The first horror film made by Walt Disney Productions, following THE BLACK HOLE (1979), Disney’s attempt at aping STAR WARS, and MIDNIGHT MADNESS (1980), the studio’s answer to ANIMAL HOUSE. With THE WATCHER IN THE WOODS (1980) Disney partook of the horror boom that had been building throughout the previous decade, with a cast that included late-in-life screen queen Bette Davis, trash movie legend Carroll Baker, child actress Kyle Richards, who appeared in HALLOWEEN, and director John Hough, an Englishman whose previous filmography included at least one Hammer production.
Publicity-wise Disney vastly overdid its promises, with a disclaimer attached to the trailer reading “As proud as we are of THE WATCHER IN THE WOODS, Walt Disney Productions strongly recommends that parents pre-screen the picture of pre-teens. It is not for small children!” In truth, small children were very likely the most receptive audience, as this PG rated film, released around the same time as CRUISING and FRIDAY THE 13th, felt hopelessly stodgy (and still does).
Adapted from a 1976 YA novel by Florence Engel Randall, the narrative has the British musician Paul Curtis (David McCallum) moving his American wife Helen (Baker) and daughters Jan (Lynn-Holly Johnson) and Ellie (Richards) to an old English house in the middle of a vast forest. This place, lorded over by the ancient Mrs. Aylwood (Davis), is plenty creepy, with a mirror that reflects an indistinct blindfold-wearing young woman and forest-bound POV shots indicating that someone or something is watching the family. Furthermore, Ellie begins exhibiting odd behavior, spouting gibberish like “Must open door!” and (in the manner of another iconic horror movie child) intoning words backwards, particularly “Nerak,” a.k.a. “Karen,” the name of Aylwood’s daughter, who disappeared years earlier.
After experiencing further visions of the blindfolded girl—who is in fact Karen—Jan appeals to the local adults for help. It’s the eccentric Tom Colley (Richard Pasco) who ultimately fills Jan in on the facts of Karen’s disappearance, which occurred after an odd ritual that took place in an abandoned chapel near the house. This leads to an ending that plays very much like that of the John Hough directed LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE (1973), with lots of shouting and flashy special effects. (The film’s initial test screenings, FYI, contained two different codas—contained on the Anchor Bay and Disney DVDs—that involved a trip to an alternate dimension and a fearsome alien creature, designed in part by future CORALINE director Henry Selick).
John Hough was a master of cinematic precision and economy, and amply demonstrates those attributes here. Much like fellow countryman Ken Russell (but without the artistry and excess), Hough makes his points through skilled blocking and camerawork that conveys a great deal of information in a single shot. Those things, however, don’t make up for the fact that the script is a corporate-vetted hodgepodge that shows its influences a little too blatantly: it’s THE HAUNTING-meets THE EXORCIST-meets THE AMITYVILLE HORROR-meets THE MANITOU-meets (in the alternate endings) ALIEN.
Another problem is that the acting is sub-par. This is particularly true of the underaged performers: ICE CASTLES’ Lynn-Holly Johnson vastly overdoes the fear and apprehension her character is supposed to be feeling (a director mistake, most likely), while Kyle Richards proves only that her older sister Kim (of the Hough directed ESCAPE FROM WITCH MOUNTAIN and its sequel) would have been a better choice. Of the elders, we have Carrol Baker, ex-MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. cast member David McCallum, Hammer veteran Richard Pasco and Bette Davis (marking her 50 year Hollywood anniversary), who were all collecting paychecks.
Vital Statistics
THE WATCHER IN THE WOODS
Walt Disney Productions
Director: John Hough
Producer: Ron Miller
Screenplay: Brian Clemens, Harry Spalding, Rosemary Anne Sisson
(Based on a novel by Florence Engel Randall)
Cinematography: Alan Hume
Editing: Geoffrey Foot
Cast: Bette Davis, Carroll Baker, David McCallum, Lynn-Holly Johnson, Kyle Richards, Ian Bannen, Richard Pasco, Frances Cuka, Benedict Taylor, Eleanor Summerfield, Georgina Hale