1/10
See what happens when you plagiarise?
9 July 2005
Version: Spanish audio, English subtitles (by SBS)

I don't watch the World Movies channel very often, but when I do, it is usually to watch something awesome like 'Tears of the Black Tiger' or some live-action Asterix movie. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any other Spanish horror films I've seen, so I have to hope to hope that the rest aren't as mind-numbingly boring as 'Who's Watching?'.

University students Toni (Antonio Hortelano) and Roberto (Lorenzo Armenteros) are on their way to party, but they are faced with the dilemma of having an essay due the next day. The solution? The internet! While trying to download an essay, they have a chat with someone called Keller. This Keller fellow seems slightly unstable, and informs Toni and Roberto that they are now playing Keller's game. From then on, things go bad: Toni, Roberto and a group of their friends are routinely kidnapped and enjoy near death experiences and it appears as though someone is watching them. That oughta show those no-good punks Toni and Roberto that plagiarism is wrong.

'Who's Watching?' is a paranoia thriller at heart. That is made painfully obvious at the very start when we are told that thousands of camera are watching us every day, monitoring our safety. I think I lost all interest in the film right then. I don't know what is about paranoia thrillers, but I generally can't get into them. If the film worked as a horror movie, it would probably have been more interesting. Problem is, it doesn't work at all.

The script is terrible. It plods along, and frequently fails to make any sense. I generally reserve judgments about acting when a language barrier is involved, but none of the actors in this seem all that convincing. They really belong in a slasher instead of trying to tackle some sort psychological horror. Probably due to the poor script and acting, there is no tension or atmosphere, and the story twists are predictable. It is much longer than it should be: long, drawn out, and boring. If it was shorter and condensed, it may have sustained more interest.

'Who's Watching' is boring, and a poor horror film. I really can't think of anyone who might enjoy it - 1/10
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