In an age where 'everything' can be streamed, why not this Film?
In spite of this being a Film made by Disney, who let you stream anything from A Bug's Life to Zootopia, is NOT available on their Streaming Platform.
What is The Watcher in the Woods, the 1980 Film in question?
It is based on a Book called A Watcher in the Woods that, while not reviewed well, was a hit. This Film, however, had an abruptly cancelled release in 1980, only to be recut and have new footage shot for an October 1981 release.
This Film came out 3 days before my Brother did? Wild!
The Plot involves a young family moving into a fancy House belonging to an old lady with a secret. The kids have a preternatural connection to the titular spirit in the Woods though.
Will they find out the truth? Will it be deadly?
If you think you know every Disney Film, read on...
A family moves into a fancy House that is conspicuously cheap.
Murder House or Ghost House?
Place your bets now, folks!
The Owner- Bette Davis (of those eponymous eyes)- is hesitant to let anyone stay there, because reasons.
She changes her mind when she sees the oldest Daughter.
Said Daughter is seeing strange things and also experiencing them.
A window breaks after she sees a blue light.
ANOTHER piece of glass- a mirror this time- breaks after she sees a strange figure in it.
Uli Lommel's Boogeyman also came out in 1980. Bad year for mirrors and glass in general.
Speaking of other Horror Films from 1980, the younger Sister begins to write messages backwards on glass.
It isn't 'Murder,' but something far worse- 'Karen!'
More strange things happen as the Dad- David McCallum- is nowhere to be seen. He pretty much 'peaces out' from the Movie after about 40 minutes.
The older Sister sees lights and warnings, but still nearly drowns in a small body of water.
She eventually figures out that 'Karen' (which is the name of the Dog- Nerak- in reverse) was Davis' Daughter.
She recounts a story of seeing four other young people with her, running away and then the Church they were in burns up.
She, understandably, thinks that Karen is dead.
The older Sister works the case, however, and learns that Karen apparently vanished before the Church bell fell.
She eventually guilts the now-middle-aged people into redoing the Ceremony during the Solar Eclipse, since there's was done under a Lunar Eclipse.
As you can see, it results in her powering up like a
Dragon Ball Z Character.
No, that's not it. Silly me.
The blue energy reveals that it is an interdimensional alien and accidentally switched places with Karen during the Ceremony.
Much less silly than what I wrote.
In the End, the Boyfriend saves the Sister and Karen is now back...as a middle-aged lady who lived outside of Earth for the last 30+ years with no life skills and lots of trauma.
The...happy End?
A Film with really great build-up, a unique Story...and a really weird ending.
If you don't know, the Film's Ending and beginning were the two issues Disney had. The latter was restored for an on-demand DVD release in recent years, while the 'too bleak, scary and black' ending is not around as freely.
See it
here while you can.
The issue is that the Story is just plain weird. That does give it a certain charm.
I do like lots of the really interesting Shot Choices and weird moments in this one. There are many cool Scenes in this one, like the one with the Motorbike Race or the Scene at the Bridge.
It's kind of a shame that this Film is so obscure, as it has lots to offer.
Why not Stream this one Disney? Too many residuals to its 82-year-old Director?
This weird, moody and very charming Film could be seen on so many Screens at once if you just put it out there...
Next up, let's stick with the '80s and a Film that touches upon a current subject. What happens when people are revealed to be Russian assets?!? Stay tuned...
No comments:
Post a Comment