[Review] Fervid voyeurism and paranoia in Watcher
Content warning: Watcher contains depictions of assault, violence, blood, murder. Viewer discretion is advised.
Actress Julia (Maika Monroe) and her Romanian-born husband, Francis, move to the capital city of Bucharest after a life-changing promotion. Upon arrival, Julia is immediately thrown into isolation when the taxi driver and Francis are discussing her in Romanian, reminding her she is no longer at home. After settling in, Julia and Francis are out for an evening walk when they come across a crime scene; a young woman has been found decapitated in the apartment building across from them, the killer a serial killer dubbed The Spider.
Besides Julia’s anxiety of being a young woman alone, she has noticed a man watching her from the apartment across from her, their enormous window giving him incredible insight into her life. Julia knows that there is something threatening and concerning with the way that the man is looking into her apartment. She feels him following her; like he is always two steps behind her. Daniel (Burn Gorman) always appears in the least likely of places, his unsettling presence constantly keeping Julia and the audience on the cusp of suspicion. It’s easy to be suspicious of Daniel's intentions and peculiar behaviour with Burn Gorman portraying a creepy and intimidating man through his unsettling silence and mannerisms.
Julia’s loneliness and isolation is further propelled through wide-angle shots of empty streets and buildings, dimly lit train station platforms, and the gigantic window of Julia’s one-bedroom apartment. Lonely and isolated in a country where she doesn’t speak the language, Julia is often left asking for a translation, doing guesswork, and navigating Bucharest on her lonesome while her husband works late. The audience is drawn into experiencing Julia’s isolation and frustration through Okuno’s choice to not provide subtitles for a translation. Witnessing Julia’s descent into paranoia and anxiety permeates through most of her decisions; some more dangerous than others. When expressing her anxieties and concerns to her husband Francis, she is dismissed and told that she is being dramatic. The only person offering her validation and affirmation, Irina, her neighbour.
Maika Monroe (The Visitor, It Follows) is spectacular in her role as Julia. The way in which Julia plants the seed of distrust in those around her fits perfectly into the message that the movie is trying to communicate; and communicates successfully. Monroe is emotional and responsive to the experiences that Julia is going through, her relationship slowly cracking under the pressure of Julia’s encounters with their neighbour, Daniel. There are scenes of abrupt violence contrasted against moments of silence and unease that contribute to Julia’s mental and emotional state. These scenes are crafted with disquietude at the forefront. From the magnificent scenes of cultural buildings all the way to the underground sex work scene, Oksuna has intertwined the feeling of being watched incessantly, making the audience feel like they are the voyuer in certain circumstances.
Watcher is a thrilling exploration of voyeurism vs the voyeur. As the film develops, Julia descends further into paranoia, she starts to watch and follow her neighbour Daniel, who she suspects is the Spider terrorising Bucharest. The role of voyeur is slowly flipped onto Julia and we question her perspective on the entire situation. Director Chloe Okuno and Cinematographer Benjamin Kirk Neilson have collaborated seamlessly to develop a visual representation of paranoia, anxiety, and claustrophobia. Kirk Nelson portrays the voyeuristic nature of the film through wide-angle shots of apartment windows where the audience needs to lean in to get a true view of what is being shown.
The production and cinematography of Watcher exudes an authentic pulpy quality influenced by contemporary neo-noir techniques, radiating throughout with beautiful lighting contrasts, shadows, and angles that elevates the experiences of dread and anxiety throughout. The final moments of Watcher are a culmination of all the fears that Julia experienced throughout the film; the suspense and anxiety building perfectly to the conclusion. The payoff is a brutal conclusion that drives home the message “believe women”. Okuna has opted for a less than satisfying ending, giving the audience an unresolved ending to a frustrating relationship. If you can set that aside; Watcher is a unique, neo-noir thriller that encapsulates the anxiety associated with crime thrillers in a wonderful and spine-chilling way.
