The Watchers

The apple does not fall far from the tree... But I wish that apple rolled down the hill just a wee little bit.

As imperfect as this hushed supernatural chiller may be, the demons it conjures up — both real and metaphorical — left a lasting impression, and that’s nothing to scoff at.

The Watchers is not nearly as cerebral; it's less a political (or showbiz) allegory than a fable about our shared capacity for change. It's a theme that's ultimately addressed so plangently that it has the opposite effect and borders on goofiness...

Anyone who goes in with the wrong expectations will probably just find The Watchers baffling. It has its share of creepy moments, rising tension, and sudden-blast-of-music jump scares, but as a suspense story, it fizzles out surprisingly early.

The Watchers is a sharply satisfying horror thriller thanks to a crackling cast, unnerving sound design, stomach-churning creatures, and an emotional story that offers far more than cheap thrills.

Intriguingly cloaked in erudite allusions to Irish legend and fairytale, it refrains from proselytising while keeping you guessing until the final flourish.

The Watchers is enjoyable but faulty: a typical first feature in many ways, it shows great promise in terms of performance and style, but perhaps struggles too much with its story and screenplay.

While it feels like some elements of the narrative might have benefited from more screen time, there are bold and interesting plot choices and distinctive creative decisions.

The Clock-Watchers would have been a better title for this tedious claptrap that wears out its welcome long before the predictable final twist.

Has some potential as an eerie, cabin in the woods type thriller. After about 40 minutes that premise feels like it's working on borrowed time and ultimately gets let down by a disappointing final act.