User Reviews

"The Watchers" provides an interesting premise at face value. Horror movies that involve a twist on folk stories accompanied with an eerie location usually pair well together and in this case, it does.

Ishana Night Shyamalan's directorial debut is one to be proud of. You can clearly see sprinkles of her father's style imbedded in the film but also boasts her own unique vision.

In regards to the plot, the story is interesting enough to keep you invested throughout the duration. It reveals just enough to ask questions but not enough to give them away.

The design of the "Watchers" is the highlight of the film. Without spoiling too much, every time they were on screen I was fully engrossed. Enough was shown of them that made me wanting to see more.

The worst unfortunately, are the characters which were one dimensional and lacking realism. They acted in ways no human would in this situation, especially the lead. A good horror movie requires realistic and likeable characters to vouch for. "The Watchers" struggled to create such.

As most horrors unfortunately do, "The Watchers" does have some moments that I found a bit silly. Moments where you ask yourself "why would she do that" or "why did that happen like that". Such moments didn't help the film.

I was skeptical towards the beginning on the film, thinking that it would meander in its plot and ultimately be repetitive. However, as the film progressed and its locations changed it kept the story fresh and wanting more. The ending boarded on lacklustre however, I didn't mind that it didn't get too ridiculous and over the top. Felt more realistic and poignant.

Overall, a decent debut film that highlighted a fresh look at folk-lore. The frustrating characters and some silly moments did prevent it from being great. 6.4/10 for me.

I have often thought of this novel since consuming the audiobook in a couple days last year. I've recommended it to a lot of fellow horror readers, too. I personally feel that the film adaptation falls incredibly short of what it could have been. The novel is beautifully crafted with suspense and character development, whereas the movie offers 2D characters that are simply there just because. Their faces remain blank the majority of the movie and their line delivery is flat and almost always as if they're bored talking.

In true Shyamalan fashion, (yes, it's M. Night's daughter who directed it, but the apple doesn't fall far from the tree), the twist is a huge moment. While it does get revealed, it also changes a huge part of the original ending of the book, which makes the overall story even more of a 2D "horror twist." The book's ending gave me chills; the movie's ending gave me cliché horror.

I will say, I was eager to see who would play the character of Madeline, as she is such a force in the book as the most interesting character, as well as the one who has been trapped in the forest the longest, and Olwen Fouéré portrays her beautifully. The overall set design and atmosphere of the film is also done well, which helps but also makes the movie's poor script and characters feel all the more disappointing at times.

While I won't actively encourage not seeing this movie, I DO encourage you to check out the book, by A. M. Shine. I'm also happy that an author whose work I appreciate it getting the attention of Hollywood to have his work made into a different media form - let's hope if his other works become film or television adaptations, that they'll be given the adaptation they deserve.

Many movie critics are predictable. Shyamalan's daughter has an approach to filmmaking and storytelling not different from the father and in fact the movie is received with mild reviews :)

But honestly I quite liked it. First of all, it's not super scary but it's moody and it has its quite unsettling moments. Sound design is top notch, would have loved to see this in Atmos, but even in 5.1 or 7.1 it was still great. The story is sufficient but also interesting, in general the movie keeps you hooked till the ending. This is typical of father's movies. There are also some metaphors but they land quiet flat for me

Not a movie for movie critics but a good atmospheric and folkloristic movie for movie theatre audience. Also it's a pg13 so suitable for a broader audience Said this, I found first omen (another recent horror movie) quiet better.

Writer-director Ishana Night Shyamalan, daughter of the iconic M. Night Shyamalan, steps into the spotlight with her debut film, The Watchers, a suspenseful horror film that's equal parts intriguing and frustrating. Mina (played with quiet intensity by Dakota Fanning), a young artist on a solo trip in Ireland, finds herself stranded in a remote forest with no way out. Seeking refuge, she stumbles upon a concrete bunker where three strangers are already holed up. But safety is a fleeting concept here. As night falls, a mysterious force emerges, forcing the group to huddle behind a large, one-way window-the only barrier between them and the unseen watchers.

The film's greatest strength lies in its initial setup. The dense, uncharted forest evokes a sense of primal unease, and the concept of unseen entities lurking just beyond the window is undeniably creepy. Shyamalan keeps the creatures shrouded in shadow for a good portion of the film, relying on suggestion and flickering lights to build tension. This approach is reminiscent of classic monster movies like Alien or Jaws, where the unseen threat is often more terrifying than a fully revealed one.

However, The Watchers struggles to maintain its momentum. The plot unfolds slowly, with long stretches of dialogue that do little to develop the characters beyond their basic survival instincts. While Fanning delivers a compelling performance, the supporting cast feels underdeveloped. The film throws in a childhood trauma element for Mina, but it feels tacked on rather than organically woven into the narrative.

Visually, the film is a mixed bag. The use of colour is particularly interesting. The stark contrast between the warm, artificial light inside the bunker and the cold, oppressive darkness of the forest effectively creates a sense of isolation and vulnerability. However, some of the CGI effects used for the creatures later in the film feel a bit clunky and detract from the overall atmosphere. The editing is efficient, with jump scares used sparingly and to good effect.

The film's ending, a signature Shyamalan twist, is sure to spark discussion. But unlike some of her father's more successful works, it doesn't quite land here. It feels more like a desperate attempt to inject a jolt of surprise rather than a satisfying conclusion to the established themes.

The Watchers is a promising debut from Ishana Night Shyamalan. It showcases a clear understanding of suspense-building and a willingness to experiment with genre tropes. But, the underdeveloped characters, a slow pace, and a somewhat underwhelming twist hold the film back from reaching its full potential. If you're a fan of slow-burn horror with a dose of mystery, this might be worth a watch. But if you're expecting a truly terrifying experience, you might want to look elsewhere. It's an intriguing film with a great central premise, but its execution is uneven.

I enjoy movies with a good story and rich world-building. Although I'd rate this movie a 6/10, I still liked and enjoyed watching it. It's a thriller and mystery that kept me hooked as I wanted to uncover each mystery. The creatures were terrifying, I wouldn't want to come across one of those.

I do agree with some of the reviews that I found some of the characters odd, and no one normal would act the way they did if they were in such a situation.

One thing that could have made a big impact is adding a bit of romance at the end-you'll understand when you watch it. Overall, it's not a mind-blowing story, but I enjoyed it.

So M. Night's daughter made this movie. It is her first feature film, and I'll say the apple doesn't fall far from the proverbial tree in the film setting of this fantastical forest.

This movie could totally be one of her father's films all the way.

Up to and including the expected big twist that her dad likes to unveil in his films.

Dakota Fanning also.

Can she really be thirty?

30?

Really?

Well, that makes me older than the dirt in these here woods here. Sheesh.

Fanning plays an American inexplicably alone on the Emerald Isle, and even more inexplicably working in some pet shop there.

She vapes and she goes out at night, also again solo, to pubs and such, wearing wigs and playing the part of someone else.

We learn she has endured a great personal tragedy bringing on a possible personal dislike that has lead her presumably astray to these lonely barstools and cleaning pet cages in Ireland.

She happily picks up an errand from the shop to deliver a gorgeous bright bird to parts elsewhere on the isle.

You know where this might possibly end up, and could this be yet another proverb?

The canary in the coal mine?

However, this whole movie or at least for the better part of it, runs at a six, even once it gets to the forest. It's nothing new, it feels super familiar, the characters aren't particularly interesting, the effects aren't great, but then there's that old reliable twist, though.

And it works.

The twist in this next-gen Shyamalan movie works.

It works so well it goes from a six to a seven by the time the end credits start rolling.

Dakota Fanning is one of the best actresses of her generation.

Ishana Night Shyamalan shows a bright future here as well.

As the family tradition goes, the ending here makes the movie.

This movie looked promising from the trailers. I know the name "Shyamalan" is a gamble, but I didn't realize the potential downside. In the interest of full disclosure, I have not read the book on which the movie is based. Nevertheless, I feel that needing to use as much explicit explanation at the end of the film in order to help the audience understand what was happening indicates that the movie was poorly made. It lacks true suspense, cohesive backstory, and satisfying character development. The last fifteen minutes seemed tacked on in order to sew everything up, but it really attempted to provide resolutions that I really didn't care about. Do yourself a favor and skip this one.

The same characters that are "the watcher's" has been told since the old testament in the Bible, just changed to fit this modern story/times. You'll either like it or not.

It is well made and has some tense moments.

I personally don't go to the movies to watch real life situations with absolutely correct scenarios, I go to get away from that and enjoy a story that you have to suspend belief in what's real, otherwise why go to watch real life. You can do that without having to sit in a theater I think a lot of people forget what good "story" telling is, and want to critique every single aspect of it as this or that couldn't happen.

"The Watchers" is the debut feature of Ishana Night Shyamalan, daughter of director M. Night Shyamalan who is one of the film's producers. Ishana herself wrote the script based on the novel of the same name by A. M. Shine, achieving an interesting story that revolves around folk horror and a dark fairy tale, in addition to doing a great job as a director. The cast gives good performances, Dakota Fanning performs a magnificent role, Georgina Campbell plays a tender role with mastery and Olwen Fouéré demonstrates once again her histrionic ability and her Scream Queen skills. The cinematography work is top-notch, managing to capture a gloomy atmosphere in the filming locations. The soundtrack composed of traditional Irish bagpipes is effective for the story. "The Watchers" is a great film that plays with horror and fantasy.

Ishana Night Shyamalan started walking in the footsteps of the King of Twist Endings and her father, M Night Shyamalan with the effective thriller series "Servant". So expectations from her debut directorial movie, "The Watchers" is definitely very high. Even though the movie doesn't come anywhere close to the highs of Shyamalan's masterpieces, it does have its moments and is a pretty decent and unique thriller from a new director.

The story is a bit strange, odd and unique. The suspense and acting is decent, there are a couple of good scares and the reveal on who the titular watchers is pretty good too. However the movie isnt as gripping as one would expect it to be. Everyone is expecting and actively on the look out for a Shyamalan-esque twist ending, hence making it difficult for Ishana to deliver something completely unexpected. However she does a good job with the final twist.

Even though Ishana's style of film making is heavily inspired by her father but just like with Servant, she has her own take on the genre. The Watchers has its moments, its twists and feels every bit like a Shyamalan movie which he could have made after Signs and before Split. It is unique and well made but not as scary and good as it could have been. A decent thriller from a new film maker who is showing a lot of promise but nothing to rave about. Shyamalan-Lite.

While Ishana Night Shyamalan absolutely is her own filmmaker, and should her films judged on their own merits, The Watchers reminded me a lot of her fathers works in the ways that I usually find his films frustrating. I'm going to try my best not to keep comparing this to M. Night's movies but in particular The Watchers reminded me a lot of The Village and the issues I have with that film and I think I'd still feel that way with or without the familial connection.

Because like The Village, The Watchers has a very intriguing hook that presents a lot of interesting story possibilities very early on but it never capitalises on them in any satisfying way. The dialogue is really weak here and it's frequently delivered in extremely wooden ways which most rears its head in the exposition. Because Shyamalan clearly doesn't believe in the less-is-more approach in that she feels the need to over explain everything and as a result the mystery never really feels that intriguing. Most of the reveals come across as very flat that feel like they lack sufficient build up to be satisfying.

It's also very repetitive for most of the first 2 acts with it essentially following the same stricture of leaving this house and returning to it before night fall and it just came across as tiring rather tension-building. The reveals don't really feel earned and they're the one thing I wanted the film to explore more but the script really feels like it strikes the worst balance with what it chooses to focus on. The 3rd act was also a pretty big disappointment. The main action that's being built up for the entire film is achieved in a fairly standard way that doesn't feel fitting for what was being set up and it makes the mistake of feeling like it's getting ready to end only to go on for what felt like another 30 minutes.

Thankfully what saves the film from being a complete waste of time is the truly impressive filmmaking on display. It's gorgeously shot and visually ambitious in a way that feels like it could only come from a first-time director. I thought the score was phenomenal as was the cinematography in a way that didn't feel like it was drawing too much attention to itself. There are some very effective scares and genuine scenes of tension, unfortunately it was just never sustained enough to keep my interest. It's the script that ultimately sunk this movie for me but it's very clear that Ishana Night Shyamalan has real talent behind the camera.

The Watchers was frustrating waste of potential for me and something that never really felt like it capitalised on its intriguing set up. It's just reeks of a script that doesn't trust the intelligence of it's audience and I was just so consistently irritated at how the film kept going out of it's way to explain things in the most clunky and unimaginative ways possible. I can see what Shyamalan was going for, and if anything it makes more interested to read the novel, but her very clear talents just end up being wasted on a really poor script.

The Watchers is a fun movie to watch with friends. I feel that a common problem people now have about movies is that you think that if it is not a cinematic masterpiece it's a terrible movie.

The acting wasn't great but not bad. I felt the leads were pretty good to.

The story was actually a good idea and I liked that part as well.

Overall scare was really just an meh. Not scary at all to me. It was more of a thriller than a horror. I was hoping to be scared but I wasn't. I would say the scare was equal to A Quiet Place.

I would actually recommend this movie. It was fun and i was intrigued the whole film.

First, I have to address the one reviewer that says it's the worst movie they've never seen, really?? The worst movie?? This movie is far from the worst ever made- you must think Mars Attacks is avante garde film making- now that's out of the way, it's not going to win Oscars, but what I did like about it was the beautiful scenery and landscape and the forest set the tone for the movie very nicely, it's not the best movie ever made or the scariest, but there were some interesting concepts, the book probably is able to flesh out more details than an hour and a half movie, but all in all I thought it was a competent film, and worth the watch.

I think it's so wonderful that M. Night Shyamalan's daughter has grown up to be a filmmaker. I can just imagine her childhood, growing up watching all of her father's incredible films and knowing that's what she wanted to do one day. And then having the master himself to teach you first hand. What more could you ask for? I really wanted to like this film, but it just didn't work for me.

You can see that Ishana Shyamalan has had some incredible influence on her in her formative years, because this film is very well made. It's beautiful to look at and the way some of the shots are created is nothing short of masterful.

The problem with this film lies in the absurd story. I understand it was based on a book, and I can kind of see it working in book form because when you have to imagine something like this yourself your brain naturally does it in a way that makes sense to you. However, seeing someone else's version of it in movie form is a hard pill to swallow.

And for that reason it was hard to ever take the film all that seriously. I tried to buy into it, I really did, but it just wasn't feasible. So I was never scared for these characters and I wasn't intrigued by where the story would go. It didn't leave me with a lot left to grasp onto.

Still, for a debut film effort this is better than most and there is a lot of promise here. I feel sure that if Ishana Shyamalan gets her hands on the right script she will do something special with it. 5/10.

LIKES:

The Setting

The Camera Work

The Acting

The Character Story To A Degree

The Graphics

The Writing

The Bird

The Overall Story Is Okay

SUMMARY: The Watchers is a movie that for the most part relies heavily on the imagination and the isolation effect to do the lifting of the movie. Under the guidance of Ishana, I found this movie successful in accomplishing this goal with camera work that finds optimum angles to convey the emotion of isolation. A fantastic setting of the grey European forest alongside dynamic lighting and special effects draws out a dismal and isolated feeling that leaves one feeling hopeless at times given the desolate world. As the world continues to reveal itself and the Watchers begin to emerge, the graphics continue to look decent, with smooth and horrific animation, some awesome details in the skin texture, and some haunting movements that further rip away the comfort and elicit the horror element. Sound editing that accompanies it further immerses you into the doomed forest, done well to optimize the terror and try to set you up for the jump scares they were shooting for.

In regards to the story to which the scares are built from, it's okay. Another symbolic and artistic approach, The Watchers' story relies heavily on some folklore for adaptation, something that does not show up until the second half of the film, and that revelation is both a bit more original and lackluster at the same time. A gradual revelation shows a bit more merit helps escalate how far this tale goes, and assists with helping draw out the horror and help fill in some of the story gaps. The character stories flesh things out a bit more, each of the four "heroes" holding some light and depth that hold some realistic relatability to care for the characters stuck in this mess. This movie holds heavy dialogue and the writing is smart at times and engaging, with heavy words, engaging delivery, and a strong atmospheric tone to establish the rules. I found the words brought to life well by most of the acting in the limited cast of this film. Fanning is about the same as always, listless, and creepy, and can portray the more somber emotions better than most as she faces the horrors of her past and present. Campbell offers more variety, bringing a bit of light into the movie that helps cut through the monotone depression and keep things engaging, especially during some of the trials forced upon her. Fouere is articulate and creepy in her role, all of her words so heavy, deep, and accented that they bring gravity to help enhance the story elements and somehow make the unknown more uncomfortable. Oliver Finnegan as well plays his role well, adding that unbalanced nature that adds a bit more of that psychological component to the film, further keeping the teeter-totter swaying back and forth Add in a cute bird that does very little and yet so much to help contrast the tone of the movie, and you round out the movie's likes for me.

DISLIKES:

The Plot's Ending

More Character Story Needed

The Revelation is Disappointing

The Twist Was Predictable

More Danger and Suspense Needed

Some Odd Plot Gaps

A Bit More Emotional Components To the Characters

SUMMARY: Despite all the elements that were engaging, The Watchers has issues with some of the usual nuances this movie genre suffers from. In the story department, the plot's ending is a bit of a letdown for me, not because of the content that they chose, but because the execution is mediocre and rushed at times. Perhaps we needed more gradual discovery in the woods, more time spent in the danger field, and a few moments edited to be earlier in the film. The characters needed more depth as well, helping to give them more layers like they tried to give Fanning's character and helping give me more to either root for or against. The editing might have helped with smoothing out plot gaps and questions that distracted me during the time. They do answer some of the questions, but there are still some unresolved or a stretch. And the twist that came was predictable for many reasons, and thus the revelation was mediocre for me as well. Perhaps the biggest thing needed though, is more terror and close calls. The Watchers is missing so much of that, with the climactic components very mundane because there was so much more they could do. After such an epic setup with the environment and camera work, the lack of real challenges and trials was a very disappointing finish for horror fans who like a little more bite to their thriller.

The VERDICT Another movie of mundane horror, The Watchers has elements that the Shyamalan tribe knows how to do well in their movie media. Fantastic visuals, audio, and dialogue are the centerpieces of this film, with good characters and acting to a degree to bring it to life. It blends folklore and scares in a nice hybrid with some emotional depth beyond the typical horror movie. A smarter approach to conveying terror, returning to your imagination being the primary painter, it works so hard to play off of the fears of isolation, desolation, and hopelessness that made me feel more uncomfortable than the bad guys themselves. Where the movie fails is the pacing of the plot, spreading out that allure and explanation to give the film more bite, alongside needing more time and writing to the characters to build them up past the solemn humans we get. In addition, more scares, close calls, and strategy needed to be executed so that we might have a bit more excitement in suspense in their attempts to get out of the forest. Is this film worth a trip to the theater... I'm mixed. I would encourage you to support your local theater, but this movie feels better used at home to get the most out of your experience. In regards to my score, I rank The Watchers at:

Fantasy/Horror/Mystery: 6.5-7.0 Movie Overall: 6.0.

Being limited for choice I decided to watch this movie.

I had low expectations seeing the name Shylaman attached to it, as his movies can be hit and miss. I only realised the 'I' after to see it was his daughter.

It's quite similar to his style of filmmaking, but I felt it actually delivered n there weren't many holes in the plot.

Definitely deserves higher than 5.8 average. I wouldn't really call it a horror movie so if there are those that a bit apprehensive about watching it because of the genre, although is quite unsettling.

If in the mood for a relatively straightforward film and not too fussy, give it a go.

You won't be disappointed!

Shyamalan has created a fair translation of AM Shine's novel but a big factor in the success of this film could be the change in title quite late in the process. It was even advertised in my local theatre as The Watchers, matching Shine's novel, but on screen was presented as The Watched. When adapting a novel, part of the drawings in the audience understanding they're watching something based on source material they are familiar with, so renaming could be an own-goal.

Dakota Fanning didn't present a particularly compelling or sympathetic lead and more could have been done to create empathy with the secondary characters, something achieved far better in the novel. Still a fair attempt for a debut movie and nepo-baby Shyamalan has the opportunity to learn from the best.

Pairing a disappointing plot with stunning visuals seems to be a family trait. Clearly, "The Watchers" was directed by a member of the Shyamalan clan because the usual failures were present:

-Thoughtful and stylish directing -Great story development leading to a poorly planned twist-ending -Under-developed and/or dry characters -Rushed ending -Bizarre "villain"

This film was frustrating instead of intriguing or even creative. It takes way too long to say nothing. And, it's obvious M. Night's influence was taken into consideration, as many of the shots closely mirror or downright copy his signature style. I'm so disappointed in this debut film. There was potential to take an already interesting book and turn it into a film with an equally interesting perspective on local Irish lore, but instead, we get a meandering, poorly thought-out, dull mess.

There were glimpses of Ishana's potential greatness as a director, though. I loved how she captured the vibrance of the forest in contrast with the safe house our main characters were trapped in. And the significance of nature to the main characters (villain included). However, I'm not sure I'll ever recover enough from this film to trust any of their future projects.