Watchers (film)

Watchers is a 1988 science fiction horror film helmed by director Jon Hess, featuring performances from Corey Haim, Michael Ironside, and Barbara Williams. The movie draws loose inspiration from Dean R. Koontz's 1987 novel Watchers.

Plot

Following an explosion at a secret research facility, two entities escape: a genetically altered creature known as OXCOM and an exceptionally intelligent golden retriever. Travis Cornell encounters the dog, notes the GH3 marking on its ear, and decides to keep it due to its remarkable intellect. Concurrently, NSO operative Johnson is assigned to retrieve the escaped subjects.

When Travis’s girlfriend Tracey is mysteriously hospitalized, armed agents block Travis from seeing her. Meanwhile, the OXCOM begins eliminating individuals linked to Travis, including his acquaintances and school personnel. The local sheriff confronts Agent Johnson, who discloses details about the covert project before killing the sheriff.

Travis and his mother discover their friend dead and must go into hiding with the dog. After evading an NSO assault at a motel, they seek refuge at Travis’s father’s cabin. Tracey remains captive under NSO control, with Travis’s mother realizing she is being held as a prisoner rather than receiving medical care.

During a hostage situation involving NSO agents at the cabin, Travis fights back using improvised weapons. Agent Johnson reveals himself as a genetically engineered assassin, kills his partner, and is then mortally wounded by Travis and Mrs. Cornell. The OXCOM attacks; although Travis initially hesitates, he ultimately kills the creature. The survivors flee as the farmhouse burns down.

Release

Universal Pictures gave the film a limited release across the United States in December 1988, where it earned $940,173 domestically. In 1989, International Video Entertainment distributed it on VHS and LaserDisc formats.

In 2003, Artisan Entertainment reissued Watchers on DVD as part of a double feature with Watchers 2. This edition was presented in full frame without any additional features and has since become out of print.

Production

At its release, Watchers was notable for being the most costly U.S. production to utilize Canadian Tax Shelter incentives.

Reception

The film was met with predominantly unfavorable reviews. Renowned critic Leonard Maltin awarded it one and a half stars out of four, labeling it "awful" and describing the monster as "ludicrous."

Sequels

Despite no further novels by Koontz continuing the story, producer Roger Corman oversaw the creation of three sequels: Watchers II, Watchers 3, and Watchers Reborn.

External links

• EOFFTV credits and plot overview