The True Story Behind The Watcher

The Eerie True Story Behind Netflix’s ‘The Watcher’

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Spooky Season has arrived, and with that, Netflix has dropped a bunch of scary goodness for us to enjoy this Halloween, such as The Midnight Club and The Curse Of Bridge Hollow.

The Watcher starring Naomi Watts, Bobby Cannavale, and Jennifer Coolidge, is the latest series to hit the horror roster on Netflix, and let’s just say if you’re a fan of obsession/stalker movies or stalker plots in Home and Away, this one is for you. 

The Watcher follows the Brannock family as they settle into their dream suburban home, but what should be a happy moment for the family turns sinister after they receive a suss letter from an anonymous sender, only known as The Watcher.

Throughout the series, the Brannocks are confronted with strange neighbours and characters who could possibly be The Watcher. As time goes on, the letters get more creepy and threatening.

What makes The Watcher even more creepy is the fact that it is based on a true story that happened to the Broaddus family in 2014, which was then retold in an article published by New York Magazine/The Cut in 2018.

Before we unpack the true spooky story behind The Watcher, there may be some spoilers lingering within the article, so take this as your first and only spoiler warning!

Netflix’s adaption comes from a story written by Reeves Wiedeman, which follows the Broaddus family and their creepy encounter with a neighbourhood stalker. The family moved into 657 Boulevard in Westfields, New Jersey, and three days later, they received a suss AF letter, only addressed to the “New Owner.” 

Wiedeman’s article contained excerpts of the original letters from the Broaddus Watcher, which Netflix also replicated in the show with a few changes.

One paragraph from the first letter reads, “Do you need to fill the house with the young blood I requested? Better for me. 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.”

UGH, CHILLS.

As time goes on, the letters begin to get more and more terrifying, with The Watcher gaining more knowledge about the Broaddus family. The Watcher’s letters were so intense that Broaddus’ filed a legal complaint against the previous owners for not mentioning The Watcher’s existence.

And just to clarify, The Watcher only watches 657 Boulevard, and no other house in the area.

Unfortunately, they never found The Watcher’s identity. However, the whole situation made the Broaddus family social pariahs in the Westfields community, with the article mentioning that some neighbours actually thought they wrote these letters themselves as a form of buyer’s remorse.

The Cut article also noted that the family had been offered several movie deals, but they refused to accept any. In 2018, Deadline reported that Netflix had won the film rights for The Watcher after a “ferocious bidding battle.” 

It seems like that battle was well worth it, as The Watcher has now hit over 125 million hour views during its first five days.

Netflix’s The Watcher is fuelled with suspense, twists, and thrills. It’s definitely worth the watch, especially if you love the comedic stylings of Jennifer Coolidge, who cuts the tension with her signature sass.

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The Watcher is streaming now on Netflix.