Watchers (1988)

Director:

Jon Hess

Writers (WGA):

Dean R. Koontz (based on the novel by)
Bill Freed (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

2 December 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Secret experiment, Unstoppable monster, Deadly mistake...

Plot:

Based on a novel by Dean Koontz. A boy takes in a stray dog, later finding out that its an ultra-intelligent runaway from a genetic research lab...

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Stray Dog | Genetic Mutation | Creature Feature | Sasquatch

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Michael Ironside	...	Lem
Christopher Cary	...	TV Newscaster (as Christopher Carey)
Graeme Campbell	...	Man On Boat
Dan O'Dowd	...	First TV Reporter
Lala Sloatman	...	Tracey (as Lala)
Corey Haim	...	Travis
Dale Wilson	...	Bill Keeshan
Blu Mankuma	...	Cliff
Colleen Winton	...	Deputy Porter
Duncan Fraser	...	Sheriff Gaines
Barbara Williams	...	Nora
Lou Bollo	...	Man By Stream
Jason Priestley	...	Boy On Bike
Matt Hill	...	Boy On Bike
Andrew Markey	...	Boy On Bike
Norman Browning	...	Hockney
Ghislaine Crawford	...	Girl At School
Justine Crawford	...	Girl At School
Tong Lung	...	Teacher
Keith Wardlow	...	Maintenance Man
Don S. Davis	...	Veterinarian
Freda Perry	...	Second TV Reporter
William Samples	...	Motel Clerk
Suzanne Ristic	...	Motel Clerk Wife
Frank C. Turner	...	Salesclerk
Phillip Wong	...	Oxcom
Sandy The Dog	...	Furface

Directed by
Jon Hess

Writing credits (WGA)
Dean R. Koontz		(based on the novel by)
Bill Freed		(screenplay) and
Damian Lee		(screenplay)

Produced by
Roger Corman	....	executive producer
Mary Eilts	....	co-producer
Damian Lee	....	producer
David Mitchell	....	producer

Original Music by
Joel Goldsmith

Cinematography by
Richard Leiterman		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Carolle Alain
Rick Fields
Bill Freda

Casting by
Trish Robinson

Production Design by
Richard Wilcox

Art Direction by
Tom Duquette

Set Decoration by
Marti Wright

Costume Design by
Monique Prudhomme		(as Monique Stranan)

Makeup Department
Linda A. Brown	....	makeup artist
Leslie Dumbleton	....	makeup: second unit
Nikki King	....	hair stylist: second unit
Dianne Pelletier	....	makeup: second unit
Janet Sala	....	hair stylist
Lisa Rocco	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Carl Borack	....	production executive: Carolco
George A. Grieve	....	production manager (as George Grieve)
Bob Misiorowski	....	production executive: Carolco (as Robert Misiorowski)
Michael Werth	....	post-production supervisor (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Brett Dowler	....	first assistant director: second unit
Lee Knippelberg	....	first assistant director
Damian Lee	....	second unit director
Robert Lee	....	third assistant director
Rachel Leiterman	....	second assistant director
Curtis Petersen	....	second unit director
Lisa Weinstein	....	trainee assistant director
Sue Wisener	....	trainee assistant director: second unit

Art Department
David Birdsall	....	set buyer (as David Birdsail)
Lou Bollo	....	carpenter
Gary Brooks	....	key greensman
Glenna Ewing	....	carpenter
Jurgen Gottschlag	....	head painter
Arthur A. Green	....	greensman (as Arthur Green)
Pat Hollywell	....	greensman (as Thomas Holleywell)
Pierre Hubert	....	carpenter helper
Bryan Korenberg	....	props buyer
Jane Lailler	....	lead painter (as Jane Lallier)
Bob Levesque	....	assistant property master
Bob Levesque	....	property master: second unit
Philip Lunt	....	greensman: second unit (as Phillip Lunt)
Lin MacDonald	....	set dresser
Rob Maier	....	carpenter
Jeff Matheson	....	property master: second unit
Peter McGregor	....	carpenter
Myers Munshaw	....	carpenter helper
Gary Myers	....	graphic designer
Rob Nicholson	....	construction foreman (as Bob Nicholson)
Al Rourke	....	carpenter
Jenny Seinen	....	stand-by painter
Mary-Lou Storey	....	assistant set decorator (as Mary Lou Storey)
Rick Stranan	....	construction coordinator
Chris Wright	....	property master
Gary York	....	carpenter

Sound Department
Anke Bakker	....	sound effects editor
Marc Chiasson	....	dialogue editor (as Mark Chiasson)
Stuart Copely	....	dialogue editor (as Stuart Copley)
Camille Crawford	....	adr editor (as Stephanie Crawford)
Jacqueline Cristianini	....	sound supervisor: dialogue
Richard Crosthwait	....	foley assistant
Bruno DeGazio	....	sound effects editor (as Bruno Degazio)
Joe Dorn	....	adr editor
Alastair Gray	....	assistant sound effects editor
Frank H. Griffiths	....	sound mixer (as Frank Griffiths)
Lock Johnston	....	dialogue editor
Andy Malcolm	....	foley artist
Josephine Massarella	....	adr editor (as Josephine Masserella)
Denise McCormick	....	sound effects designer: creature
Paul McGowan	....	assistant dialogue editor (as Paul McCowan)
Greg McMaster	....	assistant dialogue editor (as Gregory McMaster)
Tom McMurtry	....	sound effects editor
Andy Nelson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Marta Nielsen	....	sound supervisor: effects
Annellie Rose Samuel	....	assistant dialogue editor (as Annellie Samuel)
Jane Simelzer	....	assistant dialogue editor (as Jane Shmelzer)
William Skinner	....	boom operator (as Bill Skinner)
Peter Thillaye	....	supervising dialogue editor
David Trevis	....	assistant dialogue editor
Michael Werth	....	supervising dialogue editor
Don White	....	sound re-recording mixer
Leon B. Wood	....	assistant sound effects editor (as Leon Woods)
Camilla Mauritzson Skjaerbaek	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Mike Arbios	....	special props assistant (as Michael Arbios)
Ron Craig	....	special effects: second unit
Rory Cutler	....	special effects: second unit (as Rory Culter)
Lisa Doering	....	special props assistant (as Lisa Ann Doering)
Dean Lockwood	....	special effects coordinator
Mark Maitre	....	special props assistant
David B. Miller	....	special props supervisor (as David Miller)
Scott Stofer	....	special effects: second unit
Stan Zuwala	....	special effects: second unit
Mike Elizalde	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Stunts
Lindsay Bourne	....	stunts
Andrew Chamberlayne	....	stunts (as Andy Chamberlayne)
Alex Green	....	stunts
David Jacox	....	stunts
Ken Kirzinger	....	stunts
Mark Langlois	....	stunts
Michael Langlois	....	stunts (as Mark Langlois)
Dean Lockwood	....	stunts
Jacob Rupp	....	stunts
Kymberly Sheppard	....	stunts
Bill Stewart	....	stunts
Scott Stofer	....	stunts
Dawn Stofer-Rupp	....	stunts
Betty Thomas Quee	....	stunt coordinator (as Betty Thomas)
Danny Virtue	....	stunts
Keith Wardlow	....	stunts
Tong Lung	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
David Barritt	....	lamp operator
Rob Bojeck	....	grip
John Clothier	....	Steadicam operator: second unit
Drew Davidson	....	best boy (as A.W. Davidson)
Richard Eagan	....	camera trainee: second unit
Gary Fahner	....	grip: second unit
Derek Grieves	....	key grip: second unit (as Derek Grieve)
Einar Hansen	....	gaffer: second unit
Brad Harder	....	grip: second unit
Phil Hersee	....	stills photographer
Dale Hildebrand	....	key grip: second unit
R.K. Hill	....	key grip: matching
Janet Jackson	....	key grip: second unit
Gaetan Jalbert	....	lamp operator
Robin Jobin	....	best boy grip
Gary Kennedy	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Nick Kuchera	....	key grip
Harvey LaRocque	....	camera operator
Ron MacLeay	....	key grip: matching
Barry Madden	....	lamp operator
Robert McLachlan	....	camera operator
Tim Moynihan	....	second assistant camera
David Pelletier	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Curtis Petersen	....	additional photography
Curtis Petersen	....	director of photography: second unit
Glenn Pineau	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Ian Preston	....	first assistant camera
Joel Ransom	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Chuck Reid	....	second assistant camera: second unit (as Charles Reid)
Dave Riopel	....	grip
Wayne Robinson	....	best boy: second unit
John W. Scott	....	gaffer (as John Scott)
Steve Vincent	....	generator operator
Tom A. Wallace	....	dolly grip (as Tom Wallace)
William Waring	....	first assistant camera (as William Warring)
Mark Willis	....	lamp operator: second unit
Andrew D. Wilson	....	first assistant camera (as Andy Wilson)
Chris Helcermanas-Benge	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Curtis Petersen	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Zahn Douglas	....	extras casting
Anne Tait	....	casting director: second unit

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kate Healey	....	wardrobe: second unit (as Kate Healy)
Christina McQuarrie	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Eduardo Castillo	....	apprentice editor
Adam Druxman	....	post-production assistant
Carole A. Kenneally	....	first assistant editor (as Carole Kenneally)
Shannon Mitchell	....	first assistant editor
Ricardo Olivero	....	color timer
Charles Simpson	....	second assistant editor

Music Department
Sean Boyd	....	music engineer
Marita Ditmore	....	music coordinator
Michael Dittrick	....	music editor
Max Goldsmith	....	assistant engineer

Transportation Department
David R. Anderson	....	driver captain: second unit (as Dave Anderson)
David R. Anderson	....	driver (as Dave Anderson)
Donald Frank Bush	....	driver: second unit (as Donald Bush)
Gary Chibi	....	driver
Tom Evans	....	driver captain
Darold Hadley	....	driver (as Darrold Hadley)
Kim Harmer	....	driver
Ken Johnson	....	driver
Bruce Kaduhr	....	driver
James Kish	....	driver
Keith Lapp	....	driver
Joe Lehnert	....	driver
Allan Morgan	....	driver (as Al Morgan)
Darla Nathorst	....	driver captain
Merrill Shapiro	....	driver: second unit
Alois Stranan	....	transportation coordinator
Sidney L. Tencarre	....	driver (as Sid Tencarre)
Sidney L. Tencarre	....	driver: second unit (as Sid Tencarre)
Geoff Williams	....	transportation co-captain
Rocky Zantolas	....	driver

Other crew
Blue Angus	....	chef: Location Caterers (as Mark 'Blue' Angus)
Lynn Barr	....	assistant production coordinator
Gabrielle Berkovics	....	craft service: second unit
Gabrielle Berkovics	....	first aid: second unit
Brian Boyer	....	security (as Brian J. Boyer)
Gus Bradley	....	security (as Angus Bradley)
Gord Brennan	....	security (as Gordon Brennan)
Bruce Caldwell	....	security
Richard L. Calkins	....	additional trainer: "Furface" (as Richard Lee Calkins)
Edward Chan	....	security
Chris Charters	....	security
Barbara Chomos	....	publicist
Debbie Coe	....	animal trainer
Randy Colvin	....	security
Pauline Crawford	....	production assistant
Jono Drake	....	production assistant: second unit
Adam Druxman	....	production assistant
Jeffrey Falyn	....	production assistant (as Jeff Falyn)
Candice Field	....	script supervisor
Michele Futerman	....	production assistant
Andrew Gainor	....	production assistant: second unit
Glen Garner	....	trainer: "Furface" (as Glen D. Garner)
Helder Goncalves	....	controller: Rose & Ruby
Jeanne Grundl	....	production coordinator: second unit
Christine Haebler	....	location manager
Caroline Hardon	....	production assistant
David James Hardwick	....	production assistant: second unit (as David Hardwick)
Bill Henderson	....	security
Harriet Katz-Stevens	....	production accountant (as Harriet Katz)
John Kostos	....	assistant: Mr. Haim
Gerri Kuhn	....	craft service
Gerri Kuhn	....	first aid
Angela Mastronardi	....	craft service: second unit
Angela Mastronardi	....	first aid: second unit
David Matheson	....	production assistant: second unit
Boyd McConnachie	....	photo double: Travis (as Boyd MacConnachie)
Ann McDonough	....	accounts clerk (as Anne McDonough)
Sandra Mikki	....	assistant location manager: second unit
Karl Lewis Miller	....	animal furnisher: "Furface"
Robert A. Pandini	....	production assistant: second unit (as Robert Pandini)
Kevin Parks	....	production assistant
James Sallis	....	assistant location manager
James Sallis	....	location manager: second unit
Monique Savin	....	production assistant
Linda Sheehy-Brownstein	....	production coordinator (as Linda Sheehy)
Liz Staniforth	....	assistant accountant (as Elizabeth Staniforth)
Erik Strandgaard	....	assistant chef: Location Caterers (as Erik 'Duke' Strandgaard)
Beverly Sutton	....	production assistant: second unit (as Bev Sutton)
Carol Thompson	....	script supervisor: second unit
José Vergara	....	assistant: Mr. Hess (as Jose Vergara)
Danny Virtue	....	horse wrangler
Robert Weatherwax	....	animal handler: second unit
Marty Weiss	....	assistant to the producers
Beverly Wiens	....	accounts clerk (as Bev Wiens)
Nancy Wilson	....	senior production coordinator

Thanks
Tom Allwood	....	acknowledgment: our appreciation and sincere thanks for their assistance during the production of Watchers
Lloyd Burris	....	acknowledgment: our appreciation and sincere thanks for their assistance during the production of Watchers
Stan Ford	....	acknowledgment: our appreciation and sincere thanks for their assistance during the production of Watchers
Dick Jol	....	acknowledgment: our appreciation and sincere thanks for their assistance during the production of Watchers
Herman Lourenço	....	acknowledgment: our appreciation and sincere thanks for their assistance during the production of Watchers (as Herman Lorenco)

Production Companies

• Concorde Pictures (present) (as Concorde)
• Centaur Films (present)
• Rose & Ruby Productions (producer) (as Rose & Ruby)
• Canadian Entertainment Investors No. 2 and Company (produced in association with)
• Carolco Pictures

Distributors

• Scotia International Filmverleih (1989) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1988) (USA) (theatrical)
• Artisan Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• IDA films (2009) (Spain) (video)
• International Video Entertainment (IVE) (video)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1990) (Spain) (VHS)

Special Effects

• David Miller Creations (special make-up effects and creature creation)

Other Companies

• Location Caterers  caterer
• T'nT Negative Cutting Services  negative cutting (as T'nT, Toronto)
• Film House, Toronto  rerecording at (as Filmhouse, Toronto)
• Film Opticals of Canada  titles and opticals by (as Film Opticals of Canada Limited)
• Toyota  acknowledgment: our appreciation and sincere thanks for their assistance during the production of Watchers (as Toyota Canada Inc.)
• Lynn Canyon Park  acknowledgment: our appreciation and sincere thanks for their assistance during the production of Watchers
• District of North Vancouver, The  acknowledgment: our appreciation and sincere thanks for their assistance during the production of Watchers
• Province of BC, Ministry of Tourism, Film Promotion Office  acknowledgment: our appreciation and sincere thanks for their assistance during the production of Watchers (as British Columbia Film Promotion Office)
• Ontario Film Development Corporation  acknowledgment: our appreciation and sincere thanks for their assistance during the production of Watchers
• Selchow and Righter Company  used by permission: Scrabble® Brand Crossword Game and its related trademarks and copyrights are the property of (a subsidiary of Coleco Industries, Inc.)
• Times Mirror Magazines  registered trademark of: Field & Stream used under license
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  acknowledgment (as I.A.T.S.E.)
• PPI Camera Corporation  camera dollies
• PPI Camera Corporation  camera equipment provided by
• PPI Camera Corporation  grip and lighting equipment
• PPI Camera Corporation  post-production
• PPI Camera Corporation  special camera systems (pogo-cam)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

91 min | Germany:87 min (DVD version)

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:18 | Iceland:16 | Spain:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Australia:M | UK:18 | USA:R (#29498) | West Germany:16 (cut) | West Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Concorde Pictures

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.

Movie Connections:

Followed by Watchers III (1994)

Soundtrack:

Dream Machine

Watchers is not as bad as you probably think.

A lot of people do not like this movie. In fact, almost all the reviews here are negative. The problem seems to be that a lot of loyal fans of the book were angered by all the changes made in this movie adaption. I had the same type of feeling after I saw "The General's Daughter." "The General's Daughter" left a lot of stuff from the book out and changed lots of stuff too. I found myself disliking the movie barley a half an hour into it. Luckily I have yet to read Dean Koontz's book "Watchers" and that is probably one of the reasons why I liked it so much. I was able to watch it on it's own and not compare it to the book and in my opinion it is a fine little horror movie.

Corey Haim wasn't as bad as I thought he would be. After I had seen the hideous "Fever Lake," which is on the IMDB's bottom 100 list where it deserves to be, I became cautious not to rent anything with Corey Haim for a long time. Then I found out Michael Ironside was in it and decided to risk the dollar and thirteen cents. Michael Ironside was excellent as always. He seems to be at his best when he is playing villains, like he did in "Total Recall" and "Highlander 2."

The film is well directed and it moves at a very fast pace. The monster isn't that bad. You don't really see much of it thought, other then a flash of hair, or and arm coming out of the roof or something. You start to see the whole thing during the ending climax at the cabin, which by the way I thought was pretty exciting.

All in all, I enjoyed this movie. It is fast-paced and it doesn't fall apart at the end like many horror movies do. It doesn't try to insult the viewer either with a dumb twist ending. Not that their bad, we just don't need them all the time. Michael Ironside was good as always and his scenes are the best parts of the movie. I think tomorrow I'll rent "Watchers II." I give this 8/10