The Watcher in the Woods (1980)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

John Hough

Writers:

Brian Clemens (screenplay)
Florence Engel Randall (novel)

Release Date:

7 April 1982 (France)

Genre:

Family | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Scared of going into the woods? You should be ...

Plot:

When a family moves to a country home, the young girls experience strange happenings that have a link to an occult event years past.

Plot Keywords:

Eclipse | Haunted House | Country Home | Occult | Past

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Bette Davis	...	Mrs. Aylwood
Lynn-Holly Johnson	...	Jan Curtis
Kyle Richards	...	Ellie Curtis
Carroll Baker	...	Helen Curtis
David McCallum	...	Paul Curtis
Benedict Taylor	...	Mike Fleming
Frances Cuka	...	Mary Fleming
Richard Pasco	...	Tom Colley
Ian Bannen	...	John Keller
Katharine Levy	...	Karen Aylwood (uncredited in the shortened 1981 release)
Eleanor Summerfield	...	Mrs. Thayer
Georgina Hale	...	Young Mrs. Aylwood

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:PG (TV rating) | Australia:G | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company:

Walt Disney Pictures

Trivia:

The original version ran 100 minutes. This was with the then-undisputed ending tacked on. After the original ending didn't work, the filmmakers re-cut it, adding new footage in place of the old footage, and filmed a special effects sequence in which the viewer sees the other world that the victim was trapped in. This ending still didn't fare well with the critics, so John Hough hired a new cinematographer and they deleted all the footage that had been in the climax, and shot completely new footage including a new ending/explanation.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the mother gets scared about what is happening to her daughters and decides to flee, you can see a hose behind the car providing the rain just before they drive onto the bridge.

Quotes:

Mrs. Aylwood: Did you hurt yourself?
Jan Curtis: Oh, it's just a little cut. I thought... I thought I saw something out there in the woods.
Mrs. Aylwood: What sort of person are you?
Jan Curtis: That's hard to say. Just average, I guess.
Mrs. Aylwood: Are you adventurous? And kind? Are you kind?
Jan Curtis: I... try to be.
Mrs. Aylwood: And sensitive...? Do you sense things?

Movie Connections:

References The Haunting (1963/I)

Very nearly

Although The Watcher in the Woods isn't quite as dark as some people would have you believe, in Disney terms its pitch black. The great Bette Davis looks ghostly and frail, but try taking your eyes off her for a second and Lynn-Holly Johnson isn't your typical antiseptic princess, pretty and charming certainly, but earthy enough to feel real and not a product. David McCallum gives strong support and no matter how far down the cast list you go, you won't find a bad or bland performance. The huge budget, beautiful locations and legendary DP Alan Hume all come together to make the film so nice to look at that the story can sometimes flick by with you only taking a passing interest. While The Watcher in the Woods is the most extraordinary Disney movie you'll ever see, it works with or without the controversy, a very near masterpiece.