A young artist gets stranded in an extensive, immaculate forest in western Ireland, where, after finding shelter, she becomes trapped alongside three strangers, stalked by mysterious creatures each night.
The Watchers (2024) | Movie Recap | Horror Recaps Studio
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The Watchers (2024) | Movie Recap | Horror Recaps Studio
Copyright Disclaimer: In accordance with Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, "fair use" allowances are made for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Any use of copyrighted material on our channel is intended for non-profit, educational, and personal purposes, and is done under fair use guidelines.
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Short filmTranscript
00:00At the beginning of the movie, we see a man running through a forest in the west of Ireland.
00:05After some time, he crosses a point of no return, and we learn that he is seeking help
00:10for his wife.
00:11However, after a while, he realizes he has returned to the same point where he started,
00:17and to his shock, he discovers that 7 hours have passed.
00:21And just then, a flock of birds starts passing above him.
00:25The man tries to climb a tree, but after ascending a bit, a branch suddenly breaks,
00:30causing him to fall to the ground and get badly injured.
00:33He takes out a knife from his bag for safety, and hears the chittering of some creature.
00:38He then sees a creature emerging from the fog and moving toward him, and before he can
00:43comprehend what is happening, the creature drags him away.
00:46We then see Mina, an American immigrant working in a pet shop in Galway, Ireland.
00:52Mina's boss shows her a golden conure parrot, and assigns her the task of delivering it
00:57to a zoo in Belfast.
00:59Since she will be delivering the parrot tomorrow, she brings it home for the night and tells
01:03the parrot that her mother died 15 years ago today.
01:06She also mentions that she is going out tonight and jokingly says,
01:10Try not to die.
01:11And as she gets up to leave, the parrot repeats what she just said.
01:15The next day, Mina sets out to deliver the parrot.
01:18On the way, she receives a voice message from her twin sister Lucy, who tells her that
01:23their mom's memorial ceremony was beautiful.
01:25Lucy expresses concern for Mina, and here we learn that Mina is estranged from her.
01:31Mina then leaves there, and as she does, we see many missing posters on a board.
01:36Sometime later, while driving through a forest, Mina's phone malfunctions.
01:40Soon after, her car radio turns off, and then her car stops suddenly.
01:45As she gets out of her car to check, the parrot unexpectedly says, Try not to die.
01:50Mina notices a board in the distance, and as she approaches it, she sees the words No
01:55Point of Return written on it.
01:57She returns to her car thinking someone lives nearby, and decides to walk.
02:01She calls out for help, but gets no response.
02:04So she decides to go back to the car.
02:06However, when she turns around, she's shocked to find that the car is no longer there.
02:11Confused and alarmed, she starts searching for the car, trying to make sense of what's
02:15happening.
02:16After a while, she decides to name the parrot Darwin, resigning that if they are going to
02:21die here together, he might as well have a name.
02:24Just then, a flock of bats comes flying towards her and goes away from there, scared.
02:30Mina scrambles to her feet, and just then the ground begins to rumble.
02:34She is then petrified as she hears a guttural screeching sound echoing through the forest.
02:39Mina notices an old woman who starts running when she sees her.
02:42Mina follows, desperately seeking help and warning about something out there.
02:46The woman tells her that if she cares for her life, she's going to have to run.
02:50As terrifying screeches fill the air, Mina sprints and jumps into the bunker, and the
02:56old woman quickly locks it behind them.
02:58Mina asks her what is happening, and what is this place?
03:02To which the old woman says they call it The Coop.
03:05She introduces herself as Madeline, the girl is Kiara, and the boy is Daniel, and they
03:10are lost just like her.
03:12She then tells Mina that they don't have much time, and it's not wise to keep them
03:16waiting.
03:17She instructs Ciara to stand by Mina to calm her down.
03:21After this, they all stand in a line, and Madeline tells her that they call them The
03:25Watchers.
03:26She tells Mina that she knows she must be feeling very afraid, but she wants her to
03:31know that she will be alright.
03:33She explains that The Watchers cannot come in, they just want to look at her.
03:37Ciara explains that there is a window on the other side, and they come every night after
03:41sunset and they watch them until the sun rises again.
03:45Madeline then asks Mina to take a step forward, and as she does, Mina hears strange noises,
03:52like rattling and rumbling.
03:54Madeline explains that these sounds are applause for her, welcoming Mina to the show.
03:58The next morning, Mina decides to leave, and when Ciara and Daniel try to stop her,
04:04Madeline tells them to let her go.
04:06Thinking the people are crazy, Mina tells Darwin they'll find the car and be home soon,
04:11but only then she hears someone whispering her name, and is shocked to see her sister
04:15Lucy standing in the distance, asking, why did you do that?
04:19Terrified, Mina tries to run away from there, but after some time she realizes that she
04:24is trapped.
04:25Later Madeline approaches Mina and tells her that everyone has tried to escape, but failed.
04:30She asks her to come with her, and explains that the forest is known to cause hallucinations.
04:35She mentions that there are landmarks positioned across the forest in a nearly perfect circle,
04:40each about a half day's journey from the coop.
04:42If they stay within this boundary, there's hope of returning by nightfall.
04:46However, if they step over the line, there is no turning back.
04:51Mina asks, who built the landmarks, to which Madeline responds, the professor.
04:56The next day, Ciara tells Mina about her husband John, with whom she had come to the forest.
05:02Mina asks where he is, and Ciara explains that he left 6 days ago, and hasn't returned.
05:08When Mina asks what the watchers want from them, Ciara says they're not sure, but Madeline
05:13has a theory that just seeing one could drive a person mad.
05:17Ciara then takes Mina to a burrow, but warns her not to get too close.
05:21She explains that these burrows are scattered throughout the forest, connected by underground
05:26tunnels, and it's where the watchers go during the daylight hours.
05:30Mina asks her how long she has been there, to which she replies, nearly 5 months.
05:35Later they tell Mina a few rules, do not turn your back to the mirror, do not open the door
05:41after dark, do not go near the burrows, and always stay in the light.
05:46Madeline explains that they are in the watchers' territory, and the watchers allow them to
05:50live because they follow these rules.
05:53That night, like every other night, the watchers come out of the coop.
05:57Mina, curious and desperate, tries to communicate with them by tapping on the window glass.
06:03She then presses her ear to the glass, but a terrifying growling sound makes her jump
06:08back to the couch in fear.
06:10Moments later, the watchers start thumping on the window, and Madeline advises Mina to
06:15hold still, saying, just let them see you.
06:18The next day, Daniel tells Mina that Madeline used to teach at a university, and has been
06:23in the forest much longer than any of them.
06:25Mina hears a girl's laugh echoing, and sees her sister Lucy again, but decides to ignore
06:30it.
06:31She asks Daniel how long he has been there, and he replies, around 8 months.
06:36When she asks if he has ever seen a watcher, Daniel says, no one sees a watcher and survives.
06:42She somehow convinces him to follow her to the burrow, and when he tries to stop her
06:46from going inside, she asks him if he don't want to know what watchers are?
06:50He then helps her get into the burrow, but warns her not to step out of the sunlight.
06:55In the burrow, Mina finds a 1982 newspaper, as well as a video camera and a bicycle, which
07:01she sends up to Daniel.
07:03However, before she can get out, one of the watchers arrives.
07:06As it tries to approach her, its hand gets burned and Daniel throws the rope.
07:11Madeline asks them where they found all this, to which Mina replies, out by Daniel's spot,
07:16and suggests they could use the bicycle to find a way out.
07:20Just then, Daniel calls them in, and Madeline stops Mina and asks if she saw something that
07:25scared her, but Mina says, no.
07:28Daniel tells them that somehow electronics are working here, and suggests the professor
07:32must have created some sort of power source.
07:35He connects the video camera to the TV, and says that if they put it outside tonight,
07:40they will be able to see the watchers.
07:42That night, they begin to wait for the watchers to arrive, and Madeline suggests they act
07:47as if everything is normal.
07:49After a while, someone tries to open the door, and they see a figure standing outside.
07:54However, Madeline insists this is a trick by the watchers.
07:58She then asks Mina to be honest with her, and inquires if she broke the rules.
08:03Just then, the man outside begins to cough, and Ciara recognizes John's voice.
08:09John asks her to open the door, but Madeline stands by the door, and says they do not open
08:13it after sunset.
08:15She tells Ciara that the watchers are baiting them, and this is a trick.
08:19She then asks Mina what she did, and where she went, to which Mina admits she went down
08:24into a burrow, and Daniel adds that he helped her.
08:28Ciara insists her husband is outside, and she is opening the door, but Madeline stops
08:32her and suggests asking him something only he would know.
08:37Ciara asks him what book she is reading, to which he responds that he doesn't know.
08:41Ciara then asks him to pick up the camera and bring it to his face so the others can
08:45see it's him, and that he is alone.
08:48John shows his face to the camera, but is suddenly dragged away, and Mina and Daniel
08:53then see a watcher staring into the camera, before it abruptly attacks the camera and
08:58takes it away.
08:59They all gather in front of the window and watch as the watchers attack the glass, trying
09:04to get in.
09:05Madeline warns that if the glass breaks, it's over for them.
09:09She asks everyone to get behind her, and soon after, the watchers abruptly leave.
09:14The next day, Madeline throws the bicycle into the burrow and tells them they will find
09:18another way out.
09:19In a flashback, we see Mina and Lucy going on a drive with their mother.
09:23Their mother asks Mina to roll up the window, but when she doesn't comply, her mother does
09:28it herself, saying she doesn't understand why Mina can't follow the rules.
09:33Mina opens the window again, and when her mother closes it, Mina's fingers get stuck
09:38in it, distracting their mother and leading to an accident.
09:41Many months pass and winter arrives, making the days shorter.
09:45Despite this, Mina is still preparing to find a way out of the forest.
09:50She returns to the coop and tells Ciara that Daniel and Madeline are arguing again, and
09:54she can't stand the sound of their fighting.
09:57After a while, Mina notices that Ciara is not there and realizes she has gone out.
10:02She rushes out looking for her and finds her near a burrow.
10:06Ciara says, John was there that night, and she should be with him.
10:10Mina asks her not to be silly, and just then, they hear Daniel scream.
10:14They rush over and find that Daniel has tied Madeline's hands, and when Ciara asks what
10:19he is doing, he says, our rules now.
10:22He then runs away, and Ciara follows him, while Mina rushes to untie Madeline.
10:27They both rush back to the coop and ask Daniel to open the door, but he refuses, and only
10:33then, Mina sees a flock of bats flying.
10:36Ciara asks Daniel why he did that, to which he responds that something had to change.
10:42Meanwhile, Madeline takes Mina to hide under a rotting tree to mask their scent.
10:47After a while, something drips on Mina, and they realize a watcher is directly above them.
10:52It then leaves and rushes towards the house, and to Mina and Madeline's horror, they watch
10:57as it stands up and shrieks loudly, prompting other watchers to come there, and after a
11:03while, they see many watchers standing in front of them moving towards the coop.
11:07As they approach Daniel and Ciara, Daniel declares that they are not in there with them,
11:11causing the watchers to immediately scatter in search of them.
11:15Madeline and Mina rush back to the coop and plead with Daniel to open the door.
11:19Mina confides in him about her sister Lucy, and blames herself for their mother's death
11:24when they were young.
11:25She admits she doesn't think she's a good person, but she believes Daniel is, and such
11:30things will haunt him for life.
11:32Daniel opens the door, allowing them to quickly enter and lock it behind them, and Madeline
11:37asks everyone to gather in front of the mirror.
11:40Madeline reveals that, unlike the others, she came to this place willingly.
11:44She knew what lay within, but it was only the night she saw one for the first time that
11:48she understood the grave danger of this place.
11:51She recounts how, as the sun was setting, she hurried back to the coop.
11:56She heard something, and pushing through the trees, she saw herself, though not a perfect
12:01replica.
12:02She explains that the watchers are an ancient species known by many names, like changelings,
12:08the winged people, and fairies, and they observe them because they study them, aiming to become
12:14like them.
12:15Only then does someone bang on the door, and then the watchers surround the coop from all
12:19sides and start saying something in their voices.
12:23Madeline and others try to secure the entry, and only then Kiara notices a secret door
12:28hidden under a carpet.
12:29As the watchers try to break in, Kiara and Daniel manage to open the door just in time,
12:35and they all rush into the basement safely as the watchers breach the coop.
12:39Once in the basement, they find a well-stocked facility with enough food to last for years.
12:44Tina notices a computer there, and upon opening it, they find Professor Rory Kimlartin's
12:49video diary from 2009, documenting his study of the watchers.
12:54From the diary, they learn that Rory hired 13 laborers a day to build the facility.
12:59At the end of each day, he urged the workers to eat supper outside, while he quietly slipped
13:04into the bunker, waiting for their screams to subside.
13:08He mentions that the facility was built on the blood of innocent people, all in the pursuit
13:13of knowledge, he supposes.
13:15In another video, Rory mentions that one of the watchers appeared to him in the form of
13:20a little girl with red hair.
13:22This creature was different from the others, as it was traveling alone and seemed curious
13:26and innocent.
13:27He comments that, with the power of duplication, one could even cheat death.
13:32Then, he shows the creature on camera, revealing that he had held it captive.
13:37Mina then plays the last video, in which Rory says it has been 300 days, and he has
13:43realized that he has been stripped of all humanity.
13:46The creature he has grown so fond of is waiting for him upstairs, and he plans to kill it
13:51and then himself.
13:53He then discloses the location of the boat he has left, where the birds leave the woods.
13:57He says, if you found your way here, get to the boat, follow the birds, go to his office
14:03at the university, and destroy everything you find, as some things are meant to be left
14:08in the past.
14:09He then heads upstairs, and the sound of two gunshots echoes.
14:13The next day, they all set out to find a way out of the forest.
14:17Madeline warns them that the forest will do everything in its power to keep them inside,
14:21so they must remember what is real and what is not.
14:24Mina sets Darwin free, saying they will follow his lead.
14:28As they move forward, they come across something, and Madeline explains that this must be where
14:33the fairies were imprisoned.
14:35It is said they once lived among them as the bridge between nature and man.
14:39But over time, their powers began to frighten humans.
14:43Humans and Fae were at war, and they were banished to a tomb deep underground, sealed
14:48in by a great door that prevented them from ever returning the way they came in.
14:53For centuries, they clawed towards the surface, only to discover they had lost their wings
14:59and magic, and could never leave this forest.
15:02After this, they continue their journey, and just as night begins to fall, it starts
15:07raining.
15:08Madeline informs them that they are nearly there, but suddenly Mina notices a flock of
15:13bats flying towards them, signaling the Watchers are out, looking for them.
15:18The Watchers give chase, but they all manage to reach the river, and as they run towards
15:23the boat, Daniel stops hearing John's voice calling his name, pleading for help.
15:28The others reach the boat, but Ciara notices that Daniel is missing, and to their shock,
15:33they see him dragging John out of the forest.
15:36Ciara tries to warn him that it's not John, but it's too late, as the Watcher kills
15:41Daniel by slitting his throat.
15:43As they leave, other Watchers arrive, but Madeline reassures Mina that the Watchers
15:48cannot leave the forest.
15:50The Watcher then transforms into Daniel, and the scene cuts as his screech echoes through
15:55the forest.
15:56The next morning, when Mina wakes up, she finds that Darwin is back.
16:00They then return to their homes, and in a flashback, we see that Lucy was badly injured
16:05in that accident, and her mother died.
16:08The next day, Mina visits the University, and in Rory's office, she finds a tape where
16:14Rory explains that life with the fairies was a golden era in the age of man.
16:20They lived among humans as guardians, friends, and even mates.
16:24The children born of both humans and fairies, known as half-bloods, were particularly skilled
16:30in transformation, capable of replicating those who had passed away.
16:35However, when humans cursed and banished the fairies, what happened to the halflings?
16:40History has labeled their bloodline extinct, but Rory suggests it has yet to be proven.
16:46Mina also finds some photographs there that shock her.
16:49She then visits Ciara, and shows her the photographs, revealing that Madeline was Rory's wife
16:54but she passed away in 2001 from lung cancer.
16:58Mina suggests that the watcher Rory had down there in the bunker with him was for a reason.
17:04Perhaps he believed he could recreate a new Madeline.
17:07Ciara says they can't walk in the sunlight, to which Mina responds that Madeline must
17:12be different from the others, and suggests that Madeline is a watcher.
17:16While waiting for Madeline, Mina tells Ciara that they have unleashed a monster, and they
17:20need to send it back.
17:22As Mina goes to put her cup in the sink, she finds cockroaches crawling there.
17:27Soon after, a vehicle approaches, but Mina is shocked to see that it's Ciara, realizing
17:33that the Ciara with her is actually Madeline in disguise.
17:37She asks Madeline if she is here to kill them, to which Madeline replies that she is here
17:41to become her.
17:43As Ciara enters the house, Madeline transforms into John and knocks her down.
17:48Then she grabs Mina and explains that they were once revered like gods, but humans drove
17:54them underground, forcing them to suffer like insects.
17:58Madeline shifts into Daniel, and tells Mina that she is not different.
18:02She is driven by hatred and jealousy, and now that she knows her secret, she cannot
18:06be trusted.
18:07Mina promises not to tell anyone, but Madeline retorts that humans have broken promises before.
18:13Mina argues that they were like family in the co-op, but Madeline reveals she was studying
18:18them closely, and expresses gratitude because without her, she would have remained trapped
18:23in the forest for eternity.
18:25She then transports out in the open, and tells Mina that she had no idea how much the other
18:30watchers made her suffer.
18:32Aenriachten was the name they gave her at her birth, which means the daywalker.
18:37When the professor came to the forest, she thought things might finally change.
18:41He promised he would show her the way out, but when he tried to shoot her, she had no
18:45choice but to kill him.
18:47She says she will not be betrayed again, and transforms into Rory.
18:51Mina rushes in, looking for Ciara, only to be shocked to see that Madeline has now transformed
18:57herself into Mina, and tells her that she can't run anymore, and let end this as equals.
19:03Mina let her in, and Madeline suddenly attacked her, proclaiming that she would walk among
19:08humans in her body, and no one would notice the difference.
19:12Mina tells her she doesn't have to do this, and mentions that Rory never told her why
19:17she could walk in daylight, and leave the forest when others couldn't.
19:21Madeline throws her down, prompting Mina to reveal the recording at the university.
19:26She suggested that her ability to walk in daylight might be because she is not just
19:30a watcher, but also part human, Mina says.
19:34Madeline knows what it is to be human, it's jealousy and hatred, but also love and forgiveness.
19:40Mina says she thinks there are others like her out there, and what if she could find
19:44them?
19:45Madeline regains her wings and flies out of the window, and when Mina follows her, Madeline
19:50expresses hope that Mina is right, and then flies into the forest.
19:54The next day, Lucy visits Mina, and Mina recounts her experience, expressing her belief that
20:00Madeline continues to linger, observing her in different forms.
20:04As they talk, Lucy's boys come running over and show their drawing to Mina, saying it's
20:09of her and Darwin.
20:10Madeline flies in and perches on the windowsill, and outside their building stands, a girl
20:15with red hair, likely Madeline.
20:17Thanks for facing the frights with us.
20:19If you survived this video, drop a like, summon that subscribe button, and brace yourself
20:25for more horror.
20:26Until next time, stay spooked.