Watchers III (also Watchers 3 on publicity) is the 1994 second sequel to the horror film Watchers directed by Jeremy Stanford (Stepmonster) from a screenplay by Michael Palmer (Carnosaur 2), loosely based on the novel Watchers by Dean R. Koontz . It stars Wings Hauser (The Carpenter; Bedroom Eyes II; Tales from the Hood), Gregory Scott Cummins, Daryl Keith Roach, John Linton, Lolita Ronalds, Ider Cifuentes Martin, Frank Novak. Executive produced by Roger Corman, the exteriors were shot on location in Peru.
The film was followed by a further entry in this minor franchise in 1998, Watchers: Reborn.
Plot teaser:
A top secret experiment spawns two highly intelligent life-forms: Einstein, a golden retriever with an IQ of 175; and the Outsider, a deformed monstrosity that exists to kill and to avenge its creators. When the Outsider escapes into the jungles of South America, the government sends in Ferguson (Wings Hauser) and some ex-military convicts to catch the beast. But what starts out as a high-speed chase ends in carnage. Only Einstein knows the Outsider’s motives, and only the canine can outsmart the creature…
Reviews:
A low-rent Predator rip-off that also manages to ride on the tail of the ridiculous Watchers franchise — so we have more inane scenes of the supposed ultra-intelligent golden retriever dog barking warnings about ‘The Outsider’ or how to diffuse a bomb — but, strangely, the isolation of the authentic jungle settings, the timely gore moments, and Wings Hauser’s overly ‘sincere’ leadership role, make this a more agreeable time-waster than its predecessors. Plus, the hilariously daft monster harks back to Corman’s earliest 50s cheapo efforts.
Adrian J Smith, Horrorpedia
“Wings tries his best in this, and it’s plenty entertaining. He continues to reaffirm his status as a DTVC Hall of Famer through his efforts in crap like this. Between his scenes with the dog, to his dialog in funny-that’s-supposed-to-be-cool military speak (you know, “Checkmate this is Goose Down, do you read me?”), he delivers. I totally give him an A for effort. The problem is, you can get the same satisfaction out of seeing him guest star on an episode of Walker: Texas Ranger or something, and you’re in and out the door in half the time.” Direct to Video Connoisseur
“Enhanced by rugged jungle locations, and well directed by Jeremy Stanford, this is better-than-usual work for Corman. Michael Palmer’s script … is totally derivative of other actioners, but makes for a gpgood advebture that is marred only by a beast-creature that sometimes looks more ludicrous than hideous.” John Stanley, Creature Features
Choice dialogue:
“Are you an idiot? Or are you just fuckin’ stupid?”
“They took his head. They took his goddam head!”
