Watcher (2022) Movie Review

The film "Watcher" by Chloe Okuno is a chilling and stylish thriller that captures the emotional disintegration of Julia, played by Maika Monroe. Julia is a young woman who has moved to Bucharest with her husband Francis, played by Karl Glusman. They have relocated because Francis is half-Romanian and speaks the language, but Julia is a newcomer who is disoriented and lonely. Her growing sense of uneasiness and dread is palpable, and it is clear that something is not right about the man in the apartment building across from hers, who is always staring at her.

As the film progresses, Julia's emotional state deteriorates, and she becomes increasingly paranoid. She sees the "watcher" everywhere, at the cinema, the grocery store, and even in her own apartment building. The line between voyeur and "object" is blurred, and Julia becomes a "watcher" herself. The film's acute psychological portrait of a scared and lost woman, sleepless and possibly hallucinating, is reminiscent of Roman Polanski's "Rosemary's Baby" and "Repulsion."

The film's visuals, sound design, production design, and color scheme are meticulously crafted to express Julia's point of view. The apartment interior, furnishings, and even Julia's red sweater and red tights are carefully chosen to create a stylised affair that crackles with icy dread. The silences are loud, and the sounds are even louder. The spaces are empty that should be full and vice versa, and nothing feels right. This is highly subjective filmmaking, and Okuno's attention to detail is impressive.

One of the strengths of the film is Monroe's central performance as Julia. Despite the fact that the character is thinly drawn, Monroe's visceral performance makes you forget the gaps in the character. She embodies Julia's growing sense of unease and dread, and her emotional disintegration is beautifully tracked throughout the film. Each scene builds on what came before, and by the end of the film, Julia is nearly unrecognisable from the woman we met at the start of the film.

The relationship between Julia and Francis is also an interesting aspect of the film. Francis is somewhat supportive of his wife, but he is also baffled by the turmoil she has descended into. There's a distinct sense from him that she's making a huge deal out of nothing. This dynamic highlights the gendered nature of fear and anxiety, and the way in which men can dismiss women's fears and concerns.

The film also raises important questions about the nature of voyeurism and the boundaries between the watcher and the "object." The watcher infiltrates Julia's every waking moment, and she becomes increasingly aware of him as he is of her. However, no crime has been committed, and such behaviour is part of city life. The film's acute psychological portrait of Julia's fear and paranoia highlights the ways in which fear can be both justified and irrational.

In conclusion, "Watcher" is a powerful debut feature by Chloe Okuno that combines meticulous attention to detail with an acute psychological portrait of fear and paranoia. The film's visuals, sound design, production design, and color scheme all work together to express Julia's point of view. Monroe's central performance is visceral and compelling, and the relationship between Julia and Francis highlights the gendered nature of fear and anxiety. The film raises important questions about the nature of voyeurism and the boundaries between the watcher and the "object." Overall, "Watcher" is a stylish and chilling thriller that is well worth watching.