Review of They're Watching (2016) by Abb J — 02 Apr 2016

Broadly speaking, the film goes after the pretentious and lazily produced cable TV home flipping (buying low/selling imaginarily high) and/or remodeling programs now appearing on the higher channel networks.

Time and money are very precious commodities - almost as precious as Doina - on an Indy film. F'ing ask Kate Banks. At one point, I was frustrated with their frustration and bored with their boredom. I had clearly crossed the fourth wall into Moldova.

While not intended to be more than escapist entertainment, the actors knew their characters and with the ease the dialogue came out, it almost felt as we we were 'watching' a therapy session about the difficult people one is forced to work with in the industry.

At the very end of the film I caught just a hint of the progenitor of the genre - The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Totally appropriate and appreciated. Given the veteran actors and producer/director, I choose to believe it intentional.

Here's a cliche: It is what it is - and it was well worth the 94 minutes just to peer inside the parody looking glass of how its done.