When siblings Iris and Lucas are left alone while their parents recover at the hospital from an illness, they play a series of pranks on each other that escalate. The pair start receiving unsettling images and videos on their phones. When the incoming messages become increasingly nightmarish, Iris and Lucas realize something sinister has taken root in their home. HE’S WATCHING drops on VOD Thursday, July 21.
HE’S WATCHING – Review
Jacob Aaron Estes, who wowed audiences with MEAN CREEK and his Sundance 2019 darling DON’T LET GO, offers up one of his most personal and thrilling tales yet with HE’S WATCHING.
Estes created the project with his wife, musician Gretchen Lieberum, and children, Iris Serena Estes and Lucas Steel Estes, during the height of Covid-19 lockdown. Originally conceived as a way to stave off his family’s boredom while trapped in their home, HE’S WATCHING has become a terrifying feature thriller.
HE’S WATCHING Review – What Works
An intense thriller, the dialogue between Iris and Lucas is as natural as any conversation (or argument) between siblings. Iris’ reactions and older sibling commentary throughout the video documentary are exactly what you’d expect from an annoyed older sibling, while Lucas’ pushback is equally as natural.
Filmed on 8 mm and handheld cameras, this DIY film was definitely entertaining in its overall plot and execution. Iris and Lucas carry the perfect balance of sibling rivalry and support the strange occurrences in their home throughout the film.
Make sure you stay through the end of the credit because they were worth the extra couple of minutes for the humor and levity after the darker, psychological aspects of the film.
Watch the Trailer HE’S WATCHING
About HE’S WATCHING
When happy-go-lucky siblings Iris and Lucas (playing fictionalized versions of themselves) are left alone while their parents recover from an illness, a series of playful pranks they play on each other escalate when they start receiving unsettling images and videos on their phones. With the incoming messages becoming increasingly nightmarish, Iris and Lucas realize something sinister has taken root in their home.
Featuring startlingly clever filmmaking and stunning debut performances from Iris Serena and Lucas Steel Estes, HE’S WATCHING builds into a visual nightmare that transcends not only the found footage genre, but all expected horror tropes.
Rating: Not Yet Rated
Runtime: 95 mins
Director: Jacob Aaron Estes
Writer: Jacob Aaron Estes
Producers: Jacob Aaron Estes, Iris Serena Estes, Lucas Steel Estes, and Gretchen Lieberum
Cast: Iris Serena Estes, Lucas Steel Estes, Gretchen Lieberum, Jacob Aaron Estes, Gerald Davis, Shawn Michael Howard, Mellissa Martinez, Kirk Nelson, Susannah Rogers, Lonny Ross
HE’S WATCHING Hits U.S. VOD Nationwide Thursday, July 21st
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