The Watcher on Netflix: Release date and cast for true story thriller

Ryan Murphy's Netflix deal has already produced the likes Ratched and, most recently, Dahmer.

The latest collaboration between American Horror Story creator and streamer is The Watcher. It will air just in time to celebrate Halloween.

The true story of a New Jersey suburban family that received a series of horrifying letters from 'The Watcher' shortly after they moved into their new home inspired the seven-part horror.

The likes of Bobby Cannavale, Naomi Watts and Jennifer Coolidge have been enlisted to play key roles, and a trailer teases that viewers are in for quite the tense watch as the Brannocks begin to suspect their neighbours of sending the letters – and worse.

Continue reading to learn everything you need about Murphy's latest horror.

The Watcher will be released at 8 AM BST on 13 October 2022.

All seven episodes will air simultaneously. It's being billed as a limited series, usually a one-season arc.

Bobby Cannavale (The Irishman, Blonde), and Naomi Watts ("The Impossible, Mulholland Drive") star as Dean Brannock and Nora Brannock, a married couple eager to move into their new home, in a beautiful New Jersey suburb.

Luke David Blumm (The King Of Staten Island) plays their children Carter and Ellie. Many A-listers are also present as suspicious neighbours and in the wider suburb.

Karen Coolidge, a former friend of Nora and a realtor in The White Lotus, is Jennifer Coolidge from the White Lotus. Margo Martindale and Richard Kind appear as Mitch, and Mo, the Brannocks loud and controlling neighbours. Mia Farrow portrays Pearl, her neighbour, while Terry Kinney portrays Jasper, her brother, who likes sneaking into the Brannocks house and hiding in the dumbwaiter.

The Brannock family moves into their suburban dream home and it quickly turns into a living hell. As the neighborhood's dark secrets begin to leak out, the Watcher sends them ominous letters.

It is inspired from the true story about the New Jersey 'Watcher House'.

Ryan Murphy is the executive producer behind the camera. He co-created the series with Ian Brennan, who has also worked on Dahmer, The Politician, and The Politician.

Netflix has released a trailer that teases what's coming for the Brannocks.

The Broadduses are a real family that bought a house at 657 Boulevard in Westfield, New Jersey in 2014. They received a disturbing letter from 'The New owner' before they moved in. It was sent by someone claiming to be 'The Watcher'.

They received many letters over the years referring to their children "young blood" as well as claiming that the house didn’t like the renovations they were doing.

The first letter stated: "657 Boulevard is a subject of my family for decades and as it approaches its 110th anniversary, I have been given the responsibility of watching and waiting for its next coming.

"My grandfather and my father watched the house in 1920s and 1960s. It is now mine. Do you know the story of the house? What lies within the walls at 657 Boulevard? Why are you here? "I will find out."

The letters that followed were more threatening.

The Netflix series is based upon a 2018 article by Reeves Wiedeman, which was first published in New York Magazine. Some changes have been made to the story.

One, the family's surname was changed. While the Broadduses had three children when they bought their house, Netflix's Brannocks only have two.

Despite investigations by police officers and private detectives, the Watcher was not identified as of today. However, suspects include several neighbours and even Broadduses.

The Broadduses sued the previous owners of their house for failing to disclose that they had received a letter by 'The Watcher' before moving in 2015. However, the case was dismissed.

They sold the house in 2019 for $959,000. The Broadusses purchased the house originally for $1.3million.

The Watcher will be available on Netflix at 8 AM BST on 13 October 2022. Sign up for Netflix from £6.99 a month. You can also access Netflix via Sky Glass or Virgin Media Stream.

You are looking for something new to watch? You might also be interested in our guide to the best Netflix series and best movies, or our TV Guide.

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