Is ‘The Watchers’ Based on Real Folklore?

Folktales have inspired some of the most chilling horror films of recent years, introducing audiences to monstrous entities and bizarre human behaviors. Stories from around the globe, like ‘The Ritual’ with its Swedish Jōtunn, ‘Antlers’ featuring the Algonquin wendigo, and films such as ‘The Wicker Man’ and ‘Midsommar’, have turned ancient beliefs and rituals into modern horror. ‘The Watchers’, directed by Ishana Night Shyamalan and currently a hit on Max, taps into Irish folklore to create a terrifying narrative for stars Dakota Fanning and Georgina Campbell. However, how much of this eerie mythology is rooted in actual folklore, and how much is creatively reimagined?

In  ‘The Watchers’, Fanning plays Mina, an American who finds herself stranded in a dark Irish forest when her car and phone malfunction. As she tries to escape, she ends up at a mysterious compound where she and others are protected from unseen creatures that emerge at night. The film’s suspense revolves around these creatures' motives rather than their appearance: they are revealed to be shapeshifting fairies interested in mimicking human behavior.

Image Courtesy: Netflix

These fairies are far from the whimsical, winged beings of fairy tales. Instead, they are depicted as tall, spindly, wingless creatures that move on all fours and are highly sensitive to sunlight. They live in large underground burrows and are extremely hostile to those who break their rules.

Based on A.M. Shine’s 2021 novel,  ‘The Watchers’ reflects Shine's deep knowledge of Irish folklore. While the film does incorporate elements from traditional myths—such as fairy mounds and the concept of changelings—it combines these elements into a new, more sinister version. The fairies in the movie share some traits with Celtic mythology, like their isolation from the human world and their magical abilities, but they are portrayed in a more monstrous and malevolent light.

Image Courtesy: Netflix

The shapeshifting ability of the fairies in the film echoes the changeling myth, where fairies would replace human babies with enchanted or disguised substitutes.

Though ‘The Watchers’ doesn’t adhere strictly to any one folklore, it successfully blends traditional mythological elements with its own horror twists, creating a fresh and atmospheric take on ancient legends.

–Farheen Ali