Perhaps it's because rats and their like don't have that sort of effect on me, but I found little of the film to be spooky, let alone frightening.
Comment
03/14/03
Willard (2003)
65
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:122
Fresh:79
Rotten:43
Average Rating:6.2/10
Consensus: In this creepy story of a man and his rodents, Glover seems born to play the oddball title character.
Runtime: 1 hr 35 mins
Genre: Horror/Suspense
Synopsis: Glen Morgan's WILLARD stars Crispin Glover in the title role as a socially awkward loner who lives with his ailing mother (Jackie Burroughs) in a decrepit old house. Trapped between duties at home... [More]
Starring: Crispin Glover, R. Lee Ermey, Laura Harring, Jackie Burroughs
Director: Glen Morgan
Reviews for Willard
A silly, snarling romp.
03/14/03
The shots often have a solemn weightiness, as if Morgan alternated reading Rat Wrangling: More Than a Hobby! with viewing The Magnificent Ambersons.
03/14/03
Cinematically, this Willard is several steps up from the original, thanks to the influence of Alfred Hitchcock on writer-director Glen Morgan.
03/14/03
The whole thing becomes a grind, and an opportunity for a darkly funny, effective exploitation picture is squandered.
03/14/03
What elevates this nouveau Willard above similar restorations of used pulp is the way it sustains the original's queasy menace while applying neatly stylized layers of grit and wit.
03/14/03
This, indeed, is a Norman Bates for the 21st century.
03/14/03
As Willard moves toward its inevitable bloodbath finale, Morgan seems unsure of what kind of movie he wants to make and his schizophrenic approach results in a train wreck scarier than anything we've seen on the screen.
03/14/03
For those who appreciate the macabre side of life, this is as much fun as you're going to have until Tim Burton makes a decent movie again.
03/14/03
Gnawing dread? No. Just gnawing.
03/14/03
This is a horror movie with genuine style, a witty screenplay and top-notch performances that walk the fine line between high camp and high drama.
03/14/03
If you've ever heard gnawing in your attic, Willard will creep you out.
03/14/03
At least Morgan knows the smartest thing he can do is just let Glover go nuts.
03/14/03
While there's a lot to appreciate in this film's peculiarly dark humor ... a lot of the more clever moments are undercut by Glover's campy performance.
03/14/03
[Glover] is fascinatingly, compellingly weird.
03/14/03
Even if it were the pits, who in his right mind would pass up an opportunity to see Crispin Glover coo and canoodle with rats?
03/14/03
A great lead performance by Glover and plenty of creepy atmosphere, to make up for its lack of character depth.
03/14/03
It's strange, stylized and kind of campy, but it's also endearing.
03/14/03
Top CriticClick to read the article
03/14/03
Top CriticNot very stylish and not very scary.
03/14/03
Latest News for Willard
October 19, 2006:
First Teaser for the "Black Christmas" Remake
Yet another horror remake is due to hit the screens before year's end -- but only by a few days. December 25th sees the release of "Black Christmas," Glen Morgan's... More...
January 16, 2006:
"Buffy" Gal to Have a "Black Christmas"
The lovely Ms. Michelle Trachtenberg, last seen as an "Ice Princess" and best known for her work on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," has signed to star in Glen... More...
March 31, 2005:
Are You Dreaming of (Another) "Black Christmas"?
The writing/producing/directing team of James Wong and Glen Morgan ("Final Destination," "Willard") has been commissioned to mount a remake of the 1974 cult... More...
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