The Watchers
When 28-year-old artist Mina finds shelter after getting stranded in an expansive, untouched forest in western Ireland, she unknowingly becomes trapped alongside three strangers that are watched and stalked by mysterious creatures each night.
- Released: 2024-06-07
- Runtime: 102 minutes
- Genre: Mystery, Thrillers
- Stars: Siobhan Hewlett, Alistair Brammer, Kya Brame, Shane O'Regan, Shannon Antonia, Hannah Howland, Anthony Morris, Kofi De Graft Jordan, Cara Steele, Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell, Olwen Fouéré, Seán T. Ó Meallaigh, Jacob Greenway, Diarmuid de Faoite, Andrea Bechis, Ann Marie Horan, Jim Tighe
- Director: Ishana Night Shyamalan
Comments
- malmevik77 - 4 July 2024
Cute young adult fantasy
The Watchers
M. Night Shyamalan's daughter's directorial debut, The Watchers is a movie that felt like a young adult novel brought to life. An allegory on racism, Lord of the Rings style, humans and faeries lived together, even to the point of interbreeding. But betrayal leads to the main plot of the movie.
In the forests of Ireland, people disappear only to be used to entertain what's left of the no longer beautiful faeries. The rest of the movie slowly reveals what is going on, what the motivations are, and how the world must move forward knowing that these creatures were driven into hiding.
It's a pretty simple movie, and not very suspenseful, but has a nice mystery that, fortunately, did not have any crazy twists like her father is known for. After accepting that this was just cute fantasy, I enjoyed the movie. A touch of seriousness helped make it a bit less silly. It's really just a popcorn movie that was less horrific than the trailers implied.
I almost recommend bringing older kids with you, as I would have absolutely adored this movie when younger. It's fun, but without any major character development or resolution. - HasankaDesigner - 2 July 2024
Ishana Night Shyamalan's Eerie Inheritance
Ishana Night Shyamalan has definitely inherited her father's touch, and honestly, I'm not mad about it at all. While the movie starts off a bit slow, it quickly picks up, with a simple yet engaging plot. The atmosphere is eerie and creepy, avoiding the overuse of jump scares that have become cheap in many horror films. The tension builds gradually, creating a sense of dread that lingers throughout the film.
Although the story isn't groundbreaking and feels familiar, it's still quite enjoyable. There's a certain charm in its straightforwardness, allowing the viewer to become easily invested in the narrative. However, the acting was a major downside for me. The cast didn't feel natural or dynamic with each other, despite their efforts. The interactions seemed forced at times, which detracted from the overall immersion. The character backstories also needed more development, as they felt somewhat shallow and underexplored. A deeper dive into their histories could have added more layers to the narrative and made the characters more relatable.
Furthermore, I believe a different cast could have significantly improved the film. The chemistry between the actors was lacking, and a more experienced ensemble might have brought out the nuances in the story more effectively. Despite these shortcomings, the film manages to maintain a gripping atmosphere and keep the audience engaged.
The ending is very satisfying, and while the twist is predictable, it still makes for a solid horror flick. It ties up the story nicely and leaves the audience with a sense of closure. - arsalanweb - 30 June 2024
A Haunting Atmosphere Struggles to Find Payoff
The Watchers is a suspenseful slow burn with a lot to offer in terms of atmosphere and intrigue. Set in the wilds of Ireland, the film follows a young artist, Mina, who finds herself stranded alongside three strangers in a seemingly endless forest. As night falls, they become increasingly aware of unseen watchers lurking in the darkness.
The beauty of "The Watchers" lies in its unsettling mood. The vast, silent forest is filmed with a sense of looming dread, and the sparse dialogue only amplifies the feeling of isolation. The mystery of the watchers themselves is also compelling, with hints of a rich mythology that pique the audience's curiosity.
However, the film falters in its execution. The pacing can be glacial at times, and the characters, while adequately portrayed, lack the depth needed to fully invest viewers in their fates. The limited scares rely heavily on jump cuts, which may prove predictable for seasoned horror fans.
The biggest letdown might be the ending. While Shyamalan attempts to deliver a signature twist, it feels less like a shocking revelation and more like a convenient way to tie up loose ends. It leaves some plot threads unresolved and fails to deliver the full-fledged payoff the built-up tension deserves.
Overall, "The Watchers" is a visually stunning and atmospheric film with a promising premise. Yet, the slow pacing, underdeveloped characters, and underwhelming twist prevent it from reaching its full potential. It's a decent watch for those who enjoy slow-burn horror with a strong sense of place, but those seeking edge-of-your-seat thrills or a mind-blowing conclusion might be left wanting.
Here's a breakdown of the film's strengths and weaknesses:
Strengths: Beautiful cinematography, suspenseful atmosphere, intriguing central mystery.
Weaknesses: Slow pacing, underdeveloped characters, predictable scares, unsatisfying ending.
If you're looking for a visually captivating and atmospheric horror experience with a touch of mystery, "The Watchers" might be worth a watch. Just keep your expectations in check for the payoff. - aprilsfriendorin - 18 June 2024
Not bad for a PG-13 horror movie
As someone who likes scary movies, I think most PG-13 horror movies tend to be mediocre (minus some key exceptions, like insidious or the ring). So I went in with fairly low expectations. Overall, I thought it was a pretty decent horror/thriller. It's not really that scary, and it doesn't really bring nothing new to the genre. But it was fairly creepy and a good way to pass the time. There's also enough going on to keep you interested.
Personally, I wouldn't bother paying for this movie or going out of your way to see it. But if it ends up on streaming and you're looking for a thriller to pass the time, I think it's worth watching. - amandacallendar - 16 June 2024
If you've read the book, probably skip the movie
As someone that read and thoroughly enjoyed AM Shine's novel The Watchers, I was really interested in seeing the movie. I never go to the theater, so this was a real treat and I was incredibly let down by this film. Now I understand that there will be differences when a book is brought to screen and often times creative liberty is taken. This is almost a completely different story than the one I read, unfortunately. The book is fantastic and the character development, the terror of the antagonists, the plot and twists are so much deeper than what was shown on screen. Of course movies typically pale in comparison to books, but the characters aren't even really the same. Names and backstories have been completely changed, lore has been altered, the story isn't the story. The acting is flat and the pacing is weird with multiple plot holes. It all felt rushed. If I hadn't spent so much on movie tickets, I would have left the theater and found a better use for my time because this was incredibly disappointing. My suggestion is that if you have read the novel and enjoyed it, skip the movie.
