Willard (2003)

A young man with an unusual connection to rats uses them at his own sociopathic will.

Director:

Glen Morgan

Writers:

Glen Morgan (screenplay), Gilbert Ralston

Stars:

Crispin Glover, R. Lee Ermey, Laura Harring

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Crispin Glover	...	Willard
R. Lee Ermey	...	Mr. Martin
Laura Harring	...	Cathryn (as Laura Elena Harring)
Jackie Burroughs	...	Mrs. Stiles
Ashlyn Gere	...	Ms. Leach (as Kimberly Patton)
William S. Taylor	...	Mr. Garter
Edward Horn	...	Colquitt
Gus Lynch	...	George Foxx
Laara Sadiq	...	Janice Mantis
David Parker	...	Detective Boxer
Ty Olsson	...	Officer Salmon

Storyline

This is the story of Willard Stiles who is a social misfit taking care of his ill and fragile but verbally abusive mother Henrietta in a musty old mansion that is also home to a colony of rats. Willard then finds himself constantly humiliated in front of his co-workers and is eventually fired by his cruel and uncaring boss, Mr. Frank Martin, a vicious man whose professional interest in Willard extends to a personal financial one.

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Plot Keywords:

rat | killing a pet | character name as title | forename as title | psychotronic film | 

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Taglines:

When the cat's away, the rats will play.

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for terror/violence, some sexual content and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Crispin Glover found R. Lee Ermey's yelling during the disciplinary scenes hilarious and would often be laughing quietly off camera.

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Goofs

When Willard is playing with the spring trap, it is baited in the long shots but unbaited in the close-ups.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Willard's Mother: Willard! There are rats in the basement!

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Crazy Credits

Second Unit Chef Dave Carlson's credit is listed as: Cater to the Stars...DAVID CARLSON

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Connections

References Willard (1971)

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Soundtracks

Ben
Written by Walter Scharf and Don Black
Performed by Jackson 5
Courtesy of Motown Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Not too bad..

If ever Crispin Glover needed a decent role then this was tailor made for him. After refusing to work on BTTF 3 and a terrible performance in Charlies Angels, i got the feeling that he thought too high and mighty of himself. But at last a role that he plays superbly as the victim of constant harassment at work who seeks revenge by taming and using the rats in his basement that he was supposed to get rid of. You can't help but feel sympathy for him ( I know I would like to do that to my Boss!!).

Altogether a very well made film that will give you the creeps, it falls into the watch once only category.

Final Verdict 7/10

Details

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 March 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Willard

Filming Locations:

Lion's Gate Studios, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,000,000, 16 March 2003

Gross USA:

$6,886,089

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$8,564,586

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Line Cinema, Hard Eight Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1