Pursued (2004)

When it comes to corporate headhunters Vincent Palmer (Christian Slater True Romance) is the high-tech industry s go-to guy. For a million-dollar retainer he always gets his man whether the prospect wants to change jobs or not. Vincent never takes no for an answer and will do whatever it takes be it more money additional perks or the cold-blooded murder of a family member to make a deal. So when Viztrax executive Ben Keats (Gil Bellows TV s Ally McBeal ) repeatedly turns down Vincent s offer to join a rival firm the psychotic recruiter resorts to harassment terrorism and violence to get him to change his mind. Only when Vincent promises to kill Keats wife and young daughter does Ben finally realize that when dealing with a man like Vincent Palmer he really only has two choices: take the job or do a little headhunting himself.System Requirements:Run Time: 95 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: R UPC: 043396086555 Manufacturer No: 08655 Product Description

Relentless headhunter

Christian Slater plays the corporate headhunter 'Vincent Palmer' who is so relentless and obsessed at keeping his record of 'always getting his man' that he'll stoop to murder to get the job done. When this pill popping nightmare pursues family man Ben Keats, the game gets very ugly. A different type of thriller with a unique type of 'stalker'.

Chrissy K. McVay - Author July 29, 2008

PURSUED IS LACKING PERSUASION

I've been a fan of Christian Slater for some time now. I've enjoyed his work as far back as HEATHERS. But it seems lately that most of his work has been done in films that just don't give him the chance to shine. I can only hope that better offerings come his way. Which brings us to this film.

Slater stars as Vincent Palmer, a corporate head hunter who is willing to do anything to convince the person he is after to switch jobs to the companies that have paid him to recruit them. Anything.

This time around Palmer is after Ben Keats (Gil Bellows) one of the key players in a company that has just developed a way to track people without invasive methods like implants. Their system uses a drink that when swallowed allows them to track someone via satellite. The company is about to go big and this is great news for Keats and his partner Franklin (Michael Clarke Duncan).

At the same time as they are about to announce their discovery, Palmer comes along to offer Ben the chance to move on to another company. The pay would be higher, the perks would be more and the position would be better than the one he already has. But his loyalty to not only his company but his co-workers, his friends, stops Ben from accepting. But Palmer is not on to take no for an answer.

He works his way into Ben's life, meeting his wife by "accident", endearing himself to Ben's daughter and presenting presents to her as well. Palmer shows up at the most inopportune times, mysteriously showing up out of nowhere. And each time he does, he presses Ben to sign on the dotted line.

Eventually annoyed by all of this, Ben starts by nicely telling him no. As Palmer's insistence grows, so does Ben's temper. When push comes to shove, Palmer plays the trump cards he has used in the past. He first plants the bug in Ben's fellow employee's ears that Ben is not only considering the offer but accepting it. And when that doesn't work, he threatens Ben's family.

Now Ben must find a way to get Palmer to accept no for an answer. But we, the viewers, having seen Palmer in action during the film's opening sequence, know that this is not going to be easy. When push DOES come to shove, just how far is Ben willing to go?

Not a bad movie, but nothing great either. All actors involved do a good job of being convincing, but none of them shine through like a ray of light. It's by the book moves throughout that may entertain and be worth the price of a rental, but it's not a film that will make you pass by this week's top releases.
March 15, 2008

Christian Slater is the only reason......

...this movie is being written about on this site. The script for the movie was pretty bad and the storyline was also poorly written. Christian is a great actor though and the mere fact that he was in this film, made it viewable. Christian plays a headhunter who is absolutely ruthless as he hunts down his
pray. He even involves the persons immediate family by sending them presents etc. In other words, he just will not give up until they sign the dotted line. June 11, 2006

Slater Plays a Dangerous Headhunter: Terribly Directed Thriller with Unbelievable Story

'Pursued' is a typical Canadian direct-to-video film with one interesting idea in its center, which is ruined by the inept direction. I know the fans of Christian Slater might look at it differently, but for me watching this horrible thriller turned out one of the most painful experiences. I believe even some of Slater's fans might have felt the same way.

Slater plays a baddie here. He is Vincent Palmer, one of the top corporate headhunter who won't take no for an answer. He wants Ben Keats (Gil Bellows), who invented a revolutionary GPS system, so Vincent uses everything to recruit him. I mean, EVERYTHING.

Even if you don't know the world of executive recruiters (and I don't either), you are going to find Vincent Palmer and his bahaviors so incredible and preposterous. He starts with frequent phone calls, then sending presents, next spying on Keats and his family with monitors, and look! the guy shows up everywhere! Usually what Vincent does is called stalking, but none of the Keats notices this guy played by overacting Slater with menacing eyes is in fact a dangerous man until the very last moment.

What kind of company do you think would hire this dangerous guy with psychotic behaviors, whose dubious reputation can be easily detected on the internet? What kind of police, especially police of Seattle where this film is set, can allow this guy do whatever he wants when there are lots of (yes, lots of ) physical evidence that point to him? Like the PCs in the deserted warehouse? Like the forged signs? Like...

Besides too many plot holes, the acting is so-so at best. In addition to over-the-top Slater and Bellows, Estella Warren and Oscar nominee Michael Clarke Duncan appear. Estella Warren is not much different from her in 'Driven' and 'Planet of the Apes,' and even Michael Clarke Duncan looks as if he does not know what to do in this mess.

'Pursued' and 'Alone in the Dark.' Two of these recent Christian Slater films can easily kill the career, or maybe already did. What ever happened to him?
November 13, 2005

JOB HUNT

The idea of casting usual all-American Christian Slater as a deadly psychotic corporate headhunter was inspired, and although PURSUED ultimately falls apart by the end, it's an entertaining little thriller. Slater plays a headhunter who goes to extremes to ensure that the people he's hunting take the jobs they are offered. His latest target is played by Gil Bellows; Bellows is a computer whiz who has developed a computer chip that when embedded in a person's bloodstream will enable them to be traced. This would be extremely beneficial in tracking missing persons, for instance. Bellows, however, turns down Slater's job offer and that's when all hell breaks loose. Slater stalks him and his family, endearing himself to both Bellows' wife and young daughter, and a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues.
Slater is devilishly fun in his role, but Bellows seems in a daze most of the time and a stronger performer might have made the whole game more intriguing. Slater is definitely better in this than the recent ALONE IN THE DARK. July 17, 2005

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