The Watch (2008)

Independent movie scene does not reveal a wide spectrum of genres chosen. If we try to observe all the possible scale of diversity this is what we obtain:

a)      Horror film. All variety of different horrors, from zombie thrash to stupid rivers-of-blood-like splatter, from usual slasher to sci-fi horror, is presented here and exploited by independent directors and motion picture studios. Of course, their realization is truly far from ideal, but nevertheless sometimes there are real brilliants in a shit pile (for instance, “Malberry st.” or “Stake Land”). The question about worth of such seek is still open, because obstacles during search could definitely overshadow the pleasure of discovery.

b)      Different odd movies united under the name “art house”. Mostly dramas, usually about strange and unusual people with strange and unusual stories ending with strange and unusual conclusion, art house cinema desirely want to flabbergast the viewer. Sometimes merely provocative and social (“Mysterious Skin” or Larry Clark films for instance), sometimes describing the very especial vision from the side of author (Korean indie movies), sometimes simply weird and incomparable with anything (“Napoleon Dynamite”), art house cinema positions itself as art made by intelligent people to intelligent people, but too often sophicticated psychological Babylon appears the fruit of psychic deviation based on paraphilias and child trauma. So schizophrenia is not like Caps Lock (THAT MAKES EVERYTHING AWESOME, BEEYATCH) does not make plot better if it total sucks .

c)      And the third whale of independent movies is of course thriller. It is necessary to notice that thriller partially overlaps with horror film genre, but it would be a fatal mistake to place the sign of equality between them. Thriller is IMO the peak of cinematographic evolution due to some duality. On the one hand, there is no need in some exorbitant charges and technologies of shooting to make a thriller, and on the other hand, you could make special effects of any complexity and motherfuckingly realistic yet imaginary pictures, but without a good plot your movie will be just piece of crap. Thus thriller is the pure art of cinematography because it depends only on the story (and some demands on its technical execution) and nothing more loose and unstable like acting (which could differ from top to bottom even during 10 minutes) or special effects. So, summing up, good thriller is based on good story, and “The Watch” in spite of undoubtedly appearing DIY style is the very kind of such good thriller. Even having mystical implication, the plot turns more like detective story, and really not bad story. Despite the bareness of visual means, the movie is filmed so good, that the sense of suspense hardly can leave you until the outcome shoots. And special gratefulness for Clea DuVall, who represents a very strict principle that you don’t need to be a beauty to be a good actress. As well as Stockley in “ The Faculty”, Cassie in “The Watch” is definitely not a gorgeous chick (especially against the background of Elisabeth Whitmere with her astounding voice), but she is really sweet and gives rise to sympathy from the viewer. This is what I call “good performing”.

As A Result: indie thriller that really thrills unlike many congeners.

Watch It?: yes, if you like a good thriller