Netflix movie dubbed 'awesome' and 'unnerving' leaves viewers with 'goosebumps'

A riveting psychological thriller that delves into the eerie world of paranoia and isolation is currently making waves in Netflix's top ten , despite its lacklustre performance at the box office.

Starring horror film favourite Maika Monroe, Watcher (2022) - which you can stream on Netflix - was far from a roaring success during its initial cinema release, raking in just £2.4m off a £3.8 million budget.

However, the film was a massive hit with critics , currently holding an impressive 88 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the New York Times praising it as "one of this century's most arresting tales of female anxiety".

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Directed by Chloe Okuno, the film follows Julia, a young American woman who moves to Bucharest with her partner Francis for his job. Feeling alienated and disconnected in the unfamiliar city, Julia becomes increasingly unsettled by a mysterious man who seems to be observing her from across the street.

As she tries to adjust to her new environment, her escalating paranoia and anxiety start to warp her perception of reality. Julia's fears intensify when a series of unsettling events suggest that the watcher might be connected to a recent spate of local disappearances, reports the Mirror .

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Struggling to convince Francis and the authorities of the danger, Julia must face her deepest fears and uncover the truth before it's too late. The film weaves psychological tension with a chilling atmosphere, exploring themes of isolation, trust, and the quest for truth.

Critics have showered praise on Watcher, dubbed "a throwback thriller that's a gem in its genre'."

New York Times raved: "Okuno deftly elevates Watcher from a Hitchcockian homage to one of this century's most arresting tales of female anxiety."

Arizona Republic lauded the film as: "A cut above any number of this type of film."

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Los Angeles Times admired: "This beautifully crafted jewel of a throwback thriller signifies Okuno as a talent to watch, but furthermore, it pushes the viewer to question what, and who, we choose to believe and why."

Variety praised the lead actress: "Watcher is actually pretty damn good. That's thanks in large part to a terrific Maika Monroe, who gets the mature, psychologically rich showcase she's fully earned with all the running and bleeding she's done heretofore as a horror heroine."

Time Out celebrated the direction and acting: "Okuno's direction and Monroe's performance, together, create a simmering anxiety that never really relents. Building suspense was tremendously executed."

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And YouTubers weren't shy expressing their admiration for the movie:.

Dragonfly9608 commented: "This is not just a film about being stalked, it is also about how isolating it is to move to another country where you don't speak the language. All the actors in this film are superb."

Jkmorley stated: "Really good movie. Well acted as well. Would strongly recommend to anybody who likes mystery or thriller movies. The way they built suspense in this film was excellent. Well worth a watch."

Dkyuuu shared their thoughts, saying: "Just got done watching and all I can say is the movie is so brilliant that I could also feel the fear, anxiety, frustration and desperation of the character. It is slow paced for me yet not boring since every scene captures the events that made the main character feel distressed. The train scene gave me goosebumps."

Varun79 was equally impressed, commenting: "Damn the movie was awesome, the tension is unnerving."

Nonameoq2ei praised the film as well: "The movie was incredible. It was very nicely made and the story was very well written. It builds up tension gradually and is very interesting to watch. The lighting was also impressive, it had very beautiful scenes."