The Watchers: A gawky labyrinth of survival, mystery and illusions

Being a supernatural, horror genre fanatic, the second I saw the promising trailer of The Watchers, I knew I had to watch it the moment it was released. 

From producer M Night Shyamalan comes “The Watchers,” written and directed by Ishana Night Shyamalan and based on the novel by AM Shine raises the question of whether or not it does right by the book. 

Backdrop

A 28-year-old artist finds herself marooned in a vast, pristine forest in western Ireland. Seeking refuge, she unwittingly joins three strangers in a desperate struggle against nightly stalking by enigmatic creatures.

This film was initially promoted and marketed as a horror film but in my opinion, it was a far cry from one and instead, it pivoted into a subtle dark genre. 

Script

Initially, the story started well as it successfully managed to set the tone right but towards the second half, the movie was somewhat let down by a convoluted mishmash of ideas and a lack of commitment to the atmosphere as a whole. 

The pacing of the second act nearly grinds to a halt as the narrative struggles to untangle the confusion it has created.

It was strenuous for most of the audience to keep up with the progression of the story. It seemed like the directors' failed attempt at covering for the loopholes in the plot with Irish folktales that were not even presented well. 

The dialogues were not something that one would take away with them while leaving the theater. But the question is whether it was the poor dialogue writing or flat dialogue delivery that failed to leave a mark in the audience’s heart. 

The script also suffered from cliched lifting like peripherally identical twins to mimicking parrot which reiterates the lack of writer’s creative thinking. 

Cast and acting

The film starred Dakota Fanning in the lead role as Mina, who to say the least was not very compelling. It is almost as if she has a few expressions in almost all scenes that can be a little awkward to sit through the entire span of the movie. 

The movie also features Georgina Campbell, Olwen Fouere, and Oliver Finnegan who were particularly decent in their performances but were not strong enough to carry the film. So, no brownie points to the casting director then! 

Climax

Towards the end, I was hoping for a bend around the nook and a twist that would catch me off-guard but all my anticipation came crashing down when the revelations flew fast with a predictable ending. It is as if the director was a student taking his exams and toward the end, when 5 minutes were left, she abruptly drew an end to the essay. (quite literally) 

Realistic portrayal

Well, not everything about the movie was bad! There are some places where it did not feel like it was Shyamal’s directorial debut. The dark and eerie scenes were shot exclusively and none of the suspenseful scenes felt forced. 

It is a visual treat for the fans as the dark, luscious forests evoke an unsettling feeling within the audience and the notion of unseen creatures sidling outside the window is set with disturbing background scores and ominous build-ups. 

There were probably no scenes of a ghost smirking at you but the scene where Mina navigates through the dimly lit rooms, eerie noises echo around her, and unsettling shadows move in the corners of her vision actually buys you into the scare factor. The tension builds steadily as she senses a malevolent presence closing in on her, culminating in a sudden, shocking encounter that leaves both the character and the audience on edge.

The nighttime sequence shot with extreme delicacy and the first part ending with just the right kind of cliffhanger is a nail-biting moment. The cinematography was a pure work of art. 

Also, the script had the potential to stand out if it was well-executed and the themes of folklore, grief, and survival were shown rather than told. 

Drum rolls

For those of you who would want to watch this film for jumpscares, chills or simply to keep you on the edge of your seats, you are not in for a ride. 

While I know that every book reader prefers the book over the movie version, this movie is a testament that some things are best left up to the reader's imagination. Honestly if you want to watch dark, eerie thrillers, you should go for ‘The Ritual’ or ‘Sister Death’.