Dean and Nora Brannock (played by Bobby Cannavale and Naomi Watts) purchase their dream home in Westfield, New Jersey where they begin receiving strange letters from someone calling themselves "The Watcher." But their house starts becoming increasingly targeted for break-ins and attacks, leading them to hire a private investigator who reveals that there was once another resident of their house who committed murder.
John Graff, the mystery man in The Watcher, may not be real but his crimes are strikingly similar to those of John List who was convicted of murdering his entire family in 1971. According to The New York Times, List lost his job and then used money from his mother for his crime spree which took place at a Westfield mansion where he executed his wife and children before taking a break between each killing to eat sandwiches.
Although Graff may not have been the real-life John List, he certainly was inspired by him. In episode three of Netflix series "Haunting," Dean and his family meet a man named Joe Mantello who claims to have lived in their house as "John." Unfortunately, this character turned out to be an evil serial killer.
On further investigation, however, Theodora Birch (Noma Dumezweni) informs Dean that Graff was not only a murderer but also an ardent Lutheran Christian. He professed love for his family and church but never hesitated when it came to committing crimes against them.
Theodora recounts that Graff resided at 657 Boulevard for several years before he murdered his family and fled the house. Afterward, he made his way to another state before returning back home under a different identity with a new wife.
According to HITC, Graff's crimes are closely connected with those of John List. Both men shared similar backgrounds and beliefs as devout Christians who tragically took their families' lives in Westfield, New Jersey.
Graff's crimes were so similar to those of List that HITC speculates they may have been committed by the same killer. In 1971, List shot his family while they ate their dinner; then waited for 16-year-old Patricia and 13-year-old Frederick to come home from school before killing them too. Notice how List took a break between each killing to eat sandwiches - exactly like Graff did while murdering his family in The Watcher.
It appears likely that John Graff, inspired by real-life murderer John List, is responsible for some of the unspeakable incidents at 657 Boulevard in The Watcher. Not only does the show create an uneasy atmosphere about the neighborhood but what's even more troubling is that whoever committed these horrific attacks was once part of our community.
