The Watch (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

The Watch is a 29-minute thriller about Dave, a struggling salesman who finds a mysterious watch and a gun. When the watch reveals the power to send him back in time, his attempt to change his circumstances begins affecting the lives of those around him as well.

The Watch is a 2026 thriller short written and directed by Shem Doupé. At 29 minutes, it centers on Dave, a salesman facing the loss of his job when an unexpected discovery gives him access to the past.

The film combines a difficult professional situation with a time-travel premise and a potentially dangerous object. Its story asks what happens when one person gains the ability to reshape not only his own life, but also the lives connected to it.

The Watch movie details

Story without spoilers

Dave is a down-on-his-luck salesman whose job is in jeopardy. His circumstances change after he uncovers a box containing a watch and a gun. The watch has an extraordinary ability: it allows him to travel back in time.

With that power, Dave begins altering the course of his life. However, the effects do not remain limited to him. The choices made through the watch also reshape the lives of people around him, giving the short film a thriller framework built around consequence, opportunity and risk.

What to expect

The Watch is presented as a compact thriller with a time-travel hook and a grounded starting point. The contrast between Dave’s sales career and the extraordinary power of the watch sets up a story about changing circumstances under unusual conditions.

The 29-minute runtime suggests a focused narrative rather than an expansive science-fiction world. The inclusion of a gun alongside the watch also indicates that the discovery carries more than one source of tension, although the supplied information does not reveal how that element develops.

Cast and creative team

Shem Doupé writes and directs The Watch while also playing Dave, the salesman at the center of the story. Dean Linder plays Rob, Brooke Ryan plays Liz, and Josh Jansen plays Boss. The supporting cast includes Ben Culver as Berkshire Rep, Matt Ruchubka as Pawn Broker, Jesse Linder as the Man who buries the box, and Ben Davis as Sales Rep 2.

• Shem Doupé as Dave
• Dean Linder as Rob
• Brooke Ryan as Liz
• Josh Jansen as Boss
• Ben Culver as Berkshire Rep
• Matt Ruchubka as Pawn Broker
• Jesse Linder as Man who buries the box
• Ben Davis as Sales Rep 2

Release and production context

The Watch is a 2026 short film in the thriller genre. It has a listed release date of October 24, 2026, and runs for 29 minutes. Shem Doupé is credited as both director and writer. No country, spoken language or production company is specified in the supplied information.

Reported production figures:
Budget $10,000

The Watch official trailer

Watch the official trailer on YouTube

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With its brief runtime and high-concept premise, The Watch focuses on a struggling salesman confronted by an object capable of changing the past. The available details establish a concise thriller about personal circumstances, temporal power and consequences without disclosing the film’s later developments.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb