Who doesn't love a surprise release? On Dec. 30, 2024, Netflix dropped one of 2024's most polarizing horror films, and it quickly rose up the streaming platform's top 10 movie list. As of Jan. 8, it’s holding strong at the No. 8 spot. What does this all mean? Well, it means that it's currently one of the most popular movies streaming on Netflix.
Curious yet? Wondering which horror film we're referring to? Alright, we’ll stop teasing. One of the most-watched movies on Netflix right now is The Watchers, starring Dakota Fanning. The Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actress made her return to the horror genre with this film, marking her first horror movie since her role in the 2005 mystery horror Hide and Seek. Well, that's if you're not counting her voice role in the 2009 animated dark fantasy horror film Coraline.
The Watchers is a supernatural horror movie coming from Ishana Night Shyamalan, the daughter of the amazingly talented M. Night Shyamalan. She wrote the screenplay as well as directed and produced the film. After writing and directing episodes for the TV show Servant and working as a second-unit director on two of her father’s films, Ishana finally had the opportunity to take the lead and make her directorial debut with this horror movie.
Like many other horror films nowadays, it's adapted from another source. The movie is based on A. M. Shine's horror novel of the same name, and centers around Mina, an artist who finds herself caught in a disturbing and mysterious ordeal after her car breaks down in the middle of the woods.
A mysterious woman urges Mina to follow her into a bunker for shelter, but this is where things take an unexpected turn. Mina encounters several others inside and learns that they are all trapped there. To make matters worse, Mina soon realizes she is also stuck, and they're all being held captive by unseen creatures that observe their every move. The goal is to make it out alive and survive this terrifying situation. If that's possible...
Fanning stars as the main character, Mina. The three strangers that Mina is stuck with in the bunker are Madeline, Ciara, and Daniel, played by Olwen Fouéré, Georgina Campbell, and Oliver Finnegan. Alistair Brammer and John Lynch also join these talented individuals in the cast.
Unlike other 2024 horror releases like Longlegs and Alien: Romulus, The Watchers underperformed at the box office and received mostly negative reviews from critics. Many thought the movie suffered from a poorly written script and was too slow-paced. They also felt that, as a supernatural horror, it did not deliver on the scares and suspense.
In my own personal opinion, I would agree with these critics after having watched it myself. I think what really made this not that great of a watch for me was that it felt like it was all over the place. I'm not saying this to deter you from watching it. Instead, I just want to set expectations so that you're prepared for what you might experience.
If you are considering watching The Watchers, you may want to do so soon. It's a licensed movie and will eventually be removed from Netflix. While a removal date hasn't been announced yet, it's something to keep in mind.