The peak of home renovation reality TV is well behind us. Surprisingly, though, horror didn’t exploit the trend as much as it could have, based on the genre’s history of cashing-in. Even so, at least we got They’re Watching out of the deal. This horror slant on the hells of fixer-upping is neither shy about its inspiration, nor is it too concerned with making profound commentary. Instead the movie runs with the idea of haunted histories and the literal edifices we often build upon them.
For the most part, They’re Watching has a lot of fun with its prompt; culture clashes are abound as foolish and unheeding Americans visit Moldova. The main characters, the camera crew for a home renovation show, are following up on the past guest (Brigid Brannagh) who moved to this remote village and turned a decrepit domicile into a ceramics artist’s dream home. The biggest addition to the property, though, is saved for last.
They’re Watching lacks the convincing unpolish of other found-footage movies; it’s conspicuously scripted and acted out. The concept of a TV crew shooting what is inevitably its own demise is suited for POV horror, and most of the time, the movie complies with the subgenre’s unspoken customs. But much like actual reality television, authenticity—even a feigned sense of it—was never there to begin with, or even really a priority.
Jay Lender and Micah Wright’s script is a whole lot better without the occasional detours that ultimately sour an amusing, lightweight instance of folk horror tourism. The overarching mystery isn’t so unfathomable, mind you, which probably explains these brief deflections in the story. Against-the-grain moments, like David Alpay’s character trauma-dumping on camera, pad out the runtime as well as distract you from figuring everything out too soon. Your knowing what’s up, however, isn’t a reason to discard the entire movie. The execution of the ending is what seals the deal here. And let me tell you, the outcome is worth the wait.
Watch They’re Watching on Tubi.
Short Cuts is a recurring series that spotlights unsung, overlooked and underrated horror. These mini-reviews single out the reasons why these titles might be worth your time.
Tales from the Paulside 
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