In Netflix's The Watcher, Cannavale's entertaining performance and Murphy's mastery of horror deliver gripping tension. Claiming to be based on real events, however, it's more so a fantasy.
The Watcher, a Netflix series, is inspired by one of those true stories that make one wonder, is there no limit to the amount of creepiness that exists in our world? It would be hard to believe if one hears this tale in a bar from one of their acquaintances but at the same time, it can happen to anyone.
Dean and Nora Brannock (Bobby Cannavale and Naomi Watts), are going to an open house in a quiet suburban town. Currently living in the crowded New York City, they are taken by the charms of the house, fantasising about living there for the rest of their lives. The beautiful property is expensive and hence, out of their budget. But, Dean decides to buy it anyway by squeezing every cent out of their savings and holdings and moving in with their two children.
Once they move in, they meet the neighbours who are a colourful bunch, to say the least. Mia Farrow and Terry Kinney play Pearl and Jasper Winslow who live across the street are clearly quite taken by the history of the house. Jasper has a strange habit of spending time in its dumbwaiter. Getting Mia Farrow to play one of the neighbours is definitely a callback to Rosemary’s Baby, indicating to us that the neighbours shouldn’t be entirely trusted. Then, there are Mo and Mitch, played by Margo Martindale and Richard Kind, who spend all their time lounging on their lawn with big sets of binoculars, watching the Brannock’s house. The Watcher was creepy enough if it was just about neighbours watching them with big binoculars. But that is only the beginning.
Shortly after, the family receives their first letter from someone who calls themselves, the Watcher. The letter is ominous, invasive and downright criminal as the writer claims to have visible and physical access to the house, among other things. When they contact the police, Detective Chamberland (played by the always reliable Christopher McDonald) seems rather unperturbed by the incident. Throughout the show, he goes from being sensible to unhelpful constantly. He suggests they are better off hiring a private detective as the police have no leads to follow. Enter Theodora Birch (Noma Dumezweni), a private eye battling cancer, who has a flair for creating a dramatic effect. The tale that unfolds further is extremely intriguing and binge-worthy regardless of being largely fictional. The Brannocks’ search for the Watcher leads them to several paths, some misguided by anger and ego while others guided purely by the need for the safety of their family. The plot gets convoluted in the process as it gets difficult to find a sole trustworthy participant in the mystery.
Bobby Cannavale plays the lead role very well and holds the show together with his unique and natural style. He embodies the brash, Italian, New Yorker guy effortlessly, especially when dealing with his suburban neighbours who on the surface, are just being neighbourly. However, it’s the powerlessness he feels in protecting his family from this phantom menace that he portrays convincingly which makes the performance stand out. Naomi Watts, as the even-keeled Nora Brannock performs the role adequately, as expected. Jennifer Coolidge as her friend and their realtor is a joy to watch. The entire supporting cast is quite good. The show doesn’t provide any valid explanations for the letters the Brannocks keep receiving and hence, neither of the suspects crosses the line of craziness. They act odd, just enough for you to keep them on the list of suspects.
Ryan Murphy, the creator of the show, is an expert at building tension and horror as he has done in many seasons of The American Horror Story and continues to do so here too. The mystery, however, leads to no conclusions. It’s okay if the mystery is planned to get resolved in the forthcoming seasons but at least eliminate some suspects. You will be intrigued, you will be mystified and the jump-scares will get you but, is that incentive enough to watch the show? That’s for you to decide.