Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Underwhelming supernatural horror flick has lots of peril.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Watchers
What's the Story?
THE WATCHERS opens with narration explaining that there's a forest in Ireland where people are known to go missing, following an unnamed man as he runs away but is pursued by bloodthirsty creatures. Then the action shifts to Galway, where Mina (Dakota Fanning) works at a pet store. Her boss asks her to transport a yellow parakeet across the country; along the way, her car breaks down, and she and the bird quickly realize that the forest is causing delusions and confusion. As sundown approaches, they follow a fast-moving woman named Madeline (Olwen Fouéré), who ushers them into a secure shelter, where they meet a young married woman, Ciara (Georgina Campbell), and a young single adolescent, Daniel (Oliver Finnegan). Madeline explains that, after sundown, the four of them must hold hands and present themselves to a mirror, which faces homicidal supernatural creatures outside who will be observing them for the entire night. But as Madeline explains the rules for survival, Mina is convinced that she'll be the one to escape whatever it is that's watching them. The movie is based on the same-named novel by A.M. Shine.
Is It Any Good?
An interesting premise and talented cast can't save this Shyamalan family affair from being a middling horror flick that skimps on world-building. It's quite possible that Shine's book spends more time explaining the context of the central mystery, but the movie's third-act twist is so poorly interwoven that you might find yourself laughing in confusion. Still, Fanning—always an outstanding actor—does her best with the flimsy material, showing enough chemistry with both the bird and her co-stars to sell the story for a while.
Director Ishana Shyamalan doesn't do enough credible world-building to end the movie in an authentic and believable way. The big reveal is a tremendous letdown that raises more questions than it answers. While it's not necessary for a horror movie to tie everything up too neatly, The Watchers' explanations fall flat. And the themes related to grief, identity, folklore, and perseverance are told rather than shown. For a much better scary movie that explores similar ideas, watch Midsommar instead.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the suspense and peril in The Watchers. Was the violence necessary to the story? Why, or why not?
What do you think of the story's "big reveal"? Was it foreshadowed? What, if anything, did you think was going to be the twist?
Does the fact that director Ishana Shyamalan is the daughter of M. Night Shyamalan (who produced the film) make you judge the movie differently than you would if someone else had directed it?
Does the movie feel more like a stand-alone story, or like the beginning of a series? What questions do you think still need to be answered?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 7, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : June 28, 2024
- Cast : Dakota Fanning , Georgina Campbell , Oliver Finnegan
- Director : Ishana Night Shyamalan
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Indian/South Asian Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros. Pictures
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Book Characters , Fantasy ( Fairy Tales )
- Run time : 102 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence, terror and some thematic elements
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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