Watcher (2022) spoiler free review
Moving to a new country without any knowledge of the language can be scary. But knowing that a serial killer is on the loose can turn it into a living nightmare. Directed by Chloe Okuno (V/H/S/94, Bodies Bodies Bodies) the film starts Maika Monroe (It Follows, The Guest) as Julia with Burn Gorman (Game of Thrones, Pacific Rim, Crimson Peak) as the Watcher.
As a serial killer stalks the city, a young actress who just moved to town with her boyfriend notices a mysterious stranger watching her from across the street.
Official plot
Filmed in Bucharest, Rumania on 2021 it premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2022. Both IFC Midnight and Shudder acquired the distribution rights to be released on North America. It had a limited release on theaters on June 3, 2022.
My opinion
Watcher had the potential to be a good horror triller. Instead it became a mix of clichés and situations that we have seen before and have been done way too many times. The plot becomes predictable taking away the element of surprise, it can be predicted even when a loud sound will be used during a silent scene. Still, the film is able to create the right atmosphere for the story. Julia feels alone, anxious, even a little depressed we could say, and the setting reflects her emotions perfectly. The absence of bright light and bright colors while using a grayish/neutral color palette adds to the tension that builds throughout the film.
The performance of Monroe is believable, being the best element on the film. Her co-star Burn Gorman gives a creepy performance of the Walker, he doesn’t need to say much to make you feel tense and worried about what he could do next. Sadly, the climax of the film doesn’t feel like it making the ending emotionless. While is possible to create a connection with the characters and being interested to see what will happen to them the last scene feels like something is missing from it.
Watcher serves the purpose of entertainment but lacks the element of surprise. I f you enjoy a simple and short horror triller this film is for you. Now available to watch on movie theaters and soon will arrive to the streaming platform Shudder.