Month: October 2024

Haunt-tober 2024 is here and it’s time to dive into the macabre, the strange and the frightful during this beloved time! Join me as I spend the month discussing new and classic films. 

There’s something truly disappointing about a set up that intrigues but has a follow through that falls apart. When you can see the potential a film has, but are left witnessing something inferior, it’s a blow. Enter: The Watchers.

Writer and Director Ishana Shyamalan inherits her father’s curiosity for the strange, but as such with some of his lesser endeavors, she also shows some of his pitfalls. 

Troubled young Mina (Dakota Fanning), is haunted by childhood guilt and her estranged sister, Lucy. She works at an Irish pet store and when tasked with delivering a yellow conure named Darwin to a distant zoo, she finds herself in a broken down vehicle,  amid a creepy forest. 

The film begins as a lost in the woods, fable. Mina finds others stuck in a similar fate, as they reside in a small structure, haunted by a presence outside that keeps them stuck. It’s a mysterious set up and a group that inspires curiosity, but from there it doesn’t go too far.

Their knowledgeable leader Madeleine (Olwen Fouéré) teaches them the rules to survival, which must be followed to keep the monsters at bay. Ciara (Georgina Campbell) and Daniel (Oliver Finnegan) are also here, keeping their heads low until Mina decides to push the status quo and find a way out.

It’s a haphazardly told tale that lines up question after question, but the answers that come are either confusing or never fully realized. The writing is, unfortunately, the most disappointing part.

While tonally on point and with cinematography that nails the mood, there is a narrative that is over explained with exposition and remains underwhelming when the twists do come. With suspense that becomes tedious.

The Watchers is an unfortunate dud, underutilizing its strengths and instead plodding on to become forgettable. A supernatural story that doesn’t have enough teeth. 

Stay tuned for more Haunt-Tober coverage!

What did you think of The Watchers? Let us know in the comments below!

Haunt-tober 2024 is here and it’s time to dive into the macabre, the strange and the frightful during this beloved time! Join me as I spend the month discussing new and classic films. 

As someone who loved the original film I found myself skeptical when a remake came so soon after. This was a film that tested its audience, that reveled in discomfort and made it stick.

It seemed like a movie that didn’t need a remake. And yet, James Watkins does exactly what one should do when taking on such a feat. He changed enough, knowing his audience, but he left the bones of the story intact.

When vacationing in Italy Louise (Mackenzie Davis) and Ben Dalton (Scoot McNairy) and their daughter Agnes (Alix West Lefler) meet Paddy (James McAvoy) and Ciara (Aisling Franciosi) and their son Ant (Dan Hough).

The two couples couldn’t be any more different, but they bond over the trip and eventually after returning home get invited to Paddy and Ciara’s for a weekend away. While reluctant at first, they decide to do something out of their comfort zone and spend the weekend away.

“Out of their comfort zone” is a big part of what Speak No Evil is. As they spend more time together, they experience awkwardness, creepiness and a lack of personal space. Throughout the film they are tested by their new acquaintances to see how much they can take. And, if, they’ll eventually break.

McAvoy is sinisterly hilarious. He shifts between furious and charming artfully. The comedy element is a driving change in this remake, scouring the line between a grimaced laugh and icy fear.

As time goes on things become dire, recognizing the threat they have placed themselves in and wanting out. Mackenzie Davis is especially firey and her steps to protect her family make you want to cheer. This has a fantastic cast, especially the young actors who hold their own in scenes with some very talented seasoned professionals.

This dream vacation gone bad is a suspenseful knot in your gut. While not as horrific as the original, there’s a perceptible dread that keeps your attention peaked, and your stomach, on the floor.

James Watkins‘ direction is spot-on, giving the film the feel of an update rather than a remake, with just the right balance of humor and edge. Beneath the silence and smirks lies a devilish tale, one that will undoubtedly make you question simple acts of kindness.

With fresh twists and enough originality to stand on its own, Speak No Evil is a worthy successor to the 2022 horror film.

Stay tuned for more Haunt-Tober fun!

What do you think of Speak No Evil? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!