“When Dakota came in, she brought this kind of texture with who she is, which is this effortless cool girl. She put the last piece into place and made Mina real for us,” writer-director Ishana Night Shyamalan shares about Dakota Fanning’s role in her feature debut “The Watchers.” Fanning stars as Mina, a character trapped in an enclosure with strangers in the forests of Ireland, stalked by mysterious creatures each night. The film delves into why the group is being watched and what these creatures want.

Crafting Mina: The Journey

Mina’s character evolved significantly during the film’s production. Shyamalan explains, “Building Mina was an interesting process because she didn’t fully exist until we began shooting. She represents the audience, capturing the essence of being young in today’s world. Mina embodies the cynicism and dissociation many of us feel.”

Fanning relates to her character deeply. “Mina is in a stagnant period of her life, searching for something, and encounters this supernatural experience. I can relate to this phase of being ‘in between,’ trying to figure out who you are and what you want. Ishana and I both connected with that aspect of Mina.”

Unveiling the Mystery

Fanning delves into the eerie dynamics within “The Watchers.” Mina encounters other characters after being pulled into a strange forest structure, referred to as “the coop.” “There’s almost a cult-like feeling with these strange rules. The other characters—Madeline, Ciara, and Daniel—can’t even explain it, which is even more unsettling for Mina,” Fanning describes.

A Blend of Horror and Thrill

Fanning is excited about how “The Watchers” will captivate audiences. I think it’ll definitely appeal to thriller lovers and horror lovers. It has so many of those aspects. There’s also this psychological element to it—I think for a lot of the movie you’re not even sure what you’re scared of, but you know you’re scared,” she says. “I love films like that. It has so many different aspects of a thriller and of a horror film—just the right amount of scares and gore and violence—but also subtlety. And mixed in with it all is some Irish folklore. It’s a wonderful combination.”

Release and Details

“The Watchers” hits Philippine cinemas on June 5. This horror-thriller, produced by M. Night Shyamalan, follows 28-year-old artist Mina, stranded in a Western Ireland forest. She finds shelter, only to become trapped with strangers, stalked by unseen creatures.

The film stars Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell, Oliver Finnegan, and Olwen Fouéré. Behind the scenes, it boasts a talented team, including director of photography Eli Arenson and production designer Ferdia Murphy.

Mark your calendars and unravel the mystery of “The Watchers” on June 5. Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, join the conversation with hashtags #TheWatchers and #AreYouWatching.