A sheltered Amish child is the sole witness of a brutal murder in a restroom at a Philadelphia train station, and he must be protected. The assignment falls to a taciturn detective who goes undercover in a Pennsylvania Dutch community. On the farm, he slowly assimilates despite his urban grit and forges a romantic bond with the child's beautiful mother.
Harrison Ford has never given a better performance in a movie.
– Roger Ebert,
Chicago Sun-Times,
23 Oct 2004
fresh:
Playing John Book allowed viewers the opportunity to see Ford the actor instead of Ford the action/adventure icon. It is one of the few times he has been given the opportunity to play in a straight drama.
– James Berardinelli,
ReelViews,
10 Jun 2008
fresh:
Witness warms up as the attraction builds between Ford, McGillis and Haas -- all performing excellently through this portion.
– Variety Staff,
Variety,
6 Jul 2010
fresh:
A moderately effective, highly affected thriller.
– Dave Kehr,
Chicago Reader,
14 Jan 2013
rotten:
Weir, an Australian filming in this country for the first time, has succumbed to blandness.