Willard (1971)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Daniel Mann

Writers:

Gilbert Ralston (screenplay)
Gilbert Ralston (novel)

Release Date:

19 November 1971 (West Germany)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Where your nightmares end...WILLARD begins.

Plot:

A social misfit, Willard is made fun of by his co-workers, and squeezed out of the company started by his deceased father by his boss...

Plot Keywords:

Rat | Blockbuster | Domineering Mother | Horror Movie Remade | Recluse

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Bruce Davison	...	Willard Stiles
Elsa Lanchester	...	Henrietta Stiles
Ernest Borgnine	...	Al Martin
Sondra Locke	...	Joan
Michael Dante	...	Brandt
Jody Gilbert	...	Charlotte Stassen
Joan Shawlee	...	Alice Rickles
William Hansen	...	Mr. Barskin
J. Pat O'Malley	...	Jonathan Farley
John Myhers	...	Mr. Carlson
Helen Spring	...	Mrs. Becker
Pauline Drake	...	Ida Stassen
Almira Sessions	...	Carrie Smith
Alan Baxter	...	Walter T. Spencer
Sherry Presnell	...	Mrs. Spencer

Also Known As:

Ratman's Notebooks (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:X | Iceland:16 | West Germany:18 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG

Company:

Bing Crosby Productions

Trivia:

The film's Spanish title is 'La Revolución de las ratas', meaning 'The Revolution of the Rats'.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Dead End (1985)

Creepy, weird

A little flick that blends elements of psycho-drama and animals-run-amuck, along with a hint of old-dark-house. Willard is a socially-maladjusted young man who lives in a gloomy, Victorian house with his co-dependant mother. Their relationship constitutes the weird part of the movie, nudge, nudge. Willard is tolerantly allowed employment at his late father's business, presided over by passive-agressive Ernest Borgnine. With no social life and no friends, Willard resorts to training rats with above-average intelligence. Of course, things take a dark turn when Willard's mother dies and Borgnine's bully tendencies come to the fore, prompting the put-upon Willard to use his rodent buddies to even the score. Also on hand is Sondra Locke as caring co-worker who tries to enter into Willard's world and may be his means of salvation. You find yourself rooting for her to win out. Spawned a more (in)famous sequel, BEN, remembered primarily for it's theme song, which provided Michael Jackson with one of his first solo hits. Very appropriate, in hindsight.