Watchers (1988)

Director: Jon Hess

Starring: Corey Haim, Michael Ironside, Christopher Cary

A boy takes in a stray dog, later discovering that it is an ultra-intelligent runaway being stalked by a dangerous creature from the same genetic research lab.

‘Watchers’… still never could figure out how this title is relevant to the film. Who are the watchers?

Following in the footsteps of horror films ‘Silver Bullet’ and ‘The Lost Boys’, Corey Haim is back for another horror adventure. I really enjoyed his acting, and once again thought he delivered in ‘Watchers’. Off course, the cute Retriever steals the show! This dog is so adorable!! I also thought Barbara Williams was good as Nora, a mother who delivers more than just a stunt or two!

The fact the dog and the creature, Oxcom, are telepathically linked adds to the suspense, as we now know the creature is sure to follow wherever the dog goes. The film has a very good premise, so I didn’t really understand why it opted to proceed as a slasher movie. Maybe to go with the current flow at the time? Some of the killings doesn’t make sense, as if they wanted to increase the body count in order to compete with other slasher movies. This was completely unnecessary. Fortunately, the dog saved the day in every scene he was in (or she, as it turns out. The dog used for the film was actually female and not male as the movie’s character).

From the opening scene to the finale, the action and suspense never ceases. Comic relief are scattered throughout, yet still not enough to deem this a horror comedy. Despite obvious flaws, ‘Watchers’ nevertheless remains one of my favorite 80s hororr films. I love it.

Would I watch it again? Oh, yes!