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.

| Original Score: 6/10 | Feb 4, 2025

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.

| Jan 28, 2025

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

| Original Score: 2/4 | Sep 14, 2024

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. 

| Original Score: 5/10 | Sep 8, 2024

... It is said that any movie in which a character uses the phrase “it is said” in normal conversation is a movie that needs a rewrite. Badly.

| Sep 4, 2024

Refreshing to see that the film based itself on mythology rather than trying to become too arty. Holds its suspense and perhaps drifts into the horror realm more than most would have expected.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Aug 29, 2024

The Watchers features an intriguing premise, but in its transition to the screen, all of the tension, suspense, and excitement that made the novel a popular read were sadly left behind, making the film rather tedious in its execution.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Aug 28, 2024

It’s mostly all buildup without a knockout punch.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Aug 17, 2024

When the film does get more into what is actually going on, as well as revealing certain twists along the way (because, y’know, Shyamalan), it somehow becomes even more tedious.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 5, 2024

Where The Watchers ultimately bogs down is in Shyamalan's reliance on telling instead of showing. And come to think of it, that tendency to overexplain also runs in the family.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 27, 2024

Strip everything away and this is a solid if generic thriller that delivers the goods on a purely formal level. Add back some of the flavor and you see where Ishana can go if given the time and room to grow.

| Original Score: 6/10 | Jul 19, 2024

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

| Jul 13, 2024

Thematically, the plot flirts with compelling ideas about identity, perspective, and the primal fear of being watched. Yet, these concepts remain largely underexplored as the film fails to dig deep enough.

| Original Score: 2.5 | Jul 12, 2024

An unpretentious creature feature that doesn't get bogged down by overemphasizing trauma, pompous symbolizations, or stacking up ambiguous metaphors for attempting to be more high-brow than it actually is.

| Jul 10, 2024

The premise of 'The Watchers' promises an eerie, minimalist horror flick, but the execution in the second and third acts is nothing short of a cinematic crime against humanity, wreaking havoc on storytelling and entertainment.

| Jul 7, 2024

The Watchers unfortunately suffers from [Ishana Shyamalan's fathers] hollow way of telling stories that lack true emotional depth and human connection.

| Original Score: D | Jul 5, 2024

Nepo baby Ishana Shyamalan underperforms with film based on Irish author's spooky book. Dakota Fanning is, however, a big asset.

| Original Score: B- | Jul 5, 2024

Shyamalan is currently her family’s more exciting voice.

| Original Score: B | Jul 5, 2024

Shyamalan juggles so many big themes that dropping a few was always inevitable.

| Jul 3, 2024

Has just the right amount of twists to hold your interest.

| Original Score: 6/10 | Jul 2, 2024