The Watcher in the Woods
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Movie Reviews of The Watcher in the Woods
Movie Review: Early Disney attempt at PG-style fare is worth a look
Summary: 3 Stars
Creepy, subtle horror/mystery by Disney was a good attempt to produce more mainstream movies (as opposed to strictly kids' fare) back in the early 80's. Though, if you think about it, Disney was always pretty willing to include scary elements in both its animated and live-action movies, so this initiative really wasn't much of a stretch. The great Bette Davis lends additional credibility to this modest but well-crafted film via her fairly small but nicely-performed role as the grieving mother of a long-lost child. The DVD I saw included the two alternate endings described by other Amazon reviewers. They're interesting to see, but the ending attached to the film- though it IS somewhat abrupt- is probably the best of all the conclusions. The other endings spell out too specifically things (the nature of the Watcher, where he/she/it comes from, etc.) that are better left imagined or speculated about by the film's characters.Movie Review: It scared me to death when I was nine!!!
Summary: 3 Stars
Picture: Seven little girls, strewn on the couch in pajama'd glory, eyes wide, faces frozen in suspense. Two girls on the end of the couch, popcorn unnoticed, terrified beyond their wits.
I don't about the rest of the world, but for two best freinds at age 9, this movie was a life-changing event. For years after viewing this film, we could not stop retelling it over and over to relive the delightful chill. I gasped in horrer when my mother, unknowingly, bought me a large, round mirror for my room, just knowing that one day I would look into it and see a little girl gesturing for help. My friend and I wouldn't go into the woods even during the day, in a group. I still won't go into amusement houses.
Movie Review: Cozy and odd horror movie...
Summary: 3 Stars
As a family movie Watcher in the Woods has a fun and cozy vibe about it. It never gets very scary, except for Bette Davis whose presence is probably most genuinely intense thing about the movie.
The ending is awkward and a little anticlimactic, but mostly it's an enjoyable ride.
It's a good movie, but if you love it or hate it really boils down to your age (good for most kids), or if you are an adult it depends on whether you want to be amused...or genuinely scared.
In other words, fans of Saw might do well to stay away, but those who like other Disney horror/action like Something Wicked This Way Comes, should love it.
Movie Review: Minor but intriguing thriller
Summary: 2 Stars
This Disney thriller is unique, in that it may be one of the earliest attempts from the studio to do straight horror. That the film is a compromise is probably as much due to the climate of the times as it is to their reluctance to be too intense and frightening. A good supporting cast is unfortunately subjugated to the pretty but unimpressive Lynn Holly Johnson, whose performance doesn't quite convey the desperation or depth that might have made the film more compelling. Bette Davis seems curiously restrained. The film might be a good companion piece to "Burnt Offerings" another Davis film in which a family comes across a mansion that's "too good to be true" for a summer rental. "Watcher" is infamous for its aborted first release, in which the film's finale was hastliy assembled. After negative reviews and some tampering, it was released again, but the damage had been done. This DVD version includes all three (!) endings to the movie, and this may be its biggest value for fans. The print is clean and the image sharp. I am guessing by all the positive reviews posted here that "Watcher in the Woods" was a sleepover favorite for young girls, and it still might serve that function, in that it's a spooky movie without much to offend younger viewers. Ah, but what it might have been! Worth checking out for fans of Disney, of Johnson, Davis, and the genre, but this handsome little chiller somehow fails to register, despite some artful camerawork and earnest performances from the strong supporting cast.Movie Review: Not a great movie at all.
Summary: 2 Stars
I'm sorry to disagree with other reviewers, but this is not a scary movie. It's not even a good movie. Bette Davis as always gives a great performance, but even her talents can't save this movie! I can understand why some reviewers warn parents about allowing their young children to watch this film. However, as an adult it's not scary. At times it has a spooky element, but as this badly written film drags on one "boo" is no different then the next "boo". The acting by most of the older actors is good. But the performances of the main child stars stink rather badly. I will give this movie credit for attempting to give the audience a bizare and interesting ending. Some reviewers talk about this being a scary movies even for adults, but it's not. I believe that those people remember the movie as they saw it as children, and that's why they still think it's scary. If you can ride the haunted mansion ride (ten times spookier then this film) at Disney Land, then you can watch this film with the lights off.