James Watkins (director)

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James Watkins
On set of McMafia with cast (cropped).jpg
Watkins in 2017
Born (1973-05-20) 20 May 1973 (age 52)
Nottingham, England
OccupationFilmmaker

James Thomas Watkins (born 20 May 1973) is an English filmmaker. He is best known for horror films such as Eden Lake (2008), The Woman in Black (2012), and Speak No Evil (2024). He has also directed episodes of series such as Black Mirror (2016) and The Ipcress File (2022), and was the creator, writer, director, and executive producer of the series McMafia (2018).

Contents

Early life

James Thomas Watkins[ citation needed ] was born in Nottingham on 20 May 1973.[ citation needed ]

Career

Film

Watkins co-wrote the horror films My Little Eye (2002) and Gone (2007). In his directorial debut, he wrote and directed the horror-thriller film Eden Lake (2008). [1] It won Best Horror Film at the 2009 Empire Awards, the Jury Prize at the Sitges Film Festival, and Best Director at Fantasporto.[ citation needed ] Watkins was also nominated for the Douglas Hickox Award at the 2008 British Independent Film Awards.[ citation needed ]

Watkins was the co-writer and second unit director of The Descent Part 2 (2009). He directed the horror film The Woman in Black (2012) [2] [3] and co-wrote and directed the action thriller film Bastille Day (2016). He wrote and directed the horror-thriller film Speak No Evil (2024). [4] He has also written scripts for Warner Bros., Working Title, Film4, and BBC Films.[ citation needed ]

Watkins will next direct the DC Universe horror superhero film Clayface (2026). [5]

Television

Watkins directed the Black Mirror episode "Shut Up and Dance" (2016) and six episodes of The Ipcress File (2022). He was the creator, writer, director, and executive producer of McMafia (2018).

Filmography

Film

YearTitleDirectorWriter
2002 My Little Eye NoYes
2007 Gone NoYes
2008 Eden Lake YesYes
2009 The Descent Part 2 Second unitYes
2012 The Woman in Black YesNo
2016 Bastille Day YesYes
2024 Speak No Evil YesYes
2026 Clayface YesNo

Television

YearTitleDirectorWriterCreatorProducerNotes
2016 Black Mirror YesNoNoNoEpisode: "Shut Up and Dance"
2018 McMafia YesYesYesYes8 episodes
2022 The Ipcress File YesNoNoNo6 episodes

References

  1. "James Watkins interview: Eden Lake, modern horror & The Descent 2". Den of Geek. 23 January 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  2. Gingold, Michael (4 February 2019). "Q&A: Director James Watkins' Dark Directions For THE WOMAN IN BLACK". Fangoria.
  3. Mellor, Louisa (9 February 2012). "James Watkins, Jane Goldman & Susan Hill interview: The Woman In Black, Hammer and more". Den of Geek.
  4. "James Watkins - United Agents". United Agents. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  5. Kit, Borys; Couch, Aaron (21 February 2025). "DC's 'Clayface' Lands 'Speak No Evil' Director James Watkins (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 23 February 2025.