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Netflix viewers were left tossing and turning in terror after watching the creepy new thriller The Watcher – and people who live near the house that the show was based off of are too afraid to go near it.
The brand new horror series tells the real-life story of a couple who were harassed out of their dream home by a creepy stalker – whose identity remains a mystery to this day – and it has left many people on the internet reeling in fear.
Viewers have flooded Twitter with their thoughts on the scary show ever since it premiered on October 13, and many have revealed that they were so frightened by it that they weren’t able to sleep.
Netflix viewers were left in terror after watching the creepy new thriller The Watcher – and people who live near the house the show was based off of are too afraid to go near it
The brand new horror series tells the real-life story of a couple who were harassed out of their dream home (pictured) by a creepy stalker – whose identity remains a mystery to this day
Derek and Maria Broaddus purchased a home in Westfield, New Jersey, in 2014, but received four terrorizing letters from an unidentified person who threatened them and their kids (seen)
Now, their story has been retold in a new Netflix show, which has left numerous people on the internet reeling in fear
‘Don’t watch The Watcher before you sleep, I’m paranoid as Hell,’ wrote one person, while another added, ‘Watched The Watcher on Netflix today. Lost the ability to sleep in its entirety.’
A third tweet read, ‘I didn’t sleep the whole night. After watching The Watcher, I felt like my room was watched.’
‘Thanks to The Watcher, I couldn’t sleep last night,’ admitted a different person. Another viewer said, ‘The Watcher makes me not wanna sleep alone.’
‘Y’all, The Watcher on Netflix got me loading our d**n gun before we go to sleep,’ wrote someone else.
‘I didn’t know The Watcher was gonna be this scary,’ tweeted another viewer. ‘I got every light on. I’m about to call my friends and see who [gonna] come sleep over.’
Others explained that they were especially freaked out since it’s based on a real story.
Viewers have flooded Twitter with their thoughts on the scary show ever since it premiered on October 13, and many revealed that they were so frightened that they weren’t able to sleep
‘I keep telling myself that The Watcher on Netflix isn’t real so I can go to sleep at night, but the fact that this was a true story? WTF,’ read one tweet.
‘The fact that The Watcher is based on a true story creeps me tf out,’ added another person.
A different Twitter user wrote: ‘I’m into some pretty scary s**t but The Watcher might just be a little too much for me.’
‘Wow, a show or movie hasn’t had me like this in years and all I watch is scary stuff,’ read another tweet.
The seven-part series stars Naomi Watts, 52, and Bobby Cannavale, 51, as a married couple who just moved into a brand new house in a suburb of New Jersey, only to find themselves targeted by a stalker who left them threatening letters telling them to leave.
The Watcher is based on a true story about a couple named Derek and Maria Broaddus, who were menaced by an unidentified person after purchasing a six-bedroom home at 657 Boulevard in Westfield, New Jersey, for $1.4 million in 2014.
Between June of that year and February 2017, The Watcher sent four terrorizing notes to their home, in which he or she told them that they had been ‘watching the house for decades.’
The stalker threatened the Broaddus and their kids, writing in one harrowing note, ‘It has been years and years since the young blood ruled the hallways of the house. Have you found all of the secrets it holds yet?
‘Will the young blood play in the basement? Or are they too afraid to go down there alone.
‘I would [be] very afraid if I were them. It is far away from the rest of the house. If you were upstairs you would never hear them scream.’
Because of the letters, the Broaddus family put the mansion back on the market, and it eventually sold again in 2019 for $959,000, and despite a long investigation, the identity of The Watcher was never discovered by police.
While the new owners have remained anonymous, many people who live in the town are still terrified to go near the home – with one resident revealing that people actually moved away from the area out of fears about the home’s sinister history.
‘There was always talk about the house. I’m sure people decided to move out at least out of that area,’ Ralph Bencivenga, 54, a lifelong resident who owns a pastry shop less than a mile from The Watcher house, told The New York Post recently.
The series stars Naomi Watts, Bobby Cannavale, Jennifer Coolidge, Mia Farrow, Henry Hunter Hall, Isabel Gravitt, and Luke David Blumm
Derek and Maria, who were menaced from 2014 to 2017, after purchasing a six-bedroom home at 657 Boulevard in Westfield, New Jersey. The real home is seen above
The Watcher sent four terrorizing notes to their home (seen), in which he or she told them that they had been ‘watching the house for decades’
Because of the letters, the Broaddus family put the mansion back on the market, and it eventually sold again in 2019 for $959,000, and despite a long investigation, the identity of The Watcher was never discovered by police. Derek Broaddus is seen above
‘It was kind of freaky. If you know Westfield, it’s more of a quiet town, more family oriented. When that story came out, it definitely struck people.’
‘That area where it happened is a really beautiful area. It’s not too far from schools. It was a weird situation.’
Bencivenga explained that it was hard for the Broaddus family to sell the home because ‘nobody’ wanted to go near it.
He added that his son knew someone who rented it briefly and visited it on more than one occasion – but didn’t notice anything suspicious.
‘Nobody wanted to live in the house. My son’s friend lived there for two years, and my son used to go there and hang out,’ he revealed.
‘He never noticed anything. He knew about The Watcher, but it didn’t phase him. They just needed a rental in Westfield and that was their only choice.’
He also told The Sun, ‘I know a lot of residents out there that were really scared about the neighborhood. I think people were just nervous and cautious.
‘While the town is still terrorized by the story, some believe that The Watcher was made up by the Broaddus family, and that the couple faked it for attention – a claim they have always denied.
While the new owners have remained anonymous, many people who live in the town are still terrified to go near the home. A still from the show is seen above
The story has freaked out thousands of people due to the new Netflix show, which was executive produced by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan
‘There’s a natural tendency to say, “I’ve lived here for 35 years. Nothing’s happened to me.” What happened to my family is an affront to their contention that they’re safe, that there’s no such thing as mental illness in their community,’ Derek previously told The Cut. ‘People don’t want to believe this could happen in Westfield.’
He added that the ordeal turned him into a ‘depressed wreck,’ while Maria said she was left with terrifying nightmares, including one of a man ‘wearing these boots and carrying a pitchfork and calling to the kids.’
In June 2015, the Broadduses sued the prior owners of the house, claiming that they also received a letter from The Watcher but never disclosed it.
The previous owners said they had only received one note, that was unthreatening. The suit was dismissed.
Executive produced by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, who were also behind hit shows Ratched, The Politician and Pose, the new Netflix show also stars Jennifer Coolidge, Mia Farrow, Henry Hunter Hall, Isabel Gravitt, and Luke David Blumm.
‘Officially the worst ending I’ve ever seen’: Netflix viewers left ‘disappointed’ with the end reveal in new horror series The Watcher
Netflix viewers have been left fuming at the ‘disappointing’ ending of the streaming giant’s new horror series The Watcher.
The gripping seven-episode series from Ryan Murphy is based on the real-life story of a couple who were harassed out of their dream home by a creepy stalker – whose identity remains a mystery to this day.
It stars Naomi Watts, 52, and Bobby Cannavale, 51, as a married couple who move into their dream home in the New Jersey suburbs only to find themselves targeted by a stalker. Also starring is Jennifer Coolidge, 61, as the realtor who sells them the property.
After they move from New York City to 657 Boulevard in Westfield, New Jersey, the couple are sent a series of cryptic and increasingly threatening letters from an anonymous person, signed off with The Watcher, who wants to force them out of their house.
The letters become increasingly chilling and the family spirals as they try to discover who’s behind the threats. Everyone becomes a suspect – their unusual neighbors, their realtor, the town police chief, and the husband and wife homeowners even start to turn on and suspect each other.
Unresolved mystery: A couple (played by Naomi Watts and Bobby Canavale, pictured in a scene from The Watcher) buy their dream home in a quiet New Jersey suburb only to find their hopes of a new life become a living nightmare
Real life: Derek and Maria Broaddus (pictured here with their children) bought 657 Boulevard in Westfield, New Jersey for $1.4million in 2014. Between June that year and February 2017, they received four sinister letters signed by The Watcher that left them fearing for their safety and eventually forced them out of what had been their dream home
The Watcher features the story of a real life couple who moved into their dream home at 657 Boulevard (pictured) before being harassed by an anonymous stalker who sends them chilling letters signed ‘The Watcher’
It seems they have finally brought the horrifying chapter to a close when their terminally ill private detective Theodora (played by Noma Dumezweni) confesses to being The Watcher.
Uneven: According to Metacritic, The Watcher has received mainly mixed reviews and currently holds a score of 52 out of 10
Theodora claims she’s a previous occupant of the house who wanted to get them to move out so she could move back in. But in a further twist, it’s revealed that she lied and just wanted to give the terrorized family closure before she died.
The couple are left with no other option but to move out, leaving the mystery of The Watcher’s identity unresolved – as it remains in real life.
Fans rushed to social media to complain about the lack of resolution at the end of the series, with many branding it ‘pointless’ – but others praised the show for remaining faithful to how it really ended when Derek and Maria Broaddus and their children were forced out of their $1.4million home after four letters from The Watcher left them ‘depressed wrecks’ and on edge.
It was such a haunting tale that their story was at the center of a bidding war between six studios in late 2018 – and while viewers were gripped by the series, they are furious at its unresolved ending. Tweets range from ‘awesome plot, horrendous ending’ to ‘worst ending… utterly horrible’ but others said the true-to-life ending is ‘haunting’ and ‘special’.
Mixed reviews: Viewers were gripped by The Watcher plot – but many found the ending ‘an absolute waste of time’, while others thought it made the story ‘haunting’ and ‘special’
Same fans were livid by the series’ ending – other fans felt it was satisfying enough because it mimicked the true story: ‘Just finished The Watcher… lots of thoughts atm.’
‘Just binged The Watcher on Netflix.. awesome plot, horrendous ending,’ wrote one infuriated fan.
Another said: ‘The ending of the watcher might be hands down the worst ending to any piece of cinema I’ve ever had to see. All the directions they could’ve went and THAT is how they end it? Utterly horrible.’
‘If you’re going to start The Watcher on Netflix, don’t. Officially the worst ending I’ve ever seen,’ a third added.
One penned: ‘I’ve never watched something I’ve been so invested in and get severely annoyed with. Ryan Murphy’s The Watcher. WHO WAS IT? We learnt absolutely nothing. I want to know more! What was that ending??’
‘Just finished The Watcher. I know it’s based on a true story but that ending made the whole series an absolute waste of time,’ one user said.
While other fans felt the ending was satisfying enough as it mimicked the true story: ‘Just finished The Watcher… lots of thoughts atm. Really liked the show and its structure, the ending will have people divided but I for one liked where it went…
‘I am not p***ed at #TheWatcher’s ending as everybody else are. In fact, I think there is something haunting about that ending and that makes it special.’
‘Officially the worst ending I’ve ever seen’: Netflix viewers were left fuming at the ‘disappointing’ ending of new horror series The Watcher which stars Mia Farrow and Terry Kinney (pictured) as creepy neighbors Pearl and Jasper Winslow
Storyline: The Watcher follows a family that moves into a new house and is subsequently terrorized by a stalker; Naomi and Bobby seen with Jennifer Coolidge
The series features Jennifer Coolidge as the realtor who sold the couple their home (pictured here in a promo video for the show, in which she showcases the house)
When the Broaddus family bought 657 Boulevard for $1.4million in 2014, they thought they were embarking on an exciting new chapter in their lives. But between June that year and February 2017, they received four letters signed The Watcher.
The letters kept the family on edge.
In an interview with New York Magazine’s The Cut, Derek said he was a ‘depressed wreck’. His wife Maria said the letters left her fearing for her children’s safety and plagued by terrifying nightmares including one where a man was ‘wearing boots and carrying a pitchfork and calling to the kids.’
Police were unable to identify the stalker despite an extensive investigation but suspected the letters came from someone who was within a 300-yard radius of the house.
The author of the letters claimed to have been ‘watching the house for decades’. One of the notes stated: ‘I am The Watcher. Bring me your young blood.’
According to the letters, observance over the house had been passed down through the family.
One stated: ‘657 Boulevard has been the subject of my family for decades now and as it approaches its 110th birthday, I have been put in charge of watching and waiting for its second coming. My grandfather watched the house in the 1920s and my father watched in the 1960s. It is now my time. Do you know the history of the house? Do you know what lies within the walls of 657 Boulevard? Why are you here? I will find out.’
Despite an investigation, police were never able to find the family’s stalker but they suspect that the letters came from someone who was within a 300-yard radius of the house (pictured)
The Broadduses (Derek Broaddus is pictured right) sued the prior owners, John Woods (left) and his wife Andrea, in 2015 claiming they also received a letter from ‘The Watcher’ but never disclosed it. The Woods said they had only received one note, that was unthreatening. The suit was dismissed.
Maria Broaddus’s fears around how The Watcher may hurt her children were justified. They were mentioned in one of the letters, which said: ‘It has been years and years since the young blood ruled the hallways of the house.
Have you found all of the secrets it holds yet? Will the young blood play in the basement?’
‘Or are they too afraid to go down there alone. I would [be] very afraid if I were them. It is far away from the rest of the house.
If you were upstairs you would never hear them scream.’
However, some people believe it may have been the couple themselves sending the letters. The Broadduses have always denied this.
Derek said: ‘There’s a natural tendency to say, “I’ve lived here for 35 years; nothing’s happened to me”.
‘What happened to my family is an affront to their contention that they’re safe, that there’s no such thing as mental illness in their community. People don’t want to believe this could happen in Westfield.’
In June 2015, the Broadduses sued the prior owners of the house, claiming that they also received a letter from The Watcher but never disclosed it.
The Woods said they had only received one note, that was unthreatening. The suit was dismissed.
Because of the letters, the Broaddus family put the mansion back on the market, and it eventually sold again in 2019 for $959,000.
Their story was at the center of a bidding war between six studios in late 2018, before Netflix acquired the rights and decided to make a miniseries instead of a film.
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