By Megan Hemenway
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The Watchers
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In 2024, Ishana Night Shyamalan released her directorial debut, The Watchers, which is now streaming on Netflix alongside some other incredible and similar horror entries. Notably, Shyamalan is the daughter of the famed director, M. Night Shyamalan, who helmed iconic films such as The Sixth Sense and Split. Ishana Shyamalan's film, released in June 2024, seems to take inspiration from her father's work. The Watchers is a supernatural horror film centered on Mina, a young artist who finds herself trapped in a strange bunker in the forest, constantly threatened by violent creatures known as Watchers.
Although The Watchers did not earn the greatest critical reviews, receiving a 32% on Rotten Tomatoes, it is a movie that still has plenty to offer. The Watchers has an addictively eerie quality to it which is perfect for a horror film, and is reminiscent of M. Night Shyamalan's work. Furthermore, The Watchers boasts a strong cast, led by Dakota Fanning as Mina, and a unique plot filled with paranormal twists and turns. Fortunately, alongside The Watchers, Netflix has a number of other similar movies that make for perfect follow-ups after watching the Shyamalan film.
5 The Ritual (2017)
Four Friends Take A Terrifying Hike
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The Ritual
r
Horror
Thriller
After traveling to Sweden, Luke reunites with his old college friends for a fun trip. But things quickly turn south when they realize something in the forest is stalking them. The Ritual was a Netflix original movie released in 2017 and was directed by David Bruckner, who would go on to direct Hulu's Hellraiser film.
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- Release Date
- October 13, 2017
- Runtime
- 94minutes
- Cast
- Sam Troughton, Rafe Spall
- Director
- David Bruckner
- Writers
- David Bruckner
A great film to check out after The Watchers is The Ritual. Released in 2017, this British horror film follows four college buddies who reunite after the tragic death of their friend. The group decides to take a hike through the Scandinavian wilderness, only to find that one wrong turn leads them on a terrifying path. Suddenly, the friends are haunted - and hunted - by figures straight out of Norse mythology.
The Ritual has quite a few similarities to The Watchers that are hard to miss. First and foremost, the main characters enter a dangerous forest, just like Mina does, and end up finding something that is both magical and horrifying. Also like The Watchers, The Ritual relies on just a few characters and their distinct dynamics to keep the story going. Despite being rooted in Norse myth rather than The Watchers' Celtic myth, The Ritual is a spiritual predecessor to The Watchers, and has a strong 74% Rotten Tomatoes score to back it up.
4 The Rental (2020)
Two Couples Are Terrorized At An AirBnB
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The Rental
R
Horror
Thriller
In Dave Franco's 2020 horror movie The Rental, two couples rent a vacation home for a weekend getaway, but as the night progresses, secrets are revealed and tensions rise. Alison Brie, Dan Stevens, Sheila Vand, Jeremy Allen White, and Toby Huss star in the lead roles.
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- Release Date
- July 24, 2020
- Runtime
- 88 minutes
- Cast
- Sheila Vand, Jeremy Allen White, Dan Stevens, Toby Huss, Alison Brie
- Director
- Dave Franco
- Writers
- Dave Franco, Joe Swanberg
Another similar horror movie that is currently streaming on Netflix is The Rental. Another directorial debut, this time by Dave Franco, this movie tells the story of two couples who rent a home for a weekend getaway. Although the vacation is already marred by secrets and deception, it gets worse when the characters realize they are being watched by their creepy AirBnB host.
Related
The Watchers Ending Explained: What The Big Twist Means
The Watchers had a twist ending that leaves the door open for more. We break down the film's biggest moments and the lore at the story's core.
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The Rental is yet another movie with a small but mighty cast. Notably, The Rental stars Alison Brie, Jeremy Allen White, and Dan Stevens. More than that, though, The Rental is akin to The Watchers because both movies center on the idea of being watched by a dangerous entity. Though The Rental's characters are not being held captive like Mina is, both films are concerned with what it means to be surveyed without a clear means of escape. Furthermore, the movies bring into question who can be trusted and why.
3 The Autopsy Of Jane Doe (2016)
A Father & Son Complete A Strange Autopsy
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10/10
The Autopsy of Jane Doe
R
Horror
Mystery
Thriller
The Autopsy of Jane Doe is a chilling horror film that follows father-and-son coroners who encounter a highly unusual and disturbing autopsy. As they delve deeper into the examination of an unidentified woman's body found at a crime scene, they uncover increasingly bizarre clues that reveal a dark and terrifying secret. The film masterfully combines supernatural elements with a claustrophobic setting to create a tense and gripping mystery.
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- Release Date
- December 21, 2016
- Runtime
- 86 Minutes
- Cast
- Emile Hirsch, Brian Cox, Ophelia Lovibond, Michael McElhatton, Olwen Kelly, Jane Perry, Parker Sawyers, Mary Duddy, Mark Phoenix
- Writers
- Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing
One Netflix movie that delves into the paranormal is The Autopsy of Jane Doe. This 2016 film follows a father and son duo who complete the autopsy of an unidentified yet compelling young woman. The further they venture into this autopsy, the more strange it becomes, with various hints at something supernatural lingering under the surface. Ultimately, the pair begin to question not only how this woman died, but also who she was in life.
In some ways, The Autopsy of Jane Doe is an example of what The Watchers could have been: smart, tight, and engaging from beginning to end.
With a Certified Fresh 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, The Autopsy of Jane Doe is a solid horror movie that may not have the same premise as The Watchers, but is concerned with the same type of supernatural ideas. The central mystery of this film is completely captivating, and the lore that is uncovered is just as shocking. In some ways, The Autopsy of Jane Doe is an example of what The Watchers could have been: smart, tight, and engaging from beginning to end.
2 His House (2020)
Sudanese Immigrants Move Into A Haunted English House
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4/10
His House
r
Horror
Thriller
Drama
Written and directed by Remi Weekes, His House is a 2020 Thriller and Horror film that stars Wunmi Mosaku, Sope Dirisu, and Matt Smith. The Netflix film revolves around a refugee couple that flees to Britain but ends up losing their daughter in the process. The couple is finally given a home to live in but struggles with assimilating into their new life and starts experiencing a powerful paranormal presence.
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- Release Date
- January 27, 2020
- Runtime
- 93 minutes
- Cast
- Sope Dirisu, Wunmi Mosaku, Malaika Wakoli-Abigaba, Matt Smith, Javier Botet, Yvonne Campbell
- Director
- Remi Weekes
- Writers
- Felicity Evans, Toby Venables, Remi Weekes
A horror movie that is completely underrated on Netflix is His House. The movie follows a young couple who travel to England as refugees from South Sudan. Given strict rules by the English government in order to stay in the country, the pair settle down in a house they can call their own. The only problem is, the house is inhabited by an evil spirit that is not eager for its new housemates.
| Rotten Tomatoes Categories | Scores for His House (2020) |
|---|---|
| Critics Score | 100% |
| Audience Score | 73% |
Though it may not seem like it at first glance, His House is a great follow-up to The Watchers. The movie is deeply rooted in its setting, just like The Watchers is, and the main characters are not only surveyed by the entity in their house, but also by the hostile government. In this way, His House is not just a classic haunted house story, but it is also one about the horrors of our everyday world. His House offers the same supernatural threat as The Watchers but with a much deeper meaning.
1 The Old Ways (2020)
A Journalist Is Kidnapped By A Witch
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The Old Ways
R
Horror
Fantasy
The Old Ways follows journalist Cristina's journey to her ancestral home in Veracruz, where her investigation into sorcery leads to her abduction by locals who believe she is possessed. Released in 2020, this film explores themes of cultural identity and mystical rituals.
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- Release Date
- October 16, 2020
- Runtime
- 90 minutes
- Cast
- Brigitte Kali Canales, Andrea Cortés, Julian Lerma, Sal Lopez, Julia Vera, AJ Bowen
- Director
- Christopher Alender
- Writers
- Marcos Gabriel
Finally, one more Netflix horror movie that audiences may not be familiar with is The Old Ways. Released in 2020, this movie follows a Mexican American journalist who sets out in her hometown of Veracruz to write a story about witchcraft. In the process, she is held hostage by a bruja, or witch doctor, who is convinced that the journalist has a demon inside her that must be exorcised.
Although The Old Ways is not the most popular name on Netflix, it deserves way more praise than it gets. With a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, this movie is a fantastic portrayal of slow burn horror. Audiences are easily captured by the main character's goals, and are happy to follow her wherever she goes. Like The Watchers, The Old Ways focuses on mythology and isolation, but arguably, it does a better job of navigating these big themes. Ultimately, The Old Ways is one of the best films to watch after The Watchers.
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14 7.8/10
The Watchers
PG-13
Fantasy
Horror
Mystery
Based on A.M. Shine's novel, The Watchers follows Mina, a twenty-eight-year-old artist stranded in the middle of a forest in Ireland. Her momentary relief when she finds shelter is shattered when she discovers other strangers in the same predicament - but they're stalked each night by unseen creatures.
Where to Watch
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Not available
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- Release Date
- June 7, 2024
- Cast
- Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell, Olwen Fouéré, Siobhan Hewlett, John Lynch
- Director
- Ishana Shyamalan
- Writers
- Ishana Shyamalan, A.M. Shine
- Movies
- The Watchers
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