Observer (2022) Review – An Ambitious But Messy Religious Trip
Observer: Quick Verdict
The Verdict: A highly experimental and challenging piece of independent horror that prioritises abstract imagery over narrative clarity. Observer is an ambitious effort from director Stephen Sander, attempting to weave a complex tale of spiritual warfare and human trafficking through a chaotic, unrelenting visual style. While its unique approach is commendable in a genre often filled with generic slashers, the execution is hampered by its low budget and confusing editing. It is a 2.5 star experience that will likely polarise audiences; some will admire its creative bravery, while others will find its sensory onslaught exhausting. It is not for everyone, but for those seeking something truly different from the standard found footage formula, it is a curious time filler available for free on YouTube.
Details: Director: Stephen Sander | Cast: Jennifer Chalamov, Christopher Siaens, Marcie-Deneen Harris | Runtime: 1h 10m | Release Date: 10 March 2024 (Terror Films)
Best for: Fans of experimental cinema, those who enjoyed Skinamarink, and viewers looking for something outside the traditional horror box.
Worth noting: The film relies heavily on religious scripture and symbolic imagery to convey its themes of salvation and damnation.
Where to Watch: Terror Films YouTube (Free)
Rating: 2.5/5 Stars
(Ambitious concept, unique storytelling, confusing execution)
Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are checking out a movie that’s available completely free on YouTube – Observer (2022).
Table of Contents
Free horror, what’s not to love?
We watched and, surprisingly, enjoyed quaint found footage horror Life of Belle a couple of days ago. For those of you who don’t know, the movie was distributed completely free on the Terror Films YouTube channel. Pretty cool, eh? Terror Films pick up lesser-known independent horror movies and offer them up to the public completely free. This is an idea I can get behind so I decided I would start checking out some of their catalogue. It just so happens that they had only just added a brand new movie when I went to pick something to watch. That movie is Observer!
So a quick flick through the comments section of the video shows a bunch of people who probably worked on the movie. Most seem excited to see that the movie has its release and a few people relate their anticipation. I’m not sure why people don’t comment after watching but, whatever, I am not the YouTube comment police.
The only real comment of particular note is this one by user lukesharp5641 which reads “Terrible movie……One or two effective jump scares but story is wack“. Okay, so that isn’t exactly glowing but everyone is entitled to their opinion, right? Let’s throw the movie on and check it out. After all, it is free and it can’t be all that bad, can it?
Well, not really! But WTF?
Observer was a trip. Full disclosure, I was tired as hell when I put this movie on. My fiancée didn’t want to sleep yet so I bargained with her that we would chill with a horror before hitting the hay. The only prerequisites for the film? It has to be short. That’s all and it just so happens that Observer perfectly fit the bill at a scant 70 minutes. With credits that is probably only slightly over an hour. Perfect!
“Those 70 minutes feel like three hours. From the moment the movie kicks off you are bombarded with abstract shots and a lot of noise beamed directly into the back of your head.”
What a mistake that was. Those 70 minutes feels like three hours. From the moment the movie kicks off you are bombarded with abstract shots and a lot of noise beamed directly into the back of your head. Disconnected scenes of angels arguing with bizarrely voiced demon ladies battle against real-world scenes of violence and gang warfare. All while a vague story attempts to work its way to the forefront against a tide of religious scripture and atypical camera work.
Tough to review
It’s a lot. Especially when you are tired. It’s actually to the point where I am not quite sure how to critique the movie. It feels like one of those Skinamarink situations where you know some people are going to absolutely hate it but you can appreciate what the director was going for.
The story follows a troubled girl who finds herself, and her younger brother, kidnapped by a group of human traffickers who she has been working for. The brother appears to have a guardian angel who now has to argue for the salvation of the girl and battle for the pair’s survival.
“It feels like one of those Skinamarink situations where you know some people are going to absolutely hate it but you can appreciate what the director was going for.”
It’s a classic tale of good vs evil, I suppose, and much of the movie focuses on the angel’s attempts to rationalise the complexity of the girl’s situation in order to justify her salvation. You know, given the fact that she is recruiting victims for human traffickers and all.
It doesn’t quite work
A lot of that doesn’t come across particularly clearly, though, as the story is portrayed in something of an abstract manner. We see a brief moment of current day happenings that is quickly contrasted against a scene of the guardian angel discussing the character’s impending fates. It sort of reminded me of a long-form version of the music video to the Shakespears Sister song Stay. It’s quite strange and the best way I could describe it is as being rather ambitious.
Maybe a little too ambitious given the clearly low budget. The filming techniques employed don’t fit the format particularly well and the chaotic editing lends Observer more of a messy feel than anything. Washed-out shots that shake manically quickly grow old and the overuse of mid-2000s horror tropes don’t offer much new on the scare front.
Director Stephen Sander’s scope is almost too much for the filming techniques and editing to withstand. With a more experienced team behind it, Observer might have worked quite well. But, as it stands, it just feels like a barrage of disconnected images and noise fired at you without rhyme or reason. The story is tough to follow and that is a significant barrier for entry. It is one of those movies that will take a few viewings to appreciate and I am just not sure that most people will be willing to afford it that.
I appreciate the effort
That doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the effort, though. A lot of creativity has gone into this movie and it has its moments. I can’t imagine the amount of work and planning that went into storyboarding for it. There is a pace to the film that is really quite impressive. With Sander never lingering on a single shot for any more than a few seconds. It is chaotic and unrelenting in its delivery.
“Observer is admirably unique against a backdrop of low-budget found footage movies and DIY slashers. The story is fairly nuanced and the way it is presented is nothing if not different.”
The somewhat different approach to storytelling deserves some praise, as well. Despite how much it will likely confuse some viewers, Observer is admirably unique against a backdrop of low-budget found footage movies and DIY slashers. The story is fairly nuanced and the way it is presented is nothing if not different. I honestly think there are people out there that will really enjoy this movie. I think there is an audience for it and I think a lot of horror fans will appreciate just how different it feels.
It is worth mentioning that Observer isn’t a scary movie. I don’t know where the couple of jump scares were that the above commenter pointed out were as I don’t remember any such moments. Acting is okay with Jennifer Chalamov standing out most as the guardian angel. The characters here aren’t exactly developed, though, so acting takes something of a backseat.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The Good
- Creative Ambition: The film takes a bold, non-linear approach to its storytelling that sets it apart from typical low-budget horror.
- Unrelenting Pace: Director Stephen Sander maintains a high energy throughout, ensuring the visual experience never stagnates.
- Atmosphere: The use of abstract shots and sound design creates a disorienting, nightmarish feel.
The Bad
- Confusing Narrative: The abstract delivery makes the core plot difficult to follow, which may alienate many viewers.
- Technical Limitations: The low budget is evident in the shaky camera work and sometimes messy editing.
- Lack of Scares: Despite its intense style, the film fails to deliver genuine frightening moments or tension.
The Ugly: The Sensory Onslaught. The unrelenting barrage of noise and abstract imagery can make the seventy minute runtime feel significantly longer than it actually is.
Should You Watch Observer?
Only if you have a high tolerance for experimental or abstract cinema. It is a unique and creative effort, but its confusing structure and chaotic presentation make it a very difficult recommendation for a general audience. It is a 2.5 star film that deserves points for bravery but misses the mark on execution.
You might also like:
- Grace (2009) Review – A Disturbing but Slow Pregnancy Horror
- Destroy This Tape (2025) review: Authentic aesthetics, ruined potential
- The Curse of La Llorona (2019) Review – A Tired and Formulaic Jump-Fest
- Be Careful Who You Count On – 10 Horror Movies With Toxic Friendships
- Outpost (2022) Ending Explained – Reality vs. Hallucination
Our Scoring Philosophy: A Fair Fight
Horror is a genre that thrives thanks to indie film makers and low budget creators. At Knockout Horror, we firmly believe that every movie that we review deserves a fair fight. That's why we grade on a curve. Our star ratings are all about context, judging a film on what it achieves with the resources it has.
A 4-star rating for a scrappy indie horror made for $10,000 is a testament to its ingenuity and raw power. A 4-star rating for a $100 million blockbuster means it delivered on its epic promises. We don't compare them side-by-side; we celebrate success in every weight class, from the back-alley brawler to the heavyweight champion. Please keep this in mind when considering star ratings.
Support the Site Knockout Horror is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Basically, if you click a link to rent or buy a movie, we may earn a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This helps keep the lights on and the nightmares coming. Don't worry, we will never recommend a movie purely to generate clicks. If it's bad, we will tell you.
Disclaimer: Images, posters, and video stills used in this review are the property of their respective copyright holders. They are included here for the purposes of commentary, criticism, and review under fair use. Knockout Horror makes no claim of ownership and encourages readers to support the official release of all films discussed.
