‘Tomb Watcher’ (2025) Netflix Movie Review - A Darkly Hilarious Haunted-House Flick With Bite

There’s something instantly magnetic about a premise this deranged. A slimy husband, his equally questionable mistress, and a dead wife preserved in a glass coffin, all living under the same roof for 100 days, it’s the kind of setup that practically writes its own chaos. Tomb Watcher takes this premise and squeezes it for all its awkward tension and bizarre comedy, delivering a film that’s equal parts inventive, campy, and wildly entertaining, even if it occasionally stumbles on its own excess.

The positives first, because there are plenty. The concept itself is gold. The idea of the corpse as a permanent houseguest is so blunt and so loaded with potential conflict that every scene brims with unease. From the very beginning, the coffin doesn’t feel like a prop; it feels like a character, looming in the corner of every shot, silently mocking the still-living intruders.

Performance-wise, Ross is the film’s beating heart. Arachaporn Pokinpakorn captures the dread of someone realizing she’s locked into the worst Airbnb imaginable. Her slow unraveling is fun to watch because it never veers into parody; she really sells the horror of living with a corpse that may or may not be messing with her sanity. Woranuch Bhirombhakdi, even in death, dominates the screen as Lunthom. She doesn’t need to move much to terrify; her stillness is weaponized into menace. These performances help the movie keep its footing, even when the script wobbles.

Then there’s the humor. This is not a solemn ghost story. It’s dripping with melodrama, exaggerated emotion, and a camp sensibility that makes the absurdity of the situation feel intentional. The supernatural shenanigans aren’t subtle whispers or shadows in the hall; they’re outright physical, often ridiculous confrontations. Ross, being flung about the villa by unseen forces, looks like horror and slapstick wrestling rolled into one. It’s unashamedly over-the-top, and that’s why it works.

Director Vathanyu Ingkawiwat also deserves credit for knowing when to let silence linger and when to unleash chaos. The villa itself is a strong character, its creaking halls and oppressive design amplifying the absurd drama unfolding within. The pacing in the first half allows the tension to breathe, letting the coffin’s presence gnaw at the viewer before unleashing the ghostly fireworks.

But for all its strengths, Tomb Watcher doesn’t escape its flaws. The most glaring issue is Cheev, the husband. He’s written as irredeemably bland, greedy, weak, and selfish to the core. That could work if the film punished him in satisfying ways, but instead, he coasts through much of the ordeal relatively unscathed. Watching Ross bear the brunt of the supernatural torment while he skulks around like a discount soap-opera villain feels unbalanced. By the end, his lack of comeuppance makes the story’s moral weight feel flimsy.

The narrative also meanders. Flashbacks promise juicy backstory but often play like filler, padding the runtime without adding much. At times, the movie feels unsure whether it wants to be a psychological horror, supernatural revenge, or gothic melodrama, and the tonal wobbling can pull you out of the moment.

Then there are the scares. While some of the haunting sequences are brilliantly imaginative, others lean on predictable tricks, loud stings, sudden shadows, and the usual toolbox of cheap horror tactics. In a film with such a bold premise, the reliance on generic scares feels like a missed opportunity.

Still, the finale redeems much of this. Without giving too much away, the last act doubles down on the melodrama, twisting the power dynamics until they collapse in a gloriously grotesque tableau. It’s messy, it’s shocking, and it leaves an impression long after the credits roll. That final image is the perfect blend of horrific and absurd, embodying exactly what makes Tomb Watcher memorable.

Walking away from the film, I felt both entertained and mildly frustrated. On the one hand, it’s a deliciously campy ghost story with strong performances and an audacious concept. On the other hand, it occasionally squanders its potential with uneven pacing, limp characterization of Cheev, and scares that don’t live up to the setup.

But here’s the thing: I’d rather watch a horror film that swings big and misses a few shots than one that plays it safe. Tomb Watcher isn’t perfect, but it’s bold, fun, and strange in a way that sticks with you. It makes you laugh when you probably shouldn’t, makes you squirm in ways you didn’t expect, and leaves you with an ending that’s as unsettling as it is absurd.

So yes, it’s messy. Yes, it’s melodramatic. Yes, it sometimes feels like a haunted telenovela. But that’s exactly why it works. It’s not trying to reinvent horror—it’s trying to entertain, unsettle, and maybe even make you question whether you’d ever agree to an inheritance clause that involves bunking with a corpse. And on that front, Tomb Watcher succeeds with ghoulish flair.

Final Score- [6/10]
Reviewed by - Anjali Sharma
Follow @AnjaliS54769166 on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times