Watcher (2022) Movie Review
Watcher is the feature film debut for writer and director Chloe Okuno. This 91 minute psychological thriller has put Okuno on my list of directors to watch. Julia (Maika Monroe) is an American who moves to Bucharest with her husband Francis (Karl Glusman). She doesn’t speak Romanian and knows no one other than her husband so she is at a disadvantage and feels a bit out of place. While he’s away at work she wiles away the days by going to the local coffee shop, wandering the city to see the tourist spots, and trying to learn a bit of Romanian.
One day she discovers that a man (Burn Gorman) is standing in front of his window across the street seemingly staring into her apartment. At first she brushes it off as a coincidence and talks herself out of her concerns. But day after day and night after night his silhouette is there, silently gazing down at her. There are a myriad of possibilities for what she has been seeing out her window. But as she spends more and more time alone, she becomes consumed by it.
Watcher has a very simple premise but every aspect of the movie works seamlessly together to make something so simple seem incredibly complex. As Julia doubts whether she is making something out of nothing, so do we. She at times seems like an unreliable narrator and you’ll find yourself wondering whether or not to believe her. The movie oozes intensity and every shot feels a little off balance and chilly. It feels like trouble is lurking around every corner but nothing ever actually materializes. As Julia descends into a frenzy of fear, Francis tries to be supportive but even at the beginning you can’t shake the feeling that he thinks Julia is making a big deal out of nothing.
It turns into a staring contest as Julia begins to watch the man right back and eventually starts seeing him out in the real world. He follows her to the grocery store and (maybe, we can’t be sure) sits behind her at the movies. Okuno does enough here to keep us guessing, was it really him? Or was it Julia’s imagination and fear running wild? Despite the fact that no crime has been committed, the creepiness seeps into each frame and you’ll find yourself shifting uncomfortably in your seat as if someone is watching you.
It’s important to note that all Julia has to offer as proof to her husband and the policeman who shows up to investigate, is her gut feeling. Both of these men shrug it off as nothing to be concerned about. But when Julia tells her neighbor, Irina (Madalina Anea), she immediately believes her. The glaring differences in gender are on full display throughout Watcher. The men don’t think it’s anything to worry about, but the only other woman who Julia confides in takes it seriously and mentions that they should watch out for each other. This difference highlights how men and women move through life differently because the threat of violence and harassment (and also creepy men in general) towards women is always greater. This mirrors real life conversations I’ve had with my friends who are men where I’ve had to explain why I’m more on guard and on edge in parking garages – something they had never been forced to consider due to their sex and gender identities.
Alas, Watcher weaves so many important commentaries into one compelling story it was fascinating to watch. This isn’t new territory. Certainly this harkens back to Hitchcock’s Rear Window and other similar movies but Watcher has you hooked on what could happen, letting your imagination supply most of the suspense and fear. Monroe shines as Julia in a subtle performance that will leave you watching with bated breath. The ending was surprising if a little contrived but despite this, Watcher is still worth the watch.
You’ll like this movie if:
1. You like psychological thrillers
2. You’re a woman who has had encounters with creepy men
3. You like slow-moving suspense
