The Watcher in the Woods (1980)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

John Hough
(more)

Writers:

Brian Clemens (screenplay)
Florence Engel Randall (novel)
(more)

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dominic Guard	...	Young John Keller (uncredited)

Directed by
John Hough
Vincent McEveety		(uncredited)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Brian Clemens		screenplay
Gerry Day		uncredited
Florence Engel Randall		novel "A Watcher in the Woods"
Rosemary Anne Sisson		screenplay
Harry Spalding		screenplay

Produced by
Hugh Attwooll	....	associate producer
Tom Leetch	....	co-producer
Ron Miller	....	producer

Original Music by
Stanley Myers

Cinematography by
Alan Hume

Film Editing by
Geoffrey Foot

Casting by
Maude Spector

Production Design by
Elliot Scott

Art Direction by
Alan Cassie

Set Decoration by
Ian Whittaker

Costume Design by
Emma Porteus

Makeup Department
Jill Carpenter	....	makeup artist
Eileen Fletcher	....	makeup artist
Ernest Gasser	....	makeup director
Joyce James	....	hair stylist
Betty Sherriff	....	hair stylist
Bobbie Smith	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Steve Lanning	....	production manager
Basil Rayburn	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Hoult	....	assistant director
Michael Murray	....	second assistant director
Paul Tivers	....	third assistant director

Art Department
John B. Mansbridge	....	art director: 'other world' sequence
Bryn Siddall	....	property buyer
Barry Wilkinson	....	property master

Sound Department
Keith Batten	....	boom operator
Claude Hitchcock	....	sound recordist
Gerry Humphreys	....	sound recordist
Jim Shields	....	sound editor (as Jimmy Shields)

Special Effects by
Robin Browne	....	special photographic processes
Neil Corbould	....	special effects assistant
Tony Dunsterville	....	trainee pyrotechnician
Ricky Farns	....	special effects technician
Garth Inns	....	special effects technician
Danny Lee	....	special mechanical effects: other world sequence
John Richardson	....	special effects
Ken Speed	....	special effects assistant
Tad Krzanowski	....	model effects: Disney (uncredited)
John Pohl	....	special effects artist (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Jack Boyd	....	animation effects: special photographic effects, Other World sequence
Jane Boyd	....	animation effects: special photographic effects, Other World sequence
Art Cruickshank	....	special photographic effects: Other World sequence
Joe Hale	....	animation supervisor: Other World sequence
Don Henry	....	visual effects: special photographic effects, Other World sequence
Dick Kendall	....	visual effects: special photographic effects, Other World sequence
David Mattingly	....	matte artist: special photographic effects, Other World sequence (as David B. Mattingly)
Bob Broughton	....	special photographic effects: Other World sequence (uncredited)
Harrison Ellenshaw	....	visual effects designer: special photographic effects, Other World sequence (uncredited)
Jon Sorensen	....	visual effects camera (uncredited)

Stunts
Vic Armstrong	....	stunt supervisor

Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Broughton	....	special photographer: special sequences
Art Cruickshank	....	special photographer: special sequences
Godfrey A. Godar	....	additional photographer
Jack Lowin	....	camera operator
Malcolm MacIntosh	....	camera operator

Other crew
Peter Bennett	....	location manager
Rita Davison	....	location manager
John Emerson	....	alien designer: Other World sequence
Kay Fenton	....	continuity
Andy Gaskill	....	alien designer: Other World sequence (as Andrew Gaskill)
Joe Hale	....	alien designer: Other World sequence
Leon Harris	....	creator: Other World sequence (as Leon R. Harris)
Rick Heinrichs	....	alien designer: Other World sequence
Brian Longbotham	....	kinetic light: Other World sequence
Sam Nicholson	....	kinetic light: Other World sequence
Henry Selick	....	alien designer: Other World sequence (as C. Henry Selick)

Production Companies

• Walt Disney Pictures

Distributors

• Toho-Towa (1982) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Pictures

Other Companies

• Anvil Studios  music recording facility
• Lee Lighting  lighting
• Panavision UK  lenses and Panaflex camera
• Technicolor  colour

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:

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

Quotes:

Mrs. Aylwood: [to unseen presence in the woods] She's going to stay here... is that what you wanted?

Movie Connections:

References The Legend of Hell House (1973)

an excellent movie

I have seen The Watcher in the Woods a couple times now, and I think it's a great movie. I can see where it may scare smaller children, but it shouldn't be avoided if you're older. I know many people think that Disney doesn't make good movies, but they have some excellent films. I love all their movies, but this one stands out. Disney does pretty good for PG rated sci-fi/horror fliks. Something Wicked This Way Comes, The Black Hole, and The Black Cauldron are also excellent films in this genre. All in all, The Watcher in the Woods is a great movie that, I think, everyone should see.