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The Guardian

  • 1990
  • R
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
6.7K
YOUR RATING
The Guardian (1990)
Official Home Video Trailer
Play trailer1:30
6 Videos
66 Photos
Supernatural HorrorWitch HorrorDramaFantasyHorrorMysteryThriller

Young married couple Phillip and Kate Sterling, who have a newborn son named Jake, don't realize that their new nanny Camilla is a magical Druid who sacrifices infants to an evil tree.Young married couple Phillip and Kate Sterling, who have a newborn son named Jake, don't realize that their new nanny Camilla is a magical Druid who sacrifices infants to an evil tree.Young married couple Phillip and Kate Sterling, who have a newborn son named Jake, don't realize that their new nanny Camilla is a magical Druid who sacrifices infants to an evil tree.

  • Director
    • William Friedkin
  • Writers
    • Dan Greenburg
    • Stephen Volk
    • William Friedkin
  • Stars
    • Jenny Seagrove
    • Dwier Brown
    • Carey Lowell
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    5.4/10
    6.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • William Friedkin
    • Writers
      • Dan Greenburg
      • Stephen Volk
      • William Friedkin
    • Stars
      • Jenny Seagrove
      • Dwier Brown
      • Carey Lowell
    • 73User reviews
    • 89Critic reviews
    • 35Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations total

    Videos6

    The Guardian
    Trailer 1:30
    The Guardian
    The Guardian
    Trailer 0:26
    The Guardian
    The Guardian
    Trailer 0:26
    The Guardian
    The Guardian: You Want To Come Out And Play?
    Clip 2:09
    The Guardian: You Want To Come Out And Play?
    The Guardian: Where Have You Been?
    Clip 2:06
    The Guardian: Where Have You Been?
    The Guardian: Interview With Dwier Brown
    Featurette 1:12
    The Guardian: Interview With Dwier Brown
    The Guardian: Interview With William Friedken
    Featurette 1:17
    The Guardian: Interview With William Friedken

    Photos66

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    Top cast23

    Edit
    Jenny Seagrove
    Jenny Seagrove
    • Camilla
    Dwier Brown
    Dwier Brown
    • Phil Sterling
    Carey Lowell
    Carey Lowell
    • Kate Sterling
    Brad Hall
    Brad Hall
    • Ned Runcie
    Miguel Ferrer
    Miguel Ferrer
    • Ralph Hess
    Natalija Nogulich
    Natalija Nogulich
    • Molly Sheridan
    • (as Natalia Nogulich)
    Pamela Brull
    • Gail Krasno
    Gary Swanson
    Gary Swanson
    • Allan Sheridan
    Jack David Walker
    • Punk
    Willy Parsons
    • Punk
    Frank Noon
    Frank Noon
    • Punk
    Theresa Randle
    Theresa Randle
    • Arlene Russell
    Xander Berkeley
    Xander Berkeley
    • Detective
    Ray Reinhardt
    • Dr. Klein
    Jacob Gelman
    Jacob Gelman
    • Scotty
    Iris Bath
    • Mrs. Horniman
    Rita Gomez
    • Rosaria
    Barry Herman
    • Dr. at Birth
    • (as Dr. Barry Herman)
    • Director
      • William Friedkin
    • Writers
      • Dan Greenburg
      • Stephen Volk
      • William Friedkin
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jenny Seagrove was unhappy with the film's constant re-writes, and wanted to make a completely different film. She said to The Guardian in 2007: "It was about this druid nanny who became a tree. I begged Universal to make it about a real nanny who kidnaps babies. 'No, no, we can't do that,' they said, 'the thirty somethings in America won't come and see the film.' I said, 'I think you're completely wrong; this film is total fantasy, and it's just awful.' Two years later The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992) was released, so I rang up my friend at Universal and he said, 'Don't. Don't even talk about it, you were right.' "
    • Goofs
      As the tree is being cut down, the movie keeps cutting back to Camilla, showing what damage it is doing to her. When the guy finishes cutting down the tree, there is a shot of Camilla and her left leg breaks off and she falls to the ground. The two shots immediately following, of the mother tackling her and then of Camilla being thrown out the window, both show her with her legs still intact.
    • Quotes

      Phil Sterling: You take your hands off my baby!

    • Alternate versions
      There are two versions of "The Guardian": the theatrical cut, credited to William Friedkin, and a modified cut, credited to "Alan Smithee". The Alan Smithee cut has never been released on video but has been shown on cable. It includes new scenes including another scene in the hospital; different dream sequences; a scene of the nanny waking the wife up and alternate angles for other scenes. Also, the ending of the cable cut is different and omits much of the gore.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Miami Blues/Vital Signs/Lisa/Chattahoochee (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      Palau
      Music by Not Drowning Waving (as Not Drowning, Waving)
      Lyrics by David Bridie
      Performed by Not Drowning Waving (as Not Drowning, Waving)
      Courtesy of Mighty Boy Records

    User reviews73

    Featured review
    7/10

    Good Folk Horror

    The Guardian: Lesser known William Friedkin film which he co-wrote and directed, he was none too happy with the result but I would classify it as good Folk Horror. There are references to Druidic Tree Worship and human sacrifuces A nanny who is really a Hamadryad has a penchant for sacrificing infants to her Mother Tree seeing as there are no druids around to do the job.

    Great horror action as people are devoured by the tree, roots strangle and crush them, spikes burst up through the ground impaling unfortunates. Not having wolves to hand (it's in LA), a pack of coyotes also take care of troublesome oiks who discover not all is right about the nanny. Outdoes a lot of Nasty Nanny films. 7/10. On Horror Channel.
    • Pairic
    • Aug 13, 2018
    • Permalink

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    FAQ18

    • How long is The Guardian?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 27, 1990 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ángel de las sombras
    • Filming locations
      • USA
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Nanny Productions.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $17,037,887
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,565,620
      • Apr 29, 1990
    • Gross worldwide
      • $17,037,887
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 32 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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