Every now and then, we get the rare chance to read a gripping domestic psychological thriller that leaves us with goosebumps. In this case, we have the compelling Tracy Sierra’s novel, Nightwatching. And the best news is that we are getting a movie adaptation.
Nightwatching is Tracy Sierra’s debut novel, which was published back in 2024. Her most recent novel, Warning Signs, was released on February 10, 2026.
Tracy draws from her experience as an attorney to write about the institutional failure of the health and judicial systems. The social commentary in her works also explores the portrayal of women in society.
Critics have lauded her distinctive writing technique in Nightwatching, in which she omits the characters’ names. This technique perfectly captured the sense of universal fear she was hoping for.
Readers quickly become immersed in this slow-burning thriller, feeling as if they could be in the characters’ situation. Most readers noted that they could relate to the character’s fear and desire to survive, and most critics described the novel as horror-adjacent and a masterclass in tension.
So, how will this novel be adapted for the big screen? Here is everything we know about the upcoming movie adaptation.
What will be the Plot of the Nightwatching Movie?
As with most adaptations, this movie will be based on the novel Nightwatching. How closely it will stick to the source material is yet to be determined.
The book lovers are hoping that the film will deliver the suspenseful and nerve-shredding atmosphere depicted in the book.
Here is the official logline of the upcoming adaptation: “After waking to an intruder in her home during a relentless winter storm, a mother is drawn into a harrowing game of doubt and danger as she struggles to protect her children, leaving her to question not only who has entered her home but also what they truly want.”
Unfortunately, it looks like the movie will lose one of the book’s most defining elements. In the book, the characters have no names and refer to each other using pronouns. The movie has already given the lead the name Lee. However, the name might be a practical standard for the film script.
There have also been concerns about how well the movie will capture the mother’s internal dialogue to create the sense that she is an unreliable narrator. We will have to wait and see how well the chosen actress delivers in this role!
If you haven’t yet read the book, here’s the official synopsis so you know exactly what to expect from the book and the upcoming movie adaptation:
A mother is forced to the breaking point when her life and the lives of her children are threatened by an intruder!
Home alone with her young children during a blizzard, a mother tucks her son back into bed in the middle of the night. She hears a noise—old houses are always making some kind of noise. But this sound is disturbingly familiar: it’s the tread of footsteps, unusually heavy and slow, coming up the stairs.
She sees the figure of a man appear down the hallway, shrouded in the shadows. Terrified, she quietly wakes her children and hustles them into the oldest part of the house, a tiny, secret room concealed behind a wall. There, they hide as the man searches for them, trying to tempt the children out with promises and scare the mother into surrender.
In the suffocating darkness, the mother struggles to remain calm, to plan. Should she search for a weapon or attempt escape? But then she catches another glimpse of him. That face. That voice. And at once she knows her situation is even more dire than she’d feared, because she knows exactly who he is—and what he wants.
Casting & Production Updates:
The talented Mila Kunis is set to play the leading role of the mother in this film. She will also assume a producer role in the film, joining Ridley Scott.
Corey Hawkins, Aaron Moten, and Clancy Brown have also joined the cast of Nightwatching. Others joining the movie’s cast are Pat Healy, Mark Webber, Grace Kelly Quigley, and Duke McCloud.
Adam Schindler and Brian Netto will be joining the project as directors.
Nightwatching Movie Release Date:
Filming is expected to start later this year. Currently, most of the film’s cast has been announced, so it’s only a matter of time before the movie moves from pre-production to production.
The anticipated release date is around early 2027, but that might change if filming is delayed.
So, let’s wait for an official announcement!
Should You Read the Book Instead?
You should always read the source material of any film or TV adaptation if it is available. Secondly, this book comes highly recommended. Most readers praised the visceral suspense that had them trembling in their boots.
Tracy Sierra’s approach to the internal character’s dialogue is refreshing and adds depth to the narrative. She does a fantastic job of setting the story’s atmosphere and sensory details. The well-written psychological aspect of the narrative, as well as the social commentary, is enlightening.
That said, what are you waiting for? Get the book and enjoy a nerve-wracking story of survival!
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