Netflix’s latest terrifying horror series has shot to No.1 on the streaming giant’s most-watched list, dethroning fellow true-crime mini-series Dahmer to claim the top spot.
Released on October 13, the new number one is the latest creation from Ryan Murphy, the creative mind behind American Horror Story, Ratched, Scream Queens and many others.
Now, Netflix viewers are loving The Watcher.
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Based on a true story, the mystery-thriller follows the chilling tale of a suburban family who start to receive letters from an anonymous stalker who has been ‘obsessed’ with their house for decades shortly after moving in.
Upon arriving at the property, parents Derek and Maria Broaddus found a creepy letter written by someone calling themselves ‘The Watcher’ waiting for them at their new home.
In the letter, The Watcher claimed the house had been 'the subject of [his] family for decades now' and that he had been in charge of 'watching and waiting for its second coming'.
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They wrote: "My grandfather watched the house in the 1920s and my father watched in the 1960s. It is now my time. Do you know the history of the house? Do you know what lies within the walls of 657 Boulevard? Why are you here? I will find out."
The letter itself is disturbing enough, but what really tipped the Broadusses over the edge was the intimate knowledge the Watcher possessed of their family, which they could have only learned from overhearing their personal conversations.
“Do you need to fill the house with the young blood I requested? Better for me,” the letter read.
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"Was your old house too small for the growing family? Or was it greed to bring me your children? Once I know their names I will call to them and draw them too [sic] me."
"All of the windows and doors in 657 Boulevard allow me to watch you and track you as you move through the house. Who am I? I am the Watcher and have been in control of 657 Boulevard for the better part of two decades now... I pass by many times a day.
“657 Boulevard is my job, my life, my obsession. And now you are too Broaddus family. Welcome to the product of your greed!"
Starring a cohort of familiar faces including Bobby Cannavale, Naomi Watts and Jennifer Coolidge, the series jumped climbed straight to the top of the Netflix charts upon release and looks to be another smash-hit for Ryan Murphy, who also penned the Dahmer miniseries his new show has just bumped off the top spot.
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Providing some early feedback, one viewer tweeted, "Watching The Watcher as if I'm not home alone most nights and already constantly feel like someone's watching me."
Meanwhile, another agreed, and said: "The Watcher is really creepy," before adding, "Now I’m scared to be alone in my house. Everything feels so creepy, I don’t wanna be alone."
A third chimed in and said "The Watcher on Netflix is a reason why I don’t want an overly big house lol."
Honestly, it’s hard to disagree with the initial feedback, and given the wide variety of spooky-house related content of Netflix at the moment, we can’t blame anybody for wanting to sleep with the lights on.
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The Watcher available to stream now on Netflix
Topics: Netflix, Ryan Murphy, Horror, True crime, Film and TV