Watcher (2022)
Watcher is a slasher about a woman who feels physically and socially isolated in a strange new place. Maika Monroe plays Julia, an American who moves to Romania with her husband Francis (Karl Glusman). Julia is a fish out of water in her new home. She doesn’t speak the language and is left alone all day while her husband goes to work at his new marketing job.
Francis works late hours and leaves bored, lonely Julia languishing in their high-rise apartment. One night, after glancing out the window, she notices a strange man watching her from the apartment across the street. She later sees the same man in a movie theater and a grocery store. Is he stalking her? Her fears are heightened by media reports of a local serial killer, nicknamed “The Spider”, who has been attacking and beheading women.
The mysterious stranger, who we eventually learn is named Daniel, is played by Burn Gorman. Game of Thrones viewers will remember him as Karl Tanner, a treasonous member of the Night’s Watch. Gorman is a creepy-looking guy, so he was a great choice to play this character. The movie establishes early on that Daniel is a flesh and blood human being, not a supernatural specter or a figment of Julia’s imagination.
But how dangerous is he? The police are convinced that he’s harmless, but Julia suspects that he is The Spider. The script wisely does not give Gorman any lines until late in the film. The creepiest villains in horror movies are the silent monsters.
The film is directed by Chloe Okuno, who does an effective job at building and maintaining tension. The creepy atmosphere and Maika Monroe’s genuine, realistic performance are the movie’s strengths. Monroe is effective at balancing toughness and vulnerability.
Unfortunately, Watcher has its share of flaws. The storytelling is generic and the ending is predictable. Julia makes many dubious decisions that put her in unnecessarily dangerous situations. We’re supposed to be impressed by her bravery, but there’s a fine line between courage and stupidity. The script doesn’t give Karl Glusman much to do other than to play the hapless husband who doesn’t believe Julia. His character is annoying and useless. You’d think a woman this attractive could find a better partner.
Watcher would have benefited from a better-written script, but Maika Monroe’s authentic performance, Burn Gorman’s effective work as the villain, and Chloe Okuno’s taut direction lift it above mediocrity.
Rating
Rating from 1 (avoid at all costs) to 10 (masterpiece): 6
