1. Overview
James Thomas Watkins is an English film director and screenwriter, widely recognized for his contributions to the horror film and thriller genres. Born in Nottingham, England, Watkins has helmed critically acclaimed films such as Eden Lake (2008) and The Woman in Black (2012). His career spans both film and television, where he has taken on roles as director, writer, and executive producer, demonstrating his versatile filmmaking capabilities.
2. Personal Background
James Thomas Watkins was born on May 20, 1973, in Nottingham, England. He is a British national whose primary professions are film director and screenwriter.
3. Career
James Watkins began his career in the film industry as a screenwriter. His early writing credits include the 2002 film My Little Eye, which he co-wrote. He continued to develop his writing skills, contributing to the screenplay for the 2007 film Gone, co-written with Andrew Upton.
Watkins made his directorial debut with the critically acclaimed 2008 thriller Eden Lake. Following its success, he continued to work on both writing and directing projects. He co-wrote the 2009 sequel The Descent Part 2 and served as its second unit director. His subsequent directorial works include the 2012 supernatural horror film The Woman in Black, starring Daniel Radcliffe, and the 2016 action thriller Bastille Day, which featured Idris Elba. He also wrote the screenplay for Bastille Day alongside Andrew Baldwin.
Beyond feature films, Watkins has directed episodes for television series, including the "Shut Up and Dance" episode of Black Mirror in 2016. He further expanded his television work by directing, writing, and co-executive producing eight episodes of the 2018 series McMafia with Hossein Amini. In 2022, he directed and executive produced six episodes of The Ipcress File. Watkins has also written scripts for major production companies such as Warner Bros., Working Title, Film4, and BBC Films.
4. Filmography
James Watkins has contributed to various film and television projects as a director, writer, and in other capacities.
4.1. Film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Second Unit Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | My Little Eye | Yes | Co-written with David Hilton | ||
| 2007 | Gone | Yes | Co-written with Andrew Upton | ||
| 2008 | Eden Lake | Yes | Yes | Directorial debut | |
| 2009 | The Descent Part 2 | Yes | Yes | Co-written with James McCarthy and J Blakeson | |
| 2012 | The Woman in Black | Yes | |||
| 2016 | Bastille Day | Yes | Yes | Co-written with Andrew Baldwin | |
| 2024 | Speak No Evil | Yes | Yes | ||
| 2026 | Clayface | Yes |
4.2. Television
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Creator | Executive Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Black Mirror | Yes | Episode "Shut Up and Dance" | |||
| 2018 | McMafia | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8 episodes; Co-created and co-executive produced with Hossein Amini |
| 2022 | The Ipcress File | Yes | Yes | 6 episodes |
5. Notable Works and Accolades
James Watkins is particularly known for his work in the horror and thriller genres, with several films achieving critical and commercial success.
His directorial debut, Eden Lake (2008), starring Michael Fassbender and Kelly Reilly, received critical acclaim. The film earned the Best Horror Film award at the 2009 Empire Awards, the Jury Prize at the Sitges Fantasy Festival, and Best Director at Fantasporto. Watkins was also nominated for the Douglas Hickox Award at the 2008 British Independent Film Awards.
Another significant work is The Woman in Black (2012), a supernatural horror film starring Daniel Radcliffe. This film further solidified Watkins' reputation in the horror genre. He also directed and co-wrote the 2016 action thriller Bastille Day, which featured Idris Elba in a leading role. His 2024 film, Speak No Evil, is a psychological horror film that he directed and wrote.
6. Upcoming Projects
In February 2025, it was announced that James Watkins is set to direct the upcoming DC Universe film Clayface. This project marks a notable step into a major superhero franchise for the director.