WATCHER (2022)

 

Written & Directed By: Chloe Okuno Based on a Screenplay By: Zack Ford  Cinematography: Benjamin Kirk Nielsen  Editor: Michael Block 

Cast: Maika Monroe, Karl Glusman, Burn Gorman, Madalina Anea, Daniel Nuta, Stefan Iancu 

A young American woman moves with her husband to Bucharest and begins to suspect that a stranger who watches her from the apartment building across the street may be a local serial killer decapitating women.

The film offers no real thrills or chills. Though it looks great visually. 

The film never lived up to the potential that it seems to set up. Though it finally comes alive in the final 15 minutes. Which is when we believe it is over. Then it seems determined to try and surprise us finally.

The ending feels a bit tacked on in the final Minutes. Downtrodden and stronger but killer wouldn’t be able to get away. As this has to make sense or have a payoff for sitting through all of this.

It’s a consistently sad film though nothing throughout makes you care or endears her to the audience other than she is the protagonist and a human being. 

As the film plays heavily into the cliche belief that the lead is seeing things or losing her mind rather then what she sees’s being real and believed. So that it almost plays like a drama more than anything. 

As the film immersed us in her situation and world which is foreign to her and us.

This feels like a Brian DePalma movie without the inventive cinematography 

Though if you are a fan of actress Makia Monroe, we are with her through most of the film. Plenty of shots of her looking beautiful her wardrobe was immaculate 

This is more of a film you gaze at that could be played in the background. You would study it for its Look and shots. Nothing much of note happens.

It does offer up that common fear of being a stranger in a strange land and being alone. Yet when you should feel safe not truly feel that way. As there is always a creepy element or even a person who personifies that feeling. No matter how lavish the surrounding.

In the end, it’s a little predictable and pretty traditional. While there is something special here in its sharp direction. It never rises to the greatness it could have been. Even with an ending that tries to make up for all the slower pace in the beginning.

Grade: C+