Independent horror film, “Surveillance,” gives a great and grisly depiction of an FBI crime story.

This film is definitely not for the faint of heart. I found it to be truly disturbing in many ways, which means the filmmakers succeeded in making the audience really feel the terror that the characters endured.

“Surveillance” is rated R for a reason. The film contains scenes of brutality, torture, corruption, drug use, sex and murder. The violence, however, does not overpower the story. Every horrific event has a specific meaning and is not included simply for the sake of violence.

The plot is set in the present day with flashbacks telling most of the story. FBI agents Elizabeth Anderson, played by Julia Ormond, and Sam Hallaway, played by Bill Pullman, interview three witnesses to a roadside slaughter. It becomes apparent, as each witness’s story is told, that things are not as they seem.

I expected Pullman’s acting to be better, considering he had worked with executive producer David Lynch before in his film, “Lost Highway.” Pullman’s acting seemed awkward at first. In the beginning, he was not comfortable in his own skin, but, by the end of the movie, he was completely immersed in his character.

The cinematography, especially during the flashbacks, was brilliant. The vivid colors of the bloody scenes contrasted well with the dark witness examining rooms. The use of color and lighting alone helped instill in the audience a sense of fear and entrapment.

One of the main problems I had with the movie was the sound. In fast-paced action scenes, the volume was so loud I could hardly stand it. However, when the scene was nothing but dialogue, the voices were so soft I could no longer hear them. I ended up having to adjust my volume many times, which interrupted my experience and greatly annoyed me.

The back cover of the movie boasts that there is “a twist so violent it could give you whiplash.” I found the plot twist to be very compelling and unexpected but poorly executed. In most plot twists I’ve come across, the realization hits you like a train, giving the audience a great wave of realization. But this twist was given to you slowly, so that you couldn’t be entirely sure what you were seeing. This confused me and allowed the truth to sneak up on me without me noticing.

This is definitely one of those movies you should watch twice. The second experience is so unlike the first, you would hardly believe you were watching the same movie.

I would give “Surveillance” a high rating but remind readers that this movie is not for everyone. I recommend that anyone interested should consider the violent content before watching, but, for those who can stomach the grisly horror, it makes for a wonderfully thrilling experience.