Willard (1971)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Daniel Mann

Writers:

Gilbert Ralston (screenplay)
Gilbert Ralston (novel)

Release Date:

19 November 1971 (West Germany)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Where your nightmares end...WILLARD begins.

Plot:

A social misfit, Willard is made fun of by his co-workers, and squeezed out of the company started by his deceased father by his boss...

Plot Keywords:

Rat | Blockbuster | Domineering Mother | Horror Movie Remade | Recluse

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Bruce Davison	...	Willard Stiles
Elsa Lanchester	...	Henrietta Stiles
Ernest Borgnine	...	Al Martin
Sondra Locke	...	Joan
Michael Dante	...	Brandt
Jody Gilbert	...	Charlotte Stassen
Joan Shawlee	...	Alice Rickles
William Hansen	...	Mr. Barskin
J. Pat O'Malley	...	Jonathan Farley
John Myhers	...	Mr. Carlson
Helen Spring	...	Mrs. Becker
Pauline Drake	...	Ida Stassen
Almira Sessions	...	Carrie Smith
Alan Baxter	...	Walter T. Spencer
Sherry Presnell	...	Mrs. Spencer

Also Known As:

Ratman's Notebooks (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:X | Iceland:16 | West Germany:18 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG

Company:

Bing Crosby Productions

Trivia:

The film's Spanish title is 'La Revolución de las ratas', meaning 'The Revolution of the Rats'.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Dead End (1985)

a boy's best friend is his rats.

A truly memorable 1971 thriller that has became a bit of an underground classic.

Handsom, shy Willard Stiles doesn't have an ideal life. He lives with his domineering widowed mother, is bullied by his boss, and doesn't have any friends. That is, until he befriends the rats in his garden and learns that he can make them do his bidding!

Highlighted by a touching and sympathetic performance from Davison, Willard is a different kind of "nature-strikes-back" film. It's a rare occasion where the human characters, rather than the animals, drive the film to its intense climax. There's plenty of twists and turns to be had, as well as a few moments of skin-crawl, especially for those who aren't fond of rodents! The movie also has a bit of a darkly humorous side to it. It's a bit of a rare movie to find these days, but seek it out and hope for a much-needed DVD release of this B movie classic.

Followed by a rather dark remake in 2003

*** 1/2 out of ****