The Watchers, 2024’s first of two Shyamalan horror movies that divided viewers, is now available to stream. Written and directed by Ishana Night Shyamalan in her directorial debut,The Watchersis produced by Ishana’s prolific filmmaker father, M. Night Shyamalan, and based on the novel of the same name by A. M. Shine. The film centers on 28-year-old Mina (Dakota Fanning), an artist who becomes trapped in a forest in Ireland alongside three strangers — and some mysterious nocturnal creatures. After premiering in theaters on June 7,The Watchersgarnered just $33 million against its $30 budget.
Saddled withnegative reviews,The Watchers' quick jump to streaming isn’t necessarily surprising. Unlike M. Night Shyamalan’sTrap, a 2024 psychological thriller with mixed reviews,The Watchersdidn’t quite have the same pull in theaters. LikeThe Watchers,Trapwas also made on a $30 million budget, but, since its release on August 2, the Josh Hartnett-starring film has grossed a solid $71.8 million. While it remains to be seen howThe Watchers' sudden streaming debut will impact the film’s legacy,it’s safe to say that Ishana Night Shyamalan’s directorial debut is worth checking out from home.
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AlthoughThe Watcherschanges elements of A.M. Shine’s book,the film still centers on Mina, a 28-year-old artist who’s moved to Galway, Ireland. Although she takes a job at a pet shop, Mina hopes to be inspired enough to make art. However, she also needs to overcome some mental blocks; 15 years after her mother’s death, which she inadvertently caused, Mina hasn’t been able to move past her grief. She’s even estranged from her twin sister, Lucy. Soon enough, Mina’s boss at the pet shop tasks her with carting a valuable parrot to a zoo near Belfast.
…a group of mysterious creatures known as “The Watchers” observe the group through the Coop’s mirrored window at night.
Although the job seems easy enough, Mina is plagued by car troubles. When her car fully breaks down,the Irish transplant finds herself stranded in a dense forest. Utterly lost, Mina and Darwin, the parrot she’s meant to deliver, meet an old woman, Madeline (Olwen Fouéré), who leads them to a bunker in the woods. Called “The Coop,” the structure is the temporary home to two other folks, Ciara (Georgina Campbell) and Daniel (Oliver Finnegan). Stranger still, a group ofmysterious creatures known as “The Watchers"observe the group through the Coop’s mirrored window at night.
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Mina learns that she and the other residents of The Coop must follow The Watchers' rules, which Madeline explains in detail. In typical horror movie fashion, The Watchers kill anyone who’s outside The Coop. Secondly, the underground tunnels known as “The Burrows” are strictly off-limits.Although the monstrous Watchers are threatening at night, they have an aversion to sunlight, which prompts them to take refuge in The Burrows.Trapped in the forest for several months, the group doesn’t have much hope left, save for Ciara’s husband, John (Alistair Brammer), who left The Coop a few days before Mina’s arrival.
The Watchers' twist echoes the reveals from projects like Lady in the Water.
Of course, many would-be viewers are curious to knowhow Shyamalan’s big twist inThe Watcherscomparesto her father’s signature technique. In some ways,the Shyamalan “brand” may have hindered the movie’s theatrical success, as it readies audiences for a massive reveal. Still, there’s no denying thatThe Watchers' twist echoes the reveals from projects likeLady in the Water. Like other movies in M. Night Shyamalan’s catalog,The Watchersboasts many clues about its twistthroughout, making it a solid watch-at-home choice for viewers who want to catch all the small details.
WhatScreen Ranthas said aboutThe Watchers:
Even when I started pondering about some of the gaping holes in the story, the strength of the cast’s performances kept me watching. Fanning et al. are clearly invested in their characters, and they do a fantastic job of selling their fears and traumas to us. We want them to make it out of the forest alive. When my mind began questioning them, Fouéré’s intensity lured me back in. When Campbell’s Ciara cried out for her husband, I felt her pain.—Mae Abdulbaki,The WatchersReview
Why You Should Still Watch The Watchers After It Divided Audiences & Critics
Put simply,The Watchersis better than its Rotten Tomatoesscore might suggest. Using the source material as a jumping off point, Ishana Night Shyamalan puts a fun spin on the reinvigorated folk horror genre, creating a Celtic folklore thriller that’s sure to stand out — at least lore-wise — in a crowded field.The Watchersis very much a debut feature — a mixed bag that show’s promisefor the director’s future endeavors. For some would-be audiences, the intrigue of watching Ishana Night Shyamalan’s first-ever movie might be enough to sell them on the flick.
Even thoughM. Night Shyamalan won the family’s 2024 movie battle, it’s clear that Ishana is drawing heavily from her father’s filmmaking toolkit. Folks who have watched M. Night’s career soar and stumble may be interested in seeing how Ishana uses her up-close education. Despite the movie’s obvious drawbacks,the young director is able to pull incredibly committed performances out of her actors, including seasoned greats like Fanning and Fouéré, who more than elevate the off-the-rails material. Ultimately,The Watchers' true score probably falls somewhere between how critics and audiences felt, making it a decent horror entry.
$33 million
32%
52%
The Watchersis now streaming on Max.
The Watchers
Based on A.M. Shine’s novel, The Watchers follows Mina, a twenty-eight-year-old artist stranded in the middle of a forest in Ireland. Her momentary relief when she finds shelter is shattered when she discovers other strangers in the same predicament - but they’re stalked each night by unseen creatures.
