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IMDbPro

The Watcher in the Woods

  • 19801980
  • PGPG
  • 1h 24m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
6.3K
YOUR RATING
The Watcher in the Woods (1980)
  • Family
  • Horror
  • Mystery
When a family moves to a country home, the young girls experience strange happenings that have a link to an occult event years past.When a family moves to a country home, the young girls experience strange happenings that have a link to an occult event years past.When a family moves to a country home, the young girls experience strange happenings that have a link to an occult event years past.
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
6.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • John Hough
    • Vincent McEveety(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • Brian Clemens(screenplay by)
    • Harry Spalding(screenplay by)
    • Rosemary Anne Sisson(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Bette Davis
    • Lynn-Holly Johnson
    • Kyle Richards
Top credits
  • Directors
    • John Hough
    • Vincent McEveety(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • Brian Clemens(screenplay by)
    • Harry Spalding(screenplay by)
    • Rosemary Anne Sisson(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Bette Davis
    • Lynn-Holly Johnson
    • Kyle Richards
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 105User reviews
    • 63Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 4 nominations

    Videos1

    Sneak Previews Season 4 Episode 7
    Video 29:48
    Sneak Previews Season 4 Episode 7

    Photos63

    The Watcher in the Woods (1980)
    The Watcher in the Woods (1980)
    The Watcher in the Woods (1980)
    The Watcher in the Woods (1980)
    Bette Davis in The Watcher in the Woods (1980)
    Bette Davis in The Watcher in the Woods (1980)
    The Watcher in the Woods (1980)
    The Watcher in the Woods (1980)
    The Watcher in the Woods (1980)
    The Watcher in the Woods (1980)
    The Watcher in the Woods (1980)
    The Watcher in the Woods (1980)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Bette Davis
    Bette Davis
    • Mrs. Aylwoodas Mrs. Aylwood
    Lynn-Holly Johnson
    Lynn-Holly Johnson
    • Jan Curtisas Jan Curtis
    Kyle Richards
    Kyle Richards
    • Ellie Curtisas Ellie Curtis
    Carroll Baker
    Carroll Baker
    • Helen Curtisas Helen Curtis
    David McCallum
    David McCallum
    • Paul Curtisas Paul Curtis
    Benedict Taylor
    Benedict Taylor
    • Mike Flemingas Mike Fleming
    Frances Cuka
    Frances Cuka
    • Mary Flemingas Mary Fleming
    Richard Pasco
    Richard Pasco
    • Tom Colleyas Tom Colley
    Ian Bannen
    Ian Bannen
    • John Kelleras John Keller
    Katharine Levy
    • Karen Aylwoodas Karen Aylwood
    Eleanor Summerfield
    • Mrs. Thayeras Mrs. Thayer
    Georgina Hale
    Georgina Hale
    • Young Mrs. Aylwoodas Young Mrs. Aylwood
    Ina Clare
    • Motorbike Race Spectatoras Motorbike Race Spectator
    • (uncredited)
    Dominic Guard
    Dominic Guard
    • Young John Kelleras Young John Keller
    • (uncredited)
    Derek Lyons
    Derek Lyons
    • Motorbike Race Spectatoras Motorbike Race Spectator
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • John Hough
      • Vincent McEveety(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Brian Clemens(screenplay by)
      • Harry Spalding(screenplay by)
      • Rosemary Anne Sisson(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Anchor Bay DVD release was originally going to be a two-disc set, with both the famous original 100 minute cut that test audiences saw (Anchor Bay found the footage that was thought destroyed, and was going to re-edit it as close as possible to the preview version) and the theatrical 84 minute cut. Unfortunately Disney did not allow Anchor Bay to have the original cut, and only let them use the two "alternate endings" which now appear on the DVD. This explains why director John Hough referring to the movie as being finally edited the way he intended (the commentary was recorded before Anchor Bay had to drop the two-disc idea), when it actually isn't. The alternate endings, however, do provide the majority of the missing footage from the 1981 preview, save some small scenes/changes. Hough explains that "his" ending is a combination of the two alternate endings and the film's current ending.
    • Goofs
      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?

    • Alternate versions
      Original version ran 100 minutes. Notorious for the numerous ending recuts, the film runs 84 minutes. However, you can see some deleted footage in Jan's flashback dream. You see a flashback at the carnival in which Mike says "We've got to hurry!".
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: Halloween II, Priest of Love, Chanel Solitaire, The Watcher in the Woods (1981)

    User reviews105

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Disney meets Lovecraft, sort of.
    "The Watcher in the Woods" was made at a time when Disney was getting ambitious, making PG rated films and dipping its toes into different genres; other efforts, of course, include "The Black Hole", "Tron", and "Something Wicked This Way Comes". Co-written by Brian Clemens ('The Avengers', "Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter") based on the novel by Florence Engel Randall, it tells a story with a very atmospheric feel. As others have said, it has the appeal of a fairy tale. An American family comes to live in an isolated English country estate owned by a lonely recluse, Mrs. Aylwood (screen legend Bette Davis). In no time at all, the two daughters, teen aged Jan (Lynn-Holly Johnson) and younger Ellie (Kyle Richards) are besieged by other worldly forces, and Jan realizes something must be done to resolve the case of Mrs. Aylwood's daughter Karen, who'd disappeared many years ago when she was Jan's age. Director John Hough and crew make this something worth watching with their moody and stylish presentation. Sometimes some cheesy effects get utilized, and they do tend to stick out a little too much. The reasonably compelling, and never too complicated, story does a good enough job of pulling the viewer in, along with especially strong lighting by Alan Hume and camera-work by Jack Lowin and Malcolm MacIntosh. Right from the start these individuals help to create a very weird feel to the proceedings. Carroll Baker and David McCallum don't get a lot to do as the parents, especially McCallum, but the other adults are all fine, including Richard Pasco as the frightened Tom Colley and Ian Bannen as the cantankerous John Keller. Ms. Davis is wonderful as the distraught old lady who realizes that she could finally find out the truth behind her daughters' disappearance, while Johnson, despite being appealing enough, really overdoes it in terms of her characters' hysteria. What's interesting is how many times the ending was altered during the history of this film. It was originally shown at 100 minutes, with an abrupt ending, then given an elaborate special effects based finale, then reworked again for the films' re-release the following year. The alternate endings are available on the DVD for fans to check out. It's not particularly memorable, but it's pretty enjoyable while it lasts. Seven out of 10.
    helpful•7
    0
    • Hey_Sweden
    • Jun 15, 2012

    FAQ4

    • Disney usually makes movies aimed at families, so why did they have this brief times of making horror movies?
    • Is this movie based on a book?
    • What is the controversy surrounding the multiple alternative endings?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 9, 1981 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • A Watcher in the Woods
    • Filming locations
      • Ettington Park, Warwickshire, England, UK
    • Production company
      • Walt Disney Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,000,000
    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,000,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 24 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.75 : 1

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