Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)

In a small American town, a diabolical circus and its demonic proprietor prey on the townsfolk.

Director:

Jack Clayton

Writers:

Ray Bradbury (screenplay), Ray Bradbury (novel)

Stars:

Jason Robards, Jonathan Pryce, Diane Ladd

2 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jason Robards	...	Charles Halloway
Jonathan Pryce	...	Mr. Dark
Diane Ladd	...	Mrs. Nightshade
Royal Dano	...	Tom Fury
Vidal Peterson	...	Will Halloway
Shawn Carson	...	Jim Nightshade
Mary Grace Canfield	...	Miss Foley
Richard Davalos	...	Mr. Crosetti
Jake Dengel	...	Mr. Tetley
Jack Dodson	...	Dr. Douglas
Bruce M. Fischer	...	Mr. Cooger
Ellen Geer	...	Mrs. Halloway
Pam Grier	...	Dust Witch
Brendan Klinger	...	Cooger as a Child
James Stacy	...	Ed, The Bartender

Storyline

In Green Town, Illinois, the twelve year-old boys Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade are neighbors and best friends. Will's father Charles Halloway is an old man and the local librarian while Jim and his mother wait for the return of the return of their father and husband that will never occur. The boys know everyone in town, including their school teacher Miss Foley that misses her beauty and youth; the lonely barber Mr. Crosetti that has no girlfriend or wife; the greedy owner of a cigar store Mr. Tetley that is obsessed with money; and the bartender Ed that has severed arm and leg and dreams on being a football hero. One day, Jim buys a lightning rod from the salesman Tom Fury that tells that a storm is coming. During the night, the boys overhear a mysterious train and they run through the woods to see the arrival but they do not see a living soul. However, they find the Mr. Dark's Pandemonium Carnival ready to be enjoyed and they snoop around. Soon they realize that frustrated and ...

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Plot Keywords:

horror for children | lightning rod | school teacher | reference to zane grey | full moon | 

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Taglines:

Don't whisper your dreams, someone may be listening. [UK]

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Genres:

Fantasy | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

"By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes" is from "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare, Scene IV, Act I, spoken by the second witch.

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Goofs

When Jim Nightshade buys the lightning rod with cash and coin, he has a Lincoln Memorial penny, which wasn't minted until 1959. The story is set earlier.

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Quotes

Charles Halloway: [quoting Shakespeare] By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.
Mr. Dark: Then rang the bells both loud and deep. God is not dead nor doth he sleep.
Charles Halloway: The wrong will fail, the right prevail, with peace on Earth, goodwill to men.
Mr. Dark: It's a thousand years to Christmas, Mr. Holloway.
Charles Halloway: You're wrong. It's here, in this library tonight, and can't be spoiled.
Mr. Dark: Did Will and Jim bring it with them on the soles of their shoes? Then, we shall have to scrape them.

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Connections

Referenced in The Ten (2007)

User Reviews

Be good or Mr. Dark will come and get you

This is a very eerie and dark film for one made by Disney. It contains all sort of dark and bright side of the human nature such as greed, envy, temptation, and at the same time it also embraces joy, hope, courage, and friendship. Although, the core of the movie is a fight between good and evil, it is not preaching at all. Yet it does have a conviction of fear.

It's like one of campfire folk tales that comes at you very slowly from your behind and some unexpected moment it grubs your neck. Something Wicked This Way Comes is a that kind of movie.

I don't consider this film as a horror film because it reminds of me something from my childhood memory and it is beyond horror. Do you remember the line your mom used to say when you were bad? "Be good or ..... will come and get you"

To me, Mr.Dark fits into the blank much better than any other monsters.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 April 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Filming Locations:

Walt Disney's Golden Oak Ranch - 19802 Placerita Canyon Road, Newhall, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$19,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,423,555, 1 May 1983

Gross USA:

$8,400,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$8,400,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Productions, Bryna Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1