As a preview for their new limited series The Watcher, Netflix today opted to give us a tour of a home that will undoubtedly stick in our minds. The programme is based on the actual tale of a married couple who think they’ve made the best decision of their lives by purchasing a lovely home in Westfield, New Jersey, only to be constantly harassed by their new neighbours. But that’s not the worst of it; the pair also receives letters from someone who claims to be following them around. Real estate agent Karen Calhoun, played by Jennifer Coolidge (The White Lotus), gives us a tour of the mansion in this film. The short has a lighthearted tone and allows Coolidge to show off the house’s amenities while still being herself (and displaying her distinctive sense of humour).
On rare occasions, though, she may make a malicious comment that is also hilarious, such as when she learns that a human being might fit inside the dumbwaiter in the kitchen. As part of its efforts to make Karen Calhoun’s story transcend the show, Netflix has built a Zillow listing page for the property featured in the show, where you can view stunning interior and exterior photos. Karen states that the home was originally constructed in 1921 and has been “renovated to perfection” in the ad. Karen, like any good real estate salesperson, spins the reality by assuring you that “the neighbours are absolutely beautiful” and “they’ll keep an eye out for you.”
Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, who also collaborated on Glee and the Netflix movies The Politician and Hollywood, are responsible for The Watcher. A terrible true event that occurred at 657 Boulevard served as the inspiration for the duo’s limited series. A neighbour who apparently approved of the couple’s every move wrote them strange notes saying things like, “the house won’t be delighted with this decision” when they moved into the real house. All mail was delivered despite the lack of a return address. The Watcher boasts an impressive ensemble cast that also includes Naomi Watts, Bobby Cannavale, Mia Farrow, Margo Martindale, Terry Kinney, Joe Mantello, Richard Kind, Noma Dumezweni, Christopher McDonald, Michael Nouri, Isabel Gravitt, Henry Hunter Hall, and Luke David Blumm, in addition to Coolidge. The Watcher’s premiere on Netflix has not been announced as of yet.
Synopsis
After spending their life savings on finalising the deal on their ideal house in the bucolic hamlet of Westfield, New Jersey, Dean (Bobby Cannavale) and Nora Brannock (Naomi Watts) quickly learn that they have made a terrible mistake. Pearl (Mia Farrow), an eccentric elderly woman, and her brother Jasper (Terry Kinney) break into the Brannocks’ home and take refuge in their dumbwaiter. There’s Nora’s old friend and realtor Karen (Jennifer Coolidge), who makes them feel like outsiders, and there are the nosy neighbour’s Mitch (Richard Kind) and Mo (Margo Martindale), who don’t seem to grasp property borders. The Brannocks are terrified to the breaking point when threatening letters from someone signing themselves “The Watcher” begin arriving and the neighbourhood’s dark secrets begin to unravel. True events inspired this chilling account of New Jersey’s famed “Watcher” mansion.