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The supernatural horror film The Watchers was released in theaters on July 7, 2024. The directorial debut of M. Night Shyamalan's daughter, Ishana Night Shyamalan, is based on the novel of the same name by author A.M. Shine.
The film follows a plot incorporating elements of fantasy and horror. The official synopsis of The Watchers reads:
"The film follows Mina, a 28-year-old artist, who gets stranded in an expansive, untouched forest in western Ireland. When Mina finds shelter, she unknowingly becomes trapped alongside three strangers who are watched and stalked by mysterious creatures each night."
One of the most intriguing parts of the film was the presence of the mysterious monsters/creatures who are the Watchers. These creatures captured the strangers in an unknown Irish forest and kept a close eye on them. The plot follows how Mina (Dakota Fanning) and her captivated companions chart their way out of the forest, eventually facing the mysterious creatures. Follow along with the article to learn more about the ominous creatures in Ishana Night Shyamalan's film The Watchers.
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Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the film.
Who are the mysterious monsters in The Watchers?
The plot follows how Dakota Fanning's character Mina gets stranded in an unknown forest in Ireland. An old woman named Madeline (Olwen Fouéré) shelters Mina in a bunker called the Coop.
This is where the lore of the mysterious watchers begins as Madeline explains to Mina how she and two others have been trapped in the forest for several months, sheltering themselves from the mysterious creatures. As per Madeline, these entities called 'watchers' observe the occupants of the Coop through mirrored windows each night. These entities are averse to sunlight and retreat in burrows during the day, and they hunt any human outside in the forest at night, making it difficult to escape.
As the plot progresses, Madeline and Mina uncover that these entities are shapeshifting creatures that mimic the occupants of the Coop, which explains why they watch them intently each night. The plot further reveals that the eponymous creatures in the film are ancient creatures of the forest, known as Faeries. It is also revealed that a professor came to the forest to learn more about these faeries and even captured one.
The Watchers are creatures based on ancient Irish Folklore
The mysterious titular creatures in the film called 'Faeries' are based on European folklore creatures known as 'Changelings'. The faeries depicted in The Watchers are very different from the mainstay of popular culture.
The supernatural entities known as 'changelings' are used to replace people who used to be captured by Faeries. As per folklore, these creatures could shapeshift easily and possessed supernatural strength and intelligence. They could replace humans with themselves by adopting their voice, mannerisms, and physical attributes.
In the film, these entities are determined to monitor their human prisoners every night to accurately mimic them and escape from the forest. These faeries are portrayed as lean, nimble creatures with long fingers, pointed claws, and an animal-like mouth that screams and groans horrifyingly. They walk on all fours before they start mimicking people.
Why are the creatures trapped in the forest?
The changelings/faeries shown in the film are trapped in the forest as they have lost some of their magic over the centuries. The folklore and history uncovered in the film suggest that faeries and humans were engaged in a battle centuries ago, however, a Celtic tribe forced them underground and banished them from civilization into the forest.
The creatures have also lost their wings over the years, although their mystical powers still echo through the forest in the film. The final form of these mystical creatures is only revealed at the end of the film as Mina manages to escape the forest.
The Watchers is currently being screened across theaters following its theatrical release on July 7, 2024.
