'The Watcher,' based on creepy Westfield home, sets Netflix release date

Just days ago, the Nov. 23 Netflix release date of "Wednesday," a spinoff of "The Addams Family," which was inspired by series creator Charles Addams' Westfield abode, was announced.

Now, another Westfield home is heading to Netflix with a story that, to the dismay of Derek and Maria Broaddus, is much further from fiction.

"The Watcher," which follows the 2014 story of a Westfield home that was plagued with sinister, anonymous letters, will air Thursday, Oct. 13, as part of Netflix's Halloween 2022 lineup. The series was produced by Ryan Murphy, who is the creator of "Glee" and "American Horror Story."

While the home was owned by the Broaddus family, "The Watcher" sent letters writing phrases such as, "Do you need to fill the house with the young blood I requested? Once I know their names I will call to them and draw them too (sic) me.”

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The Broaddus family, renamed as Nora and Dean Brannock, are played by Naomi Watts and Bobby Cannavale. In the series, the couple sign away their savings to purchase a nearly $1.4 million 1905 Dutch colonial home. Quickly, their dream home becomes a nightmare as before they move in, they begin to receive threatening letters with scary allusions to their three children.

The real-life "Watcher," as they signed their letters, was never identified.

A trailer hit the internet recently, opening with the family excitedly moving into their new home. That excitement fades into fear as a voice says, "This house is my obsession. Now, you are too." Before that, a video of an "open house" hosted by a realtor, played by Jennifer Coolidge, was released.

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After years of price drops, the Westfield "Watcher" house, as it has been dubbed, was finally sold in summer of 2019 for $959,000. The six-bedroom, 3½-bathroom home sits on nearly a half-acre.

Three years before the sale, the Broaddus family tried to sue the former owners of the home, claiming they knew of the sinister letters but didn't disclose the information during the selling process. The lawsuit was dismissed in 2017.

Jenna Intersimone has been a staff member at the USA Today Network New Jersey since 2014, after becoming a blogger-turned-reporter following the creation of her award-winning travel blog. To get unlimited access to her stories about food, drink and fun, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Contact: JIntersimone@Gannett.com or @JIntersimone.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: The Watcher, based on creepy Westfield home, coming to Netflix