Ishana Night Shyamalan's directorial debut, The Watchers, has made quite the entrance on Netflix, surprising subscribers recently with its availability. This supernatural horror film, starring Dakota Fanning and Georgina Campbell, originally released to theaters just earlier this year, has had a rollercoaster ride since its debut.
Upon its release, The Watchers grossed only $33 million worldwide against a $30 million budget, leaving many to wonder about its future. Although it took some time to stream on Netflix, after previously being available on Max, it has already climbed to the #5 spot on the charts at the time of writing.
Despite its early streaming success, the film has not found favor with critics or audiences alike. It holds only a 32% critics rating and 50% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, painting a rather bleak picture of its reception. Critics didn't hold back, with some reviews labeling the film tedious and over-reliant on horror tropes.
According to reports, Ishana Night Shyamalan, who had previously directed episodes of the Apple TV+ series Servant, found success with her filmmaking behind the camera. Her father's influence, famed director M. Night Shyamalan, looms large; he is known for iconic films like The Sixth Sense and Signs. Yet, unlike his successful track records, The Watchers seemingly stumbled.
The narrative of The Watchers centers on Fanning's character, Mina, who becomes trapped alongside strangers in a vast, untouched forest of Ireland, haunted nightly by mysterious creatures. While this premise suggests thrilling possibilities, many feel the execution left much to be desired.
Critics likened the pacing to Clara, and noted, “After about 40 minutes the premise feels like it's working on borrowed time and is let down by a disappointing final act,” according to Jeffrey Lyles from Lyles' Movie Files. Another review pointed out, “Where The Watchers bogs down is Shyamalan's reliance on telling instead of showing,” implying how this storytelling mechanism may have handicapped the film's impact.
Even the film's stunning visuals and atmosphere couldn't save it from the sweeping criticisms, with viewers acknowledging it starts strong but quickly becomes predictable and dull. That sentiment resonates among many who've tuned in; reviews reveal viewers felt it turned dull as the story unfolded.
Despite these setbacks, the recognition of strong names attached to it occasionally brings the movie back to viewers’ attention. Dakota Fanning, prior to her role as Mina, starred alongside heavyweights Denzel Washington and Tom Cruise. Georgina Campbell has also risen through the ranks, recently appearing with Bill Skarsgård and Justin Long in the horror flick Barbarian.
The film was based on the 2021 novel by A. M. Shine, but the translation of the material to screen has been criticized for falling short of expectations; many hoped it would drive the younger Shyamalan’s career upward.
It should be noted, though, this isn't the end for Ishana Night Shyamalan. Given her success with other projects, it stands to reason audiences will keep their eyes peeled, hoping for another chance to see the distinct creative voice emerge from this new director.
While the movie is streaming now on Netflix, its limited availability under licensing agreements suggests it'll only be available for the next three months. For those who haven't seen it, this ticking clock adds yet another level to its intrigue, even if the film itself might not deliver as hoped.
At the end of the day, Ishana Night Shyamalan's creative endeavors will likely develop over time, and whether The Watchers is merely her first stepping stone or indicative of broader challenges remains to be seen. For now, it’s clear family connections and expectations loom larger than ever, and expectations will be set high as she continues her exploration of the film world.
Stay tuned to platforms like Collider for more updates on streaming releases as audiences continue to navigate the ever-expanding world of cinema.