31 Days of Horror: Watcher

Horror isn’t just a genre; it’s an amalgamation of pop culture, cozy traditions, and things that go bump in the night. This year, we're taking our 31 Days of Horror across the entire cultural spectrum. We’ll be taking a look at movies that scare us, games that kept us paranoid, scary books we cozy up with under blankets, music that sets that spooky tone and seasonal food we’re craving–or strange food you’d have to tie us up and force feed us. Whether you’re looking for something truly terrifying or a cozy autumn haunt, come back every day this month for a new bite-sized review or spooky adjacent list.

Slow burn horror movies aren't for everyone. Sometimes that sneaking suspicion that something is gonna happen and it never actually does plays as annoying rather that harrowing. It's hard to find that balance between being withholding and actually making your skin crawl.

Watcher is a movie that I had little to no expectations for outside of its star Maika Monroe, whose acting in the incredible It Follows still resonates with me. She portrays Julia, a young American woman who has reallocated to Bucharest, where a serial killer of young woman called "The Spider" roams the streets. What an unfortunate coincidence. With in minutes of starting the film, I was immediately vibing with the look of the film and everyone's fantastic acting.

If there is any trope that really bothers me in film, it's people not believing a character. Whether it's their fears, their knowledge, what have you, it's just so annoying to me. Especially when it goes beyond accidental gaslighting. And that is ALL that this movie is about. The anxiety a woman feels walking the street at night alone or being in a subway station with seemingly no one around; further amplified by the isolation of being in a new country where you barely know the language, only to have no one believe you when you feel like you're being stalked. The film plays with all those emotions perfectly, never really getting grating and instead making you feel the isolation of Julia throughout the perfect 96 minute runtime as personally as possible.

Another big issue with slow burn horror is that there is a chance that the ultimate moment doesn't live up to all the waiting. And while I can't guarantee everyone will love the film's resolutions, I can say with certainty that it fit the films themes. It's an ending that could have gone overboard or been completely unrealistic, but instead opts for the most satisfying end.

If you need something more creepy for your viewing pleasure, Watcher is free at a bunch of places on line.