"Watcher" Review

He’s a 10 but he doesn’t believe you when you tell him you’re being stalked. This is the protagonist Julia’s predicament in psychological thriller Watcher. Writer/Director Chloe Okuno delivers a masterclass in tension as she builds up your fear and makes you question everything you see. With incredible acting, an eerie narrative, and an overall impressive quality, this film has me closing all of my curtains at night.

Julia has just moved to Bucharest with her husband Francis for his job. With no job for herself and no one to talk to while her husband is at work, she people watches through her apartment window and explores the city. After hearing news of a serial killer murdering young women in the neighborhood, Julia notices one of her neighbors following her around town and watching her from his window. And when the only person to take her concerns seriously disappears, Julia starts to panic. With no help from the cops, she dares to take matters into her own hands. Is someone really watching her, or is it all in her head?

Acting

I am OBSESSED with Burn Gorman’s performance in this. It comes as no surprise that he delivers quality acting, but his antagonist will make you uncomfortable. With just facial expressions and the posture in which he carries himself, he offers a physical performance that pushes a sense of unease. Just a slight turn of his head will send shivers down your spine. And going head to head with him is the subtle sophistication of Maika Monroe. Known thus far for her stellar turn in thriller It Follows, I was excited to see her name on the bill for this movie. And she does not disappoint. I hope she becomes somewhat of a new scream queen and continues to appear in the horror genre.

Visuals

There is a minimal amount of actual effects in this film, and from an audience standpoint it all seems pretty believable. Although during most of those moments I was a little too shocked to even care if the effects looked any good. I really don’t have much to say on the visuals of this film because everything was so crisp and solid, the color story and set designs were beautiful. It is just a pleasing film to look at all around.

Sound

The eerie piano melodies sprinkled throughout are absolutely effective. The music is interweaved so well that it is subtle and plays with your rising fear in the increasingly unstable turn of events. A great horror movie composition is one you hardly notice, because it pulls you right into the film. Credit to Nathan Halpern for creating this simple yet effective composition.

Plot

The “no one believes me” trope is heavy in this film, which may understandably annoy some viewers. However, this is what kept me on edge throughout the whole story. We’re following the protagonist, so we see things through her eyes, making it easy to believe her. But it’s also very easy to understand how someone like Francis, for instance, might be hesitant to accept the narrative Julia is presenting. Until the end, I was never quite sure who the real victim was–but there is a definitive answer in the conclusion. The finale of events has a great payoff of the anxiety induced build of the story. I would have liked an epilogue of sorts, but the point of the story is to make the viewer uncomfortable–which makes the lack of closure a fitting end.

Is It Scary?

This film is tense and thrilling from the title card through the end credits. There were a couple of shocking moments that truly put me on edge.

TL;DR

Creepy neighbors suck. 5/5 stars.

Please Note: I always recommend searching doesthedogdie.com for a full list of trigger warnings.