Ryan Murphy has been having a great month. Not only has he secured one of the most-watched series on Netflix with Dahmer, he then counterpunched that accomplishment with yet another popular series called The Watcher.
Although people may already know that Dahmer is based on a real-life serial killer of the same name, they may not know that The Watcher is also inspired by real events.
The Netflix Series
The series follows a couple Nora and Dean Brannock, played by Naomi Watts and Bobby Cannavale respectively. They are excited about finding the perfect home in a neighborhood coveted by the privileged and wealthy. Willing to put their life savings on the line, Dean buys the gorgeous mansion much to the disdain of their neighbors.
Suddenly, strange things start to happen around the house that nobody can explain. To further the mystery ominous letters begin to be delivered to the couple saying the house needs “fresh blood” and warning against any renovations. These letters are signed “The Watcher,” and arrive periodically with increasing menace.
The Real Story
In 2018 an article was published in about a house located at 657 Boulevard in Westfield New Jersey. The story was about a family who was being stalked by a person who claimed to be in charge of overseeing the wellbeing of their new house.
The Watcher. (L to R) Bobby Cannavale as Dean Brannock, Naomi Watts as Nora Brannock in episode 101 of The Watcher. Cr. Eric Liebowitz/Netflix © 2022
The real-life Broaddus family of which the Netflix series is based never moved into the house after they purchased it for $1.4 million. The couple often visited the house with their children to do renovations, check the mail or talk to contractors, but they never officially moved in.
One day, on his many visits to the house, Mr. Broaddus checked the mailbox and what he found was just the first of many ominous letters from the phantom curator who assumed charge of the New Jersey property.
“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.”
From there, the letters started to become more personal, detailing the make of the family car and the names of the Broaddus’ children. The writer even chastised the couple’s renovation efforts:
“I see already that you have flooded 657 Boulevard with contractors so that you can destroy the house as it was supposed to be. Tsk, tsk, tsk … bad move. You don’t want to make 657 Boulevard unhappy.”
The couple called the police and even asked the previous owners who had also received a letter to join them. The police advised them not to tell anyone about the letters as it might hinder the investigation.
The Watcher. (L to R) Mia Farrow as Pearl Winslow, Terry Kinney as Jasper Winslow, Jeffery Brooks as Officer, Duke Lafoon as Neighbor, Naomi Watts as Nora Brannock, Bobby Cannavale as Dean Brannock in episode 104 of The Watcher. Cr. Eric Liebowitz/Netflix © 2022
Still the letters came. One even teased the Broaddus family about their identity.
“Who am I? There are hundreds and hundreds of cars that drive by 657 Boulevard each day. Maybe I am in one. Look at all the windows you can see from 657 Boulevard. Maybe I am in one. Look out any of the many windows in 657 Boulevard at all the people who stroll by each day. Maybe I am one. Welcome my friends, welcome. Let the party begin” — The Watcher.
The letters became increasingly more threatening and creepy:
“657 Boulevard is anxious for you to move in. 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.
Will they sleep in the attic? Or will you all sleep on the second floor? Who has the bedrooms facing the street? I’ll know as soon as you move in. It will help me to know who is in which bedroom. Then I can plan better.
All of the windows and doors in 657 Boulevard allow me to watch you and track you as you move through the house. Who am I? I am the Watcher and have been in control of 657 Boulevard for the better part of two decades now. The Woods family turned it over to you. It was their time to move on and kindly sold it when I asked them to.
I pass by many times a day. 657 Boulevard is my job, my life, my obsession. And now you are too Braddus family. Welcome to the product of your greed! Greed is what brought the past three families to 657 Boulevard and now it has brought you to me.
Have a happy moving in day. You know I will be watching.”
Having had enough, the Broaddus family decided to sell the property in 2019 for well-under what they paid. The new owners have not reported receiving any new letters from the Watcher.
The Watcher. (L to R) Mia Farrow as Pearl Winslow, Terry Kinney as Jasper Winslow, Jeffery Brooks as Officer, Duke Lafoon as Neighbor, Naomi Watts as Nora Brannock, Bobby Cannavale as Dean Brannock in episode 104 of The Watcher. Cr. Eric Liebowitz/Netflix © 2022
Although the case hasn’t been solved even with the help of the police department, private investigators and the Broaddus’ themselves, it remains open and the Watcher has yet to be identified.
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