The Watcher in the Woods (1980)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

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 short ending that didn't include the explanatory "Other World Sequence" (which wasn't finished at the time of the film's initial release). After the original ending didn't work, the filmmakers re-cut it, adding the 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 Vincent McEveety was brought in (director John Hough was unavailable) to tweak the film and shoot an entirely new ending and opening credits sequence.

Goofs:

Continuity: When seen in the mirror maze Karen is wearing white tights. When she returns to the chapel they are gone.

Quotes:

Jan Curtis: Mr. Keller I had to see you, it's about Karen Aylwood.
John Keller: What about Karen Aylwood?
Jan Curtis: She needs help.
John Keller: How would you know that?
Jan Curtis: I've seen her.
John Keller: Where?
Jan Curtis: I'm mirrors!
John Keller: Oh, mirrors. You say you see yourself as Karen?
Jan Curtis: No! It was her image. Why was she blindfolded at the chapel? I've got to find out what happened that night, it's important to me.
John Keller: Why dear? It's none of your business!
[...]

Movie Connections:

References The Legend of Hell House (1973)

What happened to your daughter?

Lynn-Holly Johnson is stupendous as Jan in this fabulous suspense film. The remaining cast is brilliant. The costumes are trendy. One of the good flicks in the genre, The Watcher In The Woods will haunt the viewer with a chilling past. 8 out of 10.