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IMDbPro

Watchers

  • 19881988
  • RR
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
4.3K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
12,785
2,711
Watchers (1988)
A boy takes in a stray dog, later discovering that it is an ultra-intelligent runaway being stalked by a dangerous creature from the same genetic research lab.
Play trailer1:50
1 Video
48 Photos
ActionHorrorSci-Fi
A boy takes in a stray dog, later discovering that it is an ultra-intelligent runaway being stalked by a dangerous creature from the same genetic research lab.A boy takes in a stray dog, later discovering that it is an ultra-intelligent runaway being stalked by a dangerous creature from the same genetic research lab.A boy takes in a stray dog, later discovering that it is an ultra-intelligent runaway being stalked by a dangerous creature from the same genetic research lab.
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
4.3K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
12,785
2,711
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Jon Hess
    • Writers
      • Dean R. Koontz(based on the novel by)
      • Bill Freed(screenplay)
      • Damian Lee(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Corey Haim
      • Michael Ironside
      • Christopher Cary
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Jon Hess
    • Writers
      • Dean R. Koontz(based on the novel by)
      • Bill Freed(screenplay)
      • Damian Lee(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Corey Haim
      • Michael Ironside
      • Christopher Cary
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 72User reviews
    • 31Critic reviews
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:50
    Trailer

    Photos48

    Corey Haim and Sandy The Dog in Watchers (1988)
    Corey Haim in Watchers (1988)
    Corey Haim, Lala Sloatman, and Barbara Williams in Watchers (1988)
    Lala Sloatman in Watchers (1988)
    Michael Ironside and Blu Mankuma in Watchers (1988)
    Corey Haim and Lala Sloatman in Watchers (1988)
    Corey Haim in Watchers (1988)
    Corey Haim and Sandy The Dog in Watchers (1988)
    Corey Haim and Sandy The Dog in Watchers (1988)
    Corey Haim in Watchers (1988)
    Barbara Williams in Watchers (1988)
    Jon Hess in Watchers (1988)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Corey Haim
    Corey Haim
    • Travis
    Michael Ironside
    Michael Ironside
    • Lem
    Christopher Cary
    Christopher Cary
    • TV Newscaster
    • (as Christopher Carey)
    Graeme Campbell
    • Man on Boat
    Dan O'Dowd
    Dan O'Dowd
    • First TV Reporter
    Lala Sloatman
    Lala Sloatman
    • Tracey
    • (as Lala)
    Dale Wilson
    Dale Wilson
    • Bill Keeshan
    Blu Mankuma
    Blu Mankuma
    • Cliff
    Colleen Winton
    Colleen Winton
    • Deputy Porter
    Duncan Fraser
    Duncan Fraser
    • Sheriff Gaines
    Barbara Williams
    Barbara Williams
    • Nora
    Lou Bollo
    • Man by Stream
    Jason Priestley
    Jason Priestley
    • Boy on Bike
    Matt Hill
    Matt Hill
    • Boy on Bike
    Andrew Markey
    • Boy on Bike
    Norman Browning
    • Hockney
    Ghislaine Crawford
    • Girl at School
    Justine Crawford
    • Girl at School
    • Director
      • Jon Hess
    • Writers
      • Dean R. Koontz(based on the novel by)
      • Bill Freed(screenplay)
      • Damian Lee(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Paul Haggis wrote the original screenplay. By the time the movie was greenlighted, the Writer's Guild Strike hit and Haggis refused to do any further writing on the movie during the strike. Production was passed to Canadian producer Damien Lee who rewrote the script. Haggis read the script and took his name off it - taking credit instead as "Bill Freed", his WGA pseudonym, and insisted Damien Lee take credit for his work.
    • Quotes

      Travis: There's a pack of hot dogs in the refrigerator, if you go get them you can have one.

    • Connections
      Featured in Lock the Door (2019)
    • Soundtracks
      Dream Machine
      Performed by Mike Reno

    User reviews72

    Review
    Top review
    5/10
    Just watchable
    I'm a great fan of Koontz, and thought this might be an adaptation worth watching. I admit that due to the complexity of most his books, with all its subtlety, it is difficult to make a perfect adaptation, but this movie just barely made as a mediocre production. In an effort to make the movie 'cute' instead of the full-fledged horror it should be, it concentrates so much on the dog and its antics, but leaves us to imagine the monster for the most part. Given that the monster is at least as smart and complex as the dog, to see it reduced to simply a killing machine was a waste. And I still prefer the book ending to the movie ending - at least it made more sense and left one feeling a bit sad at the monster's demise instead of gloating over it.
    helpful•11
    1
    • Mike-DD
    • Aug 26, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 2, 1988 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Watchers - gnadenlos gejagt
    • Filming locations
      • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Concorde Pictures
      • Centaur Films
      • Rose & Ruby Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $940,173
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $260,820
      • Dec 4, 1988
    • Gross worldwide
      • $940,173
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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