent honks while he is there. He controls and influences the impressionable and weak youth while putting the make on his sister. But it fizzled out, like they established a good mood and couldn't figure out a way to end it. Also, the feedback acid guitar soundtrack, based on the kids guitar playing, was pointless and annoying. It had potential, but let me down.

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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Quotes

      Art Stoner: Tell me something, Mike.

      Mike O'Conner: What?

      Art Stoner: Tell me about your sister.

      Mike O'Conner: You like her?

      Art Stoner: Don't you?

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 27, 2008 (Belgium)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Сторожова вежа
    • Filming locations
      • Fisgard Lighthouse, Colwood, British Columbia, Canada(Lighthouse exterior)
    • Production companies
      • Alliance Atlantis Communications
      • Frontline Entertainment
      • GFT Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • CA$5,100,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      • 1h 40m(100 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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