Trailing far behind Stephen King, in terms of novel-to-screen adaptations, is fellow author Dean Koontz. His ideas have generally stayed on the page, although there have been efforts to manifest them. After the novels Demon Seed and Shattered were each adapted into movies in the 1970s, we saw only one of Koontz’s novels get the cinematic treatment in the following decade. Unfortunately, the movie in question, Watchers, didn’t do well financially or critically.
Nonetheless, this ‘80s creature-feature has gone on to develop a sizable cult following.
For the last decade, we have had the pleasure of witnessing a deluge of nearly forgotten ‘80s horrors be given a second life. Yet it’s only now that Watchers, a video store staple that had been out of print for years, is finally getting the proper upgrade it deserves. Indeed, Toy Robot’s anticipated release comes after the movie had already been available in HD in other regions, as well as on streaming services. To have this flick on Blu-ray now, though, is still something worth celebrating.
Anyone who went into the adaptation, expecting it to be a close match for the novel, was bound to be disappointed. The biggest change from the book was the protagonist, a thirty-something man who was switched out with a teen boy played by Corey Haim. Pushing for a younger demographic isn’t too surprising, given the era of horror from which Watchers hails, but perhaps more damaging than the casting is the look of the creature.
People know Watchers as a movie about a hyper-intelligent lab dog that’s hunted down by both government agents and an unrelenting monster. Unfortunately, there being too many cooks in the kitchen led to a rather awful creature design. It’s very understandable why the Outsider is kept off-screen for most of the movie, and why profuse amounts of darkness and flames are utilized. Believe me, though, the design didn’t improve until maybe the third sequel, and that’s only because they essentially turned the Outsider into a werewolf.
Watchers boasts a silly, straightforward premise that makes no real effort to flesh out any of its characters. Even so, you still manage to care about wide-eyed Travis, his heroic mother (Barbara Williams), and the love interest (Lala Sloatman). The genius pooch dubbed “Furface“—Sandy in real life—is, without a doubt, the most likable character here. The scenes of Furface communicating with Haim’s character, such as his tapping a pencil on a computer keyboard, are as funny as they are wholesome. Keep in mind, cute scenes like those are offset by some shockingly bloody kills that feel out of place in what first looked to be a teen horror movie.
People may ask why Toy Robot didn’t issue a 4K release, but what we have here is still quite impressive. The video is crisp and retains the movie’s natural look. It’s a huge step up from the underwhelming 4:3 double-feature DVD that many of us eagerly bought back in the 2000s, then settled for when it seemed like a Blu-ray wasn’t in the cards. This remarkable transfer, which was supplied by Quiver Distribution, shines whenever it comes to the local Vancouver scenery, and it emphasizes Richard Leiterman’s best bits of cinematography. As for audio, we get an adequate English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono track with optional English subtitles.
Considering the sheer neglect Watchers has received over the years, the supplemental material here should be welcome by fans. New interviews with director Jon Hess and actors Michael Ironside, Barbara Williams and Lala Sloatman are each illuminating in their own ways. The segments are all well directed and shot, too. The standout, though, is that one-on-one with genre icon Ironside, who airs his disappointment about the movie as an adaptation. He is refreshingly honest without coming across as rude. Ironside and Sloatman also address the pink elephant in the room, as they bring up Haim’s personal struggles behind the scenes.
Nostalgia has a lot to do with Watchers’ longevity, despite it being a bit mediocre, not to mention a poor interpretation of Koontz’s novel. I myself re-rented this movie multiple times growing up, and on the off chance that it’s ever playing out in the wild somewhere, I’ll be sure to immediately stop what I’m doing and watch. However, fans can attest to there being an almost uncanny quality about Watchers that makes it tremendously entertaining, regardless of its glaring shortcomings.
Watchers is now available on Blu-ray from Toy Robot.
