The Watchtower

Historical Horror | ~85 pages | Female-led | Psychological & Supernatural Set against the haunting backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains in 1875, 'The Watchtower' follows Sarah Winters, a war widow seeking solace in isolation after the loss of her husband. Sarah arrives at a decrepit watchtower, a place marked by ominous warnings and a chilling history. As she settles in, she unpacks a wooden chest containing remnants of her past, including a telegram confirming her husband's death and a journal belonging to a previous watcher, A. Merritt, filled with cryptic entries about the supernatural forces that haunt the tower. On her first night, Sarah is plagued by unsettling noises and visions, including a pale figure lurking in the woods. As she grapples with her grief and the eerie atmosphere, she discovers that the tower is not merely a shelter but a prison for restless spirits. The journal reveals that previous watchers have met tragic fates, and Sarah begins to experience strange occurrences that blur the line between reality and the supernatural. Flashbacks reveal Sarah's past, including her husband's dishonorable discharge from the Union Army and the guilt she carries for his actions during the war. The narrative unfolds as Sarah confronts her memories and the haunting presence of a child whose fate is intertwined with her own. The tower's bell tolls ominously, signaling the arrival of dark forces that demand a reckoning. As Sarah delves deeper into the tower's mysteries, she encounters a visitor, a man who appears to be another lost soul drawn to the tower's dark allure. He warns her of the malevolent spirit of a mother seeking vengeance for her child's death, a fate that echoes Sarah's own unresolved guilt. The visitor's presence intensifies the tension, leading to a series of harrowing events that force Sarah to confront her past and the choices that led her to this cursed place. The climax builds as Sarah discovers a hidden crawlspace beneath the tower, revealing the remnants of previous watchers and the dark history of the tower. She learns that the spirits are bound to the tower, waiting for someone to witness their pain and carry their burdens. In a desperate bid for freedom, Sarah must confront the truth of her past and the choices she made, ultimately leading to a confrontation with the malevolent mother spirit. In a final act of defiance, Sarah embraces her role as a watcher, choosing to carry the weight of the spirits rather than succumb to their darkness. The film concludes with a haunting image of Sarah standing at the edge of the tower, the bell tolling in the distance, as she becomes part of the tower's legacy, forever entwined with the spirits she sought to escape.