Plot: What’s it about?
Jan Curtis (Lynn-Holly Johnson) has just moved into a new house with her family, a large house located within an isolated, wooded area. The house is very nice and the location seems prime, but as it turns out, there is a dark story involving the woods, the house, and soon enough, Jan and her sister Ellie (Kyle Richards). After they move in, Jan and Ellie begin to notice some unusual things, such as mirrors that cast no reflections, strange voices, and unusual patterns of light, things they simply cannot explain. Of course, this instills some serious fear into them and when all other options have been exhausted, they turn to Mrs. Aylwood (Bette Davis), the woman who rent the house to their family. After the girls recount the strange events, Mrs. Aylwood tells them a story about a girl who disappeared over three decades ago, which could explain the voices and visions the sisters have had since the move. But can the sisters and Mrs. Aylwood somehow solve the mystery of how the girl vanished, bringing closure the spirit and perhaps returning the area to a calmer, more docile spiritual condition?
Although some of Disney’s smaller studios have cranked out horror movies, it is an odd thought to imagine Disney’s take on the horror genre, but that’s what The Watcher in the Woods was, Disney’s horror picture. You can tell it was Disney backed due to the lack of gore, nudity, and language, but as horror mavens know, those elements aren’t always required to deliver chills, thrills, and scares. This film relies more on eerie visuals, atmosphere, and performances to drive home the horror and for a while, it proves to be enough. The Watcher in the Woods kicks off on a good run and builds an impressive atmosphere, but after about half an hour, the gears start to grind a little and things begin a downhill slide. The film then takes on some hokey, cheese laden, and even sometimes annoying traits, but even in these lesser moments, I find myself having fun and just watching, as opposed to making critical comments. No one will mistake this for a genre classic, but it is a fun movie with some effective moments and this is backed up by the film’s fans, who have turned it into a cult classic of sorts. Hence, Anchor Bay arrives and gives those fans all they could ask for, so if you’re interested, The Watcher in the Woods is highly recommended.
Although having the most memorable performance is often associated with having the best turn, that isn’t always the case. In this film, I’d give Lynn-Holly Johnson the nod as the most memorable, but I wouldn’t say it was because of her mastery of the role, more like her outlandish voice patterns and often over the top performance. Her voice is so shrill and loud in some scenes, you’ll think one of those late night car salesman ads have popped on, but it is just Johnson and her lack of vocal control at work. But then again, she looks very cute and has a perkiness about her that makes you want to watch her, so I guess it almost balances out. So it was no surprise that after a few high profile roles, Johnson vanished into B movie land, before leaving the business to become a full time mother. Other films with Johnson include Ice Castles, Alien Predator, For Your Eyes Only, Hyper Space, and Angel River. The cast also includes Bette Davis (All About Eve, June Bride), Kyle Richards (Halloween, Eaten Alive), and Carroll Baker (The Game, Star 80).
Video: How does it look?
The Watcher in the Woods is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. I had no idea what to expect here, given the film’s age & checkered history, but Anchor Bay has supplied a terrific overall presentation. I was pleased to see the source print used is in great condition and aside from the opening credits, this print has minimal defects to report. There is some grain present, but it doesn’t soften the image much, as the visuals remain fairly sharp throughout. The black levels look refined and provide accurate detail, while colors have faded a little, but come through in much brighter form that previous releases. This transfer does have some flaws, but this is the best the movie has looked on home video, which is about all we can ask.
Audio: How does it sound?
Who else but Anchor Bay would create a new Dolby Digital 5.1 EX and a DTS ES mix for a film like this? I admit it seems like an odd choice, given the limitations of the source materials, but you have to commend their work ethic, without question. In the end, the material’s inherent flaws keep the tracks down a little, but The Watcher in the Woods has never sounded this good and in truth, I can’t imagine how it could sound better. Both tracks manage to avoid forcing surround use, so the mixes come off as natural, complete with a thin texture, which is due to the material involved and not the quality of these mixes. I mean, these tracks are terrific for this kind of material, but don’t expect reference level stuff here, as the material is too limited to allow that. To answer the audiophiles out there, I couldn’t tell much of a difference between the tracks, given that the source material doesn’t have much room for improvements in any direction. This disc also includes a 2.0 surround option, in case that better suits your needs.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Although legal issues prevented this disc from housing a director’s cut, we are given two alternate endings, which should delight fans. It is so cool to see these after so much talk about them over the years, but don’t expect cutting edge stuff with them, as both are fun to watch, but don’t quite live up to all the anticipation. Even so, it is a treat to have them included here and of course, it wouldn’t be the same without them. You can also spin an audio commentary with director John Hough, who provides some interesting comments, but also speaks in a dull tone and leaves a lot of silence behind. It is nice to hear his thoughts on the production, Disney’s decision to cut the film, and his general feelings on the movie business, but perhaps a second commentator could have liven this one up a little. This disc also includes a bio on Hough, a television spot, three of the film’s theatrical trailers, and a wonderful insert booklet, which is quite substantial.
