I give props to Disney for trying to make a horror film, but "The Watcher in the Woods" feels like it has the aesthetic of horror without any of the visceral feeling. It follows two girls as they move into a rural cottage. They hear the voice of a girl who mysteriously
disappeared years ago on a solar eclipse. This voice gets tied to an interdimensional being known as the Watcher.
The scariest part of the movie is actually early on, when the younger sister almost drowns after being knocked into a river by the Watcher's light. It's the only moment where there is any genuine tension. The Watcher itself is an animatronic that ironically looks like it was taken from Disneyland and repurposed. Bette Davis plays a wise elder character, and while she provides creepy atmosphere, the stakes are so low in this movie, making the 84 minutes drag. "The Watcher in the Woods" is too convoluted for children, and not scary enough for adults.
The fact that there are three endings is a testament to how the supernatural and alien elements got tangled together.
Available on VHS, Betamax, LaserDisc, DVD, and Blu-Ray
Grade: C
This lesser-known comedy comes from the same production company as "Monty Python" and "Time Bandits". It features Michael Caine as the owner of a British colony. He finds himself defending its way of living when different
governments develop interest in its mineral water springs.
While George Harrison contributed to the soundtrack, and even appears with Ringo Starr, the humor does little to distinguish itself from the wave of mid-80's business satires. As a result, you have a memorable crew involved
in a forgettable project.
Available on VHS, Betamax, and DVD
Grade: C+
Before "Jurassic Park", and before AI, there was "Westworld". Directed by Michael Crichton, the same person who would write the "Jurassic Park" novel, this dystopian sci-fi film follows two friends vacationing at Delos,
a chain of adult amusement parks consisting of Roman World, Medieval World, and Westworld. In these worlds, humanoid cyborgs are programmed to look like they came from different parts of history, only they are designed to cater to every wish of the guest,
including sex or fighting. However, even if scientists created the AI, they have no understanding of what it can do once implemented, and the robots begin ignoring their directives. The park then becomes dangerous, with an outlaw known as the Gunslinger
shooting people for real.
Yul Brynner played the Gunslinger perfectly, with eerily mechanical choreography and deadpan dialogue. The inner workings of the park are also explored, with robots being rebuilt after gunfights, and the sheer possibility of what can be done at Delos makes it look fun
despite the eventual chaos. My only complaint is that when the Gunslinger chases our heroes, it goes on for a little too long. Otherwise, "Westworld" fits in with the gritty technology depiction of the 70's.
Available on VHS, Betamax, CED, LaserDisc, DVD, Blu-Ray, and UHD
Grade: B+
This adaptation of the Broadway musical tells the backstory of Glinda the Good Witch, creating a sympathetic character arc for the Wicked Witch of the West. Named Elphaba, her green skin makes her subject to ridicule, but when Glinda befriends her at Shiz University, she gets the opportunity
to see the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. All is not what it seems, however, and the Wizard's hidden agenda leads Elphaba to develop her wicked reputation.
Most of the memorable songs are in this first installment of the two-part series, and the energetic dance choreography makes them fun to watch. It's also commendable how Ariana Grande plays Glinda, in the process shifting her image in a more family-friendly direction. Unfortunately, in between the
musical numbers is drawn-out dialogue that bloats the runtime to nearly three hours. "Wicked" is a decent musical, but requires high investment, making it more accessible to fans of the play.
Available on DVD, Blu-Ray, and UHD
Grade: B
In 1977, Ralph Bakshi was known for making "dirty cartoons", but "Wizards" shows that he can keep his signature style while branching out to a broader audience. This dark fantasy takes place in the distant future, with two societies - one run by mutants who got
disfigured from nuclear fallout, and another run by magical beings, such as wizards and fairies. After the mutants recover abandoned World War II technology, they adopt a Nazi agenda, and a war between magic and machines ensues.
Although the movie is rated PG, that was back when it meant something. Dark territory is boldly explored, such as child characters being killed, and mutants being energized by Hitler propaganda. The abrupt intercutting of live-action footage with animation creates a
nightmare aesthetic, as does the extensive use of rotoscoping in the battle sequences. A supporting character is also shown scantily-clad for the entire movie, and has a relationship with the much older protagonist. Still, this off-putting mix of elements seamlessly
translates Bakshi's chaotic energy to a movie that technically avoids explicit material. If I had one complaint, it would be that there are scenes that only really exist to stretch the runtime to feature length, serving as detours in the quest, rather than driving the
narrative forward. But "Wizards" is an effective dystopian adventure that will often surprise you - especially the ending.
Available on VHS, LaserDisc, DVD, and Blu-Ray
Grade: B+