by Ishana Night Shyamalan’s The Watchers should be chilling, given its origins in A.M. Shine’s novel of the same name. However, this adaptation fails to capture the essence of its source material, leaving it lifeless and uninspiring. While Ishana, daughter of the renowned director M. Night Shyamalan, might have shown promise with her debut feature, it doesn’t measure up to her father’s work.
Despite the Shyamalan family’s successful collaborations on projects like Servant and Old, The Watchers misses the mark, landing in a dismal abyss it struggles to escape. Although the cast, including Dakota Fanning and Olwen Fouéré, make commendable efforts, their performances can’t save the film from its uninspired execution. This film stands as a glaring example of a nepo baby movie failing to live up to expectations.
The adaptation not only fails to honor the complexities of its source material—such as its nuanced characters, escalating tension, and impactful twists—but also falters as a standalone horror film. Unlike M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin, which successfully reimagined its source, The Watchers remains stuck in a superficial approach. The film’s adherence to the original narrative is superficial at best, with its PG-13 rating underscoring the film’s tame horror elements.
The chilling atmosphere and depth of the book are lost in a polished but ultimately bland version of the story. Readers of the novel should consider sticking with the book, as it offers a richer and more satisfying experience. For those familiar with the source material, the film is likely to disappoint.
The Watchers (2024)
Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Mystery
Release Date: June 7, 2024
Director: Ishana Shyamalan
Cast: Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell, Olwen Fouéré, Siobhan Hewlett
Main Genre: Horror
Writers: A.M. Shine, Ishana Shyamalan
What Is ‘The Watchers’ About?
The story revolves around Mina (Fanning), who works at a pet store and leads a mundane life drawing and vaping. By night, she assumes a different identity with a wig. When her boss asks her to deliver a brightly colored bird, her journey takes a dark turn. Her car breaks down in the remote forests of western Ireland, and upon seeking help, she finds her vehicle gone.
Mina encounters Madeline (Fouéré), who warns her to quickly enter the forest’s only structure or face being locked out overnight. Inside, Mina meets fellow residents Daniel (Oliver Finnegan) and Ciara (Georgina Campbell), and they find themselves trapped in a room with a two-way mirror. They are observed by the mysterious watchers each night, with any attempts to escape potentially deadly.
The film starts with intriguing elements but quickly loses its edge once Mina is trapped. The adaptation reduces characters to mere caricatures, missing the book’s tension and depth. Daniel’s insecurity is flattened into a superficial trait, while Ciara’s recent loss feels like a mere plot device rather than a genuine character detail. Despite the talents of Fanning and Fouéré, the film squanders their abilities. The film’s lack of depth and texture leads to an unsatisfying experience, diverging significantly from the book’s compelling narrative.
How Does ‘The Watchers’ Compare to the Book?
Adaptations don’t need to be verbatim replicas of their source material, but they should enhance the story. The Watchers fails to do so, offering a version that lacks heart and nuance. The conflict between characters feels forced and out of place, and the watchers themselves are rendered only vaguely unsettling. The film’s horror elements come across as mild and unoriginal, failing to evoke the book’s fear and isolation. Characters’ motivations and emotions are oversimplified, and the film’s forced exposition undermines its effectiveness.
The final revelation, which could have been pivotal, is mishandled, resulting in a conclusion that feels rushed and unsatisfying. The film’s attempts to add new elements, like Mina’s traumatic backstory, ultimately detract from its impact, leaving viewers with a sense of boredom rather than terror.
