The movie was pretty decent. It had aome scares, but what I really liked was the creepy atmosphere throughout. Acting was decent as well. Overall not a bad movie to kill time on a Sunday afternoon.
19 Reviews
Decent
talharaza42 January 2019
Meh.
jmzalapa27 January 2017
Well, the acting wasn't bad; it was actually pretty decent, all things considered. The cinematography was good as well, although I feel the use of a blue filter doesn't fit well with a movie set in Los Angeles in my opinion. The reason that I gave this movie 5 stars, however, is that the plot twist is visible from the concession stand. Seriously, if you have a movie with 7 characters, two are the protagonists, it doesn't take Hercule Poirot to figure this one out. Still, if you are a touch on the easily surprised side, give it a watch. It could've done without the "based on actual events" bit. Thanks to Fargo, I'm forever jaded towards those words.
Nasty little family thriller
aarpcats20 February 2022
Using the "young, damaged family buys a old house trope," this movie adds the campy extra of an intruder who dresses up as a raven and delivers nasty notes. It isn't scary but it does have a creep factor.
The production values scream "made for TV movie" and the actors do a pretty good job, but this won't win any awards or keep you up at night,ñ.
The production values scream "made for TV movie" and the actors do a pretty good job, but this won't win any awards or keep you up at night,ñ.
Watching you, watching me
kosmasp2 February 2017
And we're all watching them ... sort of. Though this being a horror movie you can tell watching is not all that will be done. Actually in the beginning you will see a strong impact by the watcher. But this strong start does not carry over that well and we do get a mediocre, while not bad output altogether.
There are some fine scenes of suspense throughout, but if you've seen a couple of horror movies you will be onto where it's all heading. And the twists will not appear shocking at all. On the other hand, you have give points for the movie trying. And it is overall decent, while it never really touches the sky. If that is your thing, go ahead and watch this and have fun
There are some fine scenes of suspense throughout, but if you've seen a couple of horror movies you will be onto where it's all heading. And the twists will not appear shocking at all. On the other hand, you have give points for the movie trying. And it is overall decent, while it never really touches the sky. If that is your thing, go ahead and watch this and have fun
Little gem that hasn't been noticed!
coxpnw9 July 2017
My daughter and I really loved this movie! Of course it isn't the typical horror movie like some out there. However, it is a decently good thriller. A few parts that made ya jump. It definitely kept our interest and we really enjoyed it. It also is on Netflix which we already pay for monthly. If you are bored and want a decently good thriller check out the Watcher.
Nice one
ladymacbethian18 February 2020
It's so bad its actually kind of funny
johnmcdonaldbros9 February 2017
It was working up until the third act. Without giving the ending away, it's so stupid it's hilarious. Its one of those endings that makes you go, "No! They (the film makers) are not actually going to do that! This can't be the twist! It's too stupid". But guess what, they did, and it's hilarious. I will give the movie credit, I didn't see it coming (mainly because I wouldn't assume a normal functioning person would make such a twist).
Besides that, there are other problems with the movie. Like the raven itself is pretty laughable, and it would have been a lot more scarier if the villain wasn't dressed up as a giant bird. It's a shame too, because if the movie just fixed its ending and have the villain not be ridiculous looking, this could have been an effective thriller. But no.
Overall, the first act is a little bumpy but keeps your attention. The second act has your attention and you want to see where this goes. Third act nose dives off the cliff.
Besides that, there are other problems with the movie. Like the raven itself is pretty laughable, and it would have been a lot more scarier if the villain wasn't dressed up as a giant bird. It's a shame too, because if the movie just fixed its ending and have the villain not be ridiculous looking, this could have been an effective thriller. But no.
Overall, the first act is a little bumpy but keeps your attention. The second act has your attention and you want to see where this goes. Third act nose dives off the cliff.
Very entertaining
mutlumehmet6 January 2019
A great treatment for insomnia
jimdavidson-1953231 December 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Poorly acted, poorly directed horror yarn with a script straight off the folds of a stack of Starbuck's napkins. There's only one memorable scene. It's a bed scene. One of the actresses rolls over and turns her back on her partner/love interest/whatever then tells him: "I'm tired... I just want to go to sleep..." It was a moment of honestly that I shared because it was at about this time that I nodded off.
Excellent Made-For-TV Thriller...
vnssyndrome898 August 2023
THE WATCHER (TV Movie 2016)
BASIC PLOT: Emma (Erin Cahill) and Noah (Edi Gathegi) are looking for a fresh start. After suffering a traumatic loss, the stillbirth of their son, Finn, they are still on the path to healing. They decide to move to the West Coast, and rebuild their lives. With the help of Francine, (Ruth Williamson) their quirky realtor, they've found their perfect new home. It's a venerable, stately house, in the old LA district, and it has real charm. But soon after they move in, strange things begin to happen. Emma begins feeling strange, and threatening notes begin to appear. Someone is watching their every move... from within the house. The notes promise a sickness lives within it's walls . They also promise the Raven will come to finish, what the sickness doesn't. Will and Noah figure out who's behind their torment, or will the Raven finally have his revenge?
WHAT WORKS: *The opening of this movie is fantastic! The old couple, Wendell (Sab Shimono and Gladys (Takayo Fischer) do a great job of laying out the creepy atmospheric path you're not sure you want to walk down.
*In this movie, it doesn't matter that the possible villains are revealed to the audience early on, it's about the ride. In the movie, "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)," the villainess, Peyton Flanders (Rebecca De Mornay), is known from the beginning. It's not about the reveal, it's about the hellish torment she creates along the way. It's also about good triumphing over evil, which is always what a melodrama is about. This is superbly done here by, Ryan Rothmaier, who wrote and directed this creepy atmospheric thriller.
WHAT DOESN'T WORK: *The adoption of Mikey is over the top bad. No one is that good, not even in a melodrama. After this many traumas in a row, people tend to close ranks, and shut down for awhile. They wouldn't bring a disturbed teenager into their house, especially after a homicidal maniac said she was afraid of him. It's just bad.
*If Jeanne (Denise Crosby) and Mikey (Riley Baron) were living in Emma and Noah's house, where was she baking her evil, poisoned treats?
*Why didn't anyone smell Francine's (Ruth Williamson) body decaying in the basement?
TO RECOMMEND, OR NOT TO RECOMMEND, THAT IS THE QUESTION: *I would highly recommend this movie to people who love atmospherics, thrillers, or fans of any of the principal actors. It's very well done, especially with the budget constraints made-for-tv movies have to contend with.
CLOSING NOTES: *This is a Made-For-TV movie, please keep that in mind before you watch\rate it. TV movies have a much lower budget, and so your expectations should be adjusted.
*I have no connection to the film, or production in ANY way. I am just an honest viewer, who wishes for more straight forward reviews. Hope I helped you out.
BASIC PLOT: Emma (Erin Cahill) and Noah (Edi Gathegi) are looking for a fresh start. After suffering a traumatic loss, the stillbirth of their son, Finn, they are still on the path to healing. They decide to move to the West Coast, and rebuild their lives. With the help of Francine, (Ruth Williamson) their quirky realtor, they've found their perfect new home. It's a venerable, stately house, in the old LA district, and it has real charm. But soon after they move in, strange things begin to happen. Emma begins feeling strange, and threatening notes begin to appear. Someone is watching their every move... from within the house. The notes promise a sickness lives within it's walls . They also promise the Raven will come to finish, what the sickness doesn't. Will and Noah figure out who's behind their torment, or will the Raven finally have his revenge?
WHAT WORKS: *The opening of this movie is fantastic! The old couple, Wendell (Sab Shimono and Gladys (Takayo Fischer) do a great job of laying out the creepy atmospheric path you're not sure you want to walk down.
*In this movie, it doesn't matter that the possible villains are revealed to the audience early on, it's about the ride. In the movie, "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)," the villainess, Peyton Flanders (Rebecca De Mornay), is known from the beginning. It's not about the reveal, it's about the hellish torment she creates along the way. It's also about good triumphing over evil, which is always what a melodrama is about. This is superbly done here by, Ryan Rothmaier, who wrote and directed this creepy atmospheric thriller.
WHAT DOESN'T WORK: *The adoption of Mikey is over the top bad. No one is that good, not even in a melodrama. After this many traumas in a row, people tend to close ranks, and shut down for awhile. They wouldn't bring a disturbed teenager into their house, especially after a homicidal maniac said she was afraid of him. It's just bad.
*If Jeanne (Denise Crosby) and Mikey (Riley Baron) were living in Emma and Noah's house, where was she baking her evil, poisoned treats?
*Why didn't anyone smell Francine's (Ruth Williamson) body decaying in the basement?
TO RECOMMEND, OR NOT TO RECOMMEND, THAT IS THE QUESTION: *I would highly recommend this movie to people who love atmospherics, thrillers, or fans of any of the principal actors. It's very well done, especially with the budget constraints made-for-tv movies have to contend with.
CLOSING NOTES: *This is a Made-For-TV movie, please keep that in mind before you watch\rate it. TV movies have a much lower budget, and so your expectations should be adjusted.
*I have no connection to the film, or production in ANY way. I am just an honest viewer, who wishes for more straight forward reviews. Hope I helped you out.
Has It Touched You Yet?
nogodnomasters30 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
We see an elderly woman succumb to "The Raven." A young couple moves into that same house and finds themselves mysterious harassed by "The Raven" being pressured to move out. Not too hard to figure out. They develop a few suspects, but PLOT SPOILER one of them has that "Dee Wallace" look. There is a twist.
Getting notes in a black envelop doesn't do much to raise the horror level. In fact I never felt the horror. The acting was flat due to the mediocre script. The Realtor was the closest thing to a likable character.
Getting notes in a black envelop doesn't do much to raise the horror level. In fact I never felt the horror. The acting was flat due to the mediocre script. The Realtor was the closest thing to a likable character.
Definitely worth watching! Good acting & unpredictable
JustSarahB18 January 2017
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this movies. The acting was very good. The story was actually rather unique with twists and turns I did not anticipate, and I certainly did not expect the ending to play out like it did, not at all. I gave it 8 stars for several reasons, originality, creepiness, some jump scares, more than decent acting, definitely worth a watch. I noticed after one a the main characters is fromStar Trek, lol. More than once I thought I'd figured it all out but I hadn't, and it the time passed quickly enough that I didn't even notice it. The ending impressed me even more, I did not expect it st all and it made me think about it, even if only for a few brief moments.
Three Craw's, sittin' oan a wa', sittin' oan a wa'.....
iamtherobotman28 January 2017
Warning: Spoilers
If you are below average intelligence, slow witted or in any way easily surprised by obviousness then this my dear friends, is the Film for you. Well within the 20 minute mark i had turned to my friend and declared exactly who this mysterious 'Raven' was and then sat watching as a series of Deja vu like ( non) events unfolded before my very eyes. I fail to see how anyone who has watched even a literal handful of Horror films would not see this conclusion coming prior even to the last 30 minutes. They tried desperately to confuse the viewer but it was just all too obvious. It was like the writings of a pre teen committed to celluloid and really, that teen should be ashamed of themselves. The script was poor, the acting even more so. The one saving grace came in the form of the Cup Cakes, now they did look good.
Quoth the Raven "Nevermore"
lavatch17 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
"The Watcher" has some of the nuances of an Edgar Allan Poe Gothic tale. But within the basic genre of the haunted house film, it also an extremely unpleasant film experience.
One of the most interesting characters in the film was the energetic realtor who sells a quaint old house to a young couple. The nice man and woman then find themselves on the receiving end of harassment and horror.
The most troubling relationship in the film takes on the aura of Norman Bates and his mother. It is not so much the house itself where the danger lies. Rather, it is in the neighbors.
Poet wrote the famous line "Quoth the Raven 'nevermore.'" But in "The Watcher," it appears as though the raven may have the final word well beyond the film's ending.
One of the most interesting characters in the film was the energetic realtor who sells a quaint old house to a young couple. The nice man and woman then find themselves on the receiving end of harassment and horror.
The most troubling relationship in the film takes on the aura of Norman Bates and his mother. It is not so much the house itself where the danger lies. Rather, it is in the neighbors.
Poet wrote the famous line "Quoth the Raven 'nevermore.'" But in "The Watcher," it appears as though the raven may have the final word well beyond the film's ending.
Pretty Bad
singme_tosleep1 January 2018
Laughable bad, really. I decided to watch it because I've enjoyed Gathegi since he was on House, and feel he's underused in Hollywood. But this was really bad. Pleanty of places were just dumb, other I laughed at becuase it was so ludicris. A predictable plot, underdveloped characters, a terrible script, and a really stupid ending all make this just really bad.
Let's Get Mikey! Hey Mikey! He Likes It!!!
wandernn1-81-68327416 February 2022
A little weird one that doesn't quite hit more than a single here and never really moves the bases past that. Denise Crosby I thought was pretty good in this altho whenever I see her now I expect her to be 'fixing me a plate'.
Not a complete waste of time but not great either. 5/10.
Not a complete waste of time but not great either. 5/10.
Entertaining horror flick
nelewerkshage4 November 2018
Omg....
sxyfun_chck7 February 2017
Warning: Spoilers
There were moments when I wasn't sure about this one, because I thought some details were going to be left out. But they managed to tie up all the loose ends. There are a few jump scares, but the movie doesn't rely solely on that for suspense. There's a creepy atmosphere about the house that's almost tangible so that even in happy moments there is tension building. What could be scarier than an unknown stalker with a personal vendetta?... and one who has access to your home at that. The acting is surprisingly good by all (with the possible exception of the shrill Francine) but Mikey... ahem I mean Michael was top notch. Now excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor from that twist ending... I never saw that coming!
Amazing
ludobrucegardyne17 January 2021
I don't watch many movie but this is an actually good movie. I'm not even being sarcastic it is really good. This movie I was originally watching as a joke but it is in my top 3 movies of all time behind the emoji movie and the boy in the striped pyjamas. It also has the most suprising plot twist it is INCREDIBLE. 👏👏👏
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