As I continue to explore captivating classic sci-fi stories, I want to take a moment to highlight a prolific yet often overlooked horror author whose works deserve recognition in the realm of adaptations. While Stephen King remains the undisputed king of horror, there are other noteworthy authors from the 20th century who have made significant contributions to the genre. One author who certainly merits a mention for the younger audience is R.L. Stine, especially with his recent Fear Street adaptations. However, the author I want to focus on today is Dean Koontz, frequently labeled as a “poor man’s Stephen King.” Despite this unflattering comparison, Koontz has achieved remarkable success, selling millions of books and having many of his works adapted into films. Today, we will delve into a lesser-known adaptation that has faded into obscurity—let’s discover the intriguing saga behind Watchers.

Unraveling the Movie Adaptation of Watchers

By the late 1980s, Dean Koontz had established himself as a formidable name in the literary world, yet his public recognition was still evolving. Although he had penned several successful novels under different pseudonyms, it wasn’t until the publication of Watchers in 1987 that his fame truly skyrocketed. Prior to this, he had seen a couple of his books adapted for film, including Demon Seed featuring Julie Christie and the previously mentioned Funhouse, directed by Tobe Hooper. The success of Watchers was largely attributed to its massive popularity and the star power of Corey Haim, who had already gained fame from horror hits like Silver Bullet (1985) and The Lost Boys (1987). The film was picked up by Coralco Pictures for production and was later distributed by Universal. Filming took place over five weeks in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia, making it the most expensive American film to utilize Canadian tax shelter laws, although the exact budget remains elusive.

Produced by Roger Corman, the film struggled to find critical acclaim, with notable film critic Leonard Maltin famously deeming it awful and assigning it a mere one and a half stars out of four. Despite its lackluster commercial performance, grossing just over $940,000 at the box office, Corman managed to secure three direct-to-video sequels, undoubtedly profiting from the franchise. The original screenplay was initiated by future Oscar winner Paul Haggis, but a writers’ strike interrupted the process. A Canadian producer named Damian Lee took over, and upon reviewing the script, Haggis chose to remove his name, retaining only his WGA pseudonym, Bill Freed. Lee has a varied filmography, though he is perhaps best known for the cult classic Abraxas, Guardian of the Universe, starring Jesse Ventura.

Taking the helm as director was Jon Hess, who also directed the action film Excessive Force and the notorious Alligator II. The cast features a mix of talent, including Corey Haim, with whom I had a brief encounter during my time managing a Blockbuster in California, alongside Michael Ironside, Duncan Fraser, Blu Mankuma, Barbara Williams, and a young Jason Priestley, credited simply as “Boy on Bike.” Mankuma’s impressive career spans over 200 projects as a reliable character actor, while Fraser is recognizable from Needful Things, and Williams boasts a steady career of nearly four decades. Ironside shines in his role as a psychopathic antagonist, bringing his characteristic intensity to the film. His extensive credits cover a wide range of genres, including video games and animated voiceovers, with notable mentions such as Visiting Hours and Highlander II. It’s also worth noting that the film’s score was composed by Joel Goldsmith, son of the acclaimed Oscar-winning composer Jerry Goldsmith.

Released on December 2, 1988, the film faced disappointing results, yet it later gained traction through its sequels in 1990, 1994, and 1998. Unfortunately, as of this writing, accessing both streaming and physical copies of the film is quite challenging, though all four movies are currently available for free on YouTube, albeit with subpar visual quality.

Exploring the Literary Depth of Watchers

Dean Koontz was born in July 1945 in Pennsylvania, where he faced significant challenges growing up, including a turbulent home life with an abusive alcoholic father. These experiences profoundly influenced his writing. He pursued higher education at Shippensburg University, where he earned a fiction award in his senior year and married his high school sweetheart, a relationship that has lasted nearly six decades—a heartwarming narrative in the lives of famous individuals. In the mid-1960s, while working as a high school teacher, he began exploring his passion for writing, resulting in the publication of his first book, StarQuest, in 1968. Over the years, he wrote over a dozen sci-fi novels, but by the 1970s, he shifted his focus to horror and thrillers. Utilizing multiple pseudonyms allowed him to release a diverse range of works without alienating his existing audience.

Koontz experienced a breakthrough in 1980 with Whispers, marking his first major success under his real name, with several other books previously selling over a million copies. The late 1980s ushered in his first best-selling hardcover novel, a significant milestone for any author, providing him with the financial stability he had long sought. Just a year after the release of Strangers, he published Watchers, which became one of his most celebrated works. This novel not only showcases his love for dogs, with one of the central characters being a canine, but also inspired him to contribute millions to canine-related charitable causes. Koontz continues to write, remaining an influential figure in the horror genre while residing in Orange County, California, where many of his stories are set. This book comes highly recommended by my father, a sentiment he later passed on to my eldest son, reflecting the generational impact of Koontz’s work on his readers.

Identifying Similarities in Watchers

Watchers revolves around a hyper-intelligent dog that escapes from a laboratory and finds refuge with a human named Travis. This extraordinary canine, gifted with genius-level intelligence, can communicate and is named Einstein. However, another creature, also an escapee from the lab, is hunting Einstein and kills by taking the eyes of its victims. This creature has some features reminiscent of a baboon, with enhanced claws and a ferocious mouth. Nora, who has a deep connection with Travis, helps protect Einstein while also combating the creature. Other characters, such as Lem, are also on the search for Einstein and the monstrous creature, with motivations ranging from altruism to self-interest. The climax unfolds in a wooded area where a confrontation takes place, resulting in the demise of the villain and the creature. Although Einstein is injured during the battle, he survives and remains with Travis and Nora, highlighting themes of loyalty and survival.

Examining the Differences Between the Book and Film

While the previous section outlines many plot elements, the film adaptation takes significant creative liberties, resulting in a narrative that is “loosely based” on the original novel. This descriptor is quite fitting, as the two versions diverge considerably beyond the fundamental premise. In the movie, Travis is portrayed as a young rebellious character played by Haim, while in the book, he is a 36-year-old former Delta Force soldier grappling with feelings of isolation and a belief that he is cursed due to the deaths of those close to him. Nora, depicted as a mother in the film (with the same actress later becoming a love interest for Haim), is actually a reclusive woman in the book who ventures out and encounters Travis. The character Lem in the book serves as an NSA agent in pursuit of Einstein and the Outsider, whereas the film transforms him into a different character altogether, resembling more of the assassin Vince from the novel.

The escaped creatures in the novel possess more depth; Einstein not only survives an illness but also mates and has puppies by the story’s end. The Outsider, or OXCOM, is imbued with a tragic backstory, hunting Einstein out of jealousy and taking the eyes of its victims due to its self-perceived ugliness and shame. These nuanced character traits lend the book a deeper emotional resonance, making it challenging to condense into a typical 90-minute film format. Additionally, Einstein communicates using a Scrabble board in the book, a detail that receives only a fleeting reference in the movie.

The character of Vince, played by Michael Ironside, believes that each person he kills grants him greater power and moves him closer to immortality, while also seeking to exploit the super-intelligent dog. Near the film’s conclusion, Ironside hints at being a third secret experiment—a killer devoid of remorse. Several essential elements are omitted entirely due to character changes, including Nora’s stalker and her aunt’s emotional abuse, as well as the romantic development between her and Travis, which leads to a pregnancy. Moreover, the book features a group of underground scientists aiming to expose the unethical experiments, a plotline that is completely absent from the film adaptation.

The Lasting Legacy of Watchers

Despite the film’s three sequels and the potential for success given its cast, source material, and timing, it ultimately falters. At only 86 minutes, the movie feels lengthy, even with the engaging performance of Michael Ironside and some entertaining gore effects. While it has garnered a dedicated fanbase, it has rightfully faded into obscurity over time. I would love to see a comprehensive Blu-ray box set released for preservation, but the book remains far superior and is frequently recommended as one of the best entries from one of horror’s finest writers. While Watchers could have been an exciting cinematic experience, it ultimately falls short, whereas the novel continues to resonate with readers, even with some outdated caricatures and familiar scenarios. Choosing between the two versions of Watchers is an easy decision, and I suggest viewing the film adaptation as an Outsider.

For those interested, you can check out previous episodes of WTF Happened to This Adaptation? below. To explore other offerings, visit the JoBlo Horror Originals YouTube channel and don’t forget to subscribe while you’re there!