The Alarmist, also known as Life During Wartime, is a 1997 dark comedy film written and directed by Evan Dunsky, and starring David Arquette, Stanley Tucci, Kate Capshaw and Ryan Reynolds.

"Shortly after the halfway point, "The Alarmist" takes a dramatic U-turn into a murder mystery in which Tommy suspects his boss of being the killer.

At this point a movie that succeeded as a light, loopy satire of sex, salesmanship, shoddy ethics, gun nuts and geeky teen-agers finds itself seriously in over its head.

"[1] Edward Guthmann from San Francisco Chronicle also praised Tucci's performance, but criticized the film indecision.

"[2] Steve Davis from The Austin Chronicle called The Alarmist a "near-pointless movie" and wrote: "Perhaps the greatest sin of The Alarmist is its complete waste of Tucci in the role of Heinreich Grigoris, Hudler's paternal but unscrupulous mentor.