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Willard


by Glen Morgan, Glen Morgan, Julie Ng, Bill Carraro, James Wong, Gilbert Ralston
Directed by Glen Morgan, Julie Ng
Starring Crispin Glover, R. Lee Ermey, Laura Harring, Jackie Burroughs, Kim McKamy
New Line Home Entertainment

List Price: $9.98
Available: Usually ships in 24 hours
Sales Rank: 10665
Release Date: October 07, 2003
Rated:  
Running Time: 100 minutes
Theatrical Release: March 14, 2003
Studio: New Line Home Entertainment


FORMATS

  • AC-3
  • Anamorphic
  • Closed-captioned
  • Color
  • Dolby
  • DVD-Video
  • Full Screen
  • Subtitled
  • Widescreen
  • NTSC


EDITORIAL REVIEWS

Description
A lonely, awkward misfit tormented by his boss on a daily basis turns to rats for friendship...and revenge.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Director Glen Morgan, producer James Wong, Crispin Glover and R. Lee Ermey
DVD ROM Features
Deleted Scenes:12 Deleted Scenes
Documentaries:"Year of the Rat" - Behind-the-scenes Documentary on the making of Willard "Rat People-Friend or Foe?" Documentary
Full Screen Version
Music Video:Crispin Hellion Glover's "Ben" w/optional commentary
TV Spot:Three TV spots
Theatrical Trailer


Amazon.com
As accomplished as it is superfluous, Willard is a stylish horror film with plenty of style and precious little horror. Genre buffs will appreciate it as a visually superior sequel/remake of its popular 1971 predecessor, giving Crispin Glover a title role perfectly suited to his uniquely odd persona, in the same league as Psycho's Norman Bates. This time, Willard's the psychotically lonely son of the original film's now-deceased protagonist; a milquetoast introvert who befriends an army of obedient rats--lethal allies when Willard's pushed to his emotional breaking point by his abusive boss (R. Lee Ermey). In keeping with his memorably macabre episodes of X-Files, writer-director Glen Morgan excels with dreary atmosphere and mischievously morbid humor (including an ill-fated cat named Scully), and Glover gives his best performance since River's Edge. But even the furry villain Ben--an oversized rat with attitude--is more funny than frightful... so really, what's the point? With some justification, Glover's fans will appreciate the open door to a sequel. --Jeff Shannon


CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 3.5 based on 105 reviews)

Terrible film  
I have seen over 800 films in my day, and this by far was one of the worst. The movie was actually so bad that it prompted me to write my first negative review on Amazon. From the other reviews, you should have gotten a synopsis of the film. Now I didn't know that this film was a remake, it might have been a great movie during that era but for the generation that grew up on the likes of Fight Club, Snatch, Lock Stock and Two Smokin Barrels, this take-it-to-the-man story just doesn't mean much. It's simply just creepy. I'd give it one star if the performance of Crispin Glover didn't make this film a bit less dull. Whatever metaphors, allegories or themes the film was suppose to invoke seemed to be completely overshadowed by the mere creepy factor that is this film. I bought this film (used) for one dollar, and it is so bad that I don't want to even keep it in my collection, I'm simply going to put it back where I got it.
January 09, 2009

Below average remake!  
Blood and Rain
Blood for the Masses

Willard (2003)

Starring: Crispin Clover, Laura Elena Herring and R. Lee Ermey

Reviewed by
B.L.Morgan

2 Stars

This movie follows the original pretty closely. you have the same basic story; Willard is a shy introverted guy who gets to cuddling rats for fun. The rats start doing things for him so he uses them for revenge.

There are a few killings in the movie but nothing overly gross. Crispin Glover plays a very weird Willard, a bit too weird for my taste. Laura Elena Harring was just forgettable. R.Lee Ermey as Willard's evil boss was one dimensional and almost a comic book character.

Not scary, not recommended, just weird.

An example of how not to do a remake.

See the original.
September 08, 2008

Hey, you! Get your d-CON off them  
A curious remake of the 1971 horror B-movie, in which a born loser who lives in the miserable company of his wretched mother (Burroughs) and under the baton of a cruel boss (Ermey) finds friendship and a means to wage revenge in the company of rats.

Glover is perfectly cast in the titular lead: spineless, seething with resentment and impossibly weird. Most other character actors train for years to fake the kind of bizarre demeanor that the Hellion seems to effortlessly embody; it's hard to imagine somebody else who'd be better suited for this role. Ermey is also excellent as the unbearably vicious manager, the kind of brutal authority figure that he's been typecast as since Kubrick first exploited his natural potential. The supporting cast is just fine, but the performances of these humans are far less interesting than those of their rodent counterparts (live and CGI alike), who are well implemented.

This isn't quite a horror film: there are no outright scares, but the movie is genuinely creepy now and again. More notable is the poignancy of the story; even though this reviewer has a general revulsion for most rodents, the more tender aspects of Willard's relationship with his favorite pet are genuinely moving. It's all quite hokey, to be sure, but very touching nonetheless.

The only serious gripe that could be lodged against this film is that its style is considerably derivative: Glen Morgan's direction bears more than a passing resemblance to that of Tim Burton. Even Shirley Walker's score sounds very much like a Danny Elfman composition. Of course, this film shouldn't be entirely dismissed; it is frequently effective and has a heart. But it's easy to imagine how this could have been a great movie, had it been developed by a filmmaker with a more unique vision.
May 02, 2008

THE ORIGINAL FILM IS BETTER BUT....................  
What a shame! The producers missed a golden opportunity to take a movie that is remembered fondly,but certainly had room for improvement! Crispin Glover was a perfect choice to play Willard Stiles and he does a great job. Unfortunately, Bruce Davidson's performance is even better in the original along with Ernest Borgnine's Mr. Martin topping R.Lee Ermey's interpretation of that character. These two performances are why I still hold the original a little higher than the remake. The rats and effects are better(in most cases)in the new film,but they lost something along the way? F.Y.I. That's Elsa Lanchester as Willards mother in the original A.K.A The Bride Of Frankenstein!
July 10, 2007

Revenge of the Rats  
Boy, this film was creepy but very good. It's hard to categorize as it's not really a horror film. Crispin Glover is disturbing to watch as "Willard", a pathetic loner who slowly becomes mentally unhinged due to his miserable boss who tortures him. He bonds with a white rat named Socrates who leads a gang of rats in his basement. Willard and Socrates become best friends and Willard realizes that with Socrates' help that he can control the rats. The woman playing his mother was really scary and not very nice either. Glover is a terrific actor and his physical features make his character even more eerie. The pale skin and blue eyes. Lovely Laura Harring shows up as a work colleague who tries to befriend him and seems to be the only person to show kindness to Willard. Lee Ermey is wonderful as the mean as a skunk boss who tries to humiliate Willard at every turn, until he receives his come-uppance. I think this movie will strike a chord with anyone who ever felt alone and isolated. The black rat named Ben - this evil rat is frightening and is jealous of Socrates' bond with Willard. Ben and Willard battle it out in the end for control after Socrates' death. Interesting and worth watching film.
February 25, 2007


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