Cheap The Watcher in the Woods (Widescreen Edition) (Video) (Vincent McEveety, John Hough) Price

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Customer Reviews of The Watcher in the Woods (Widescreen Edition)

NOT the scariest movie ever made.
Initially planned for a 1980 opening, The Watcher in the Woods was released for a few screenings and it was not well received. The ending in particular earned a lot of criticisms, so producers stuck the movie on a shelf and went about reshooting a few alternative conclusions. Regardless of these changes, audiences and critics did not embrace the movie and it died a quick box-office death. It wasn't until several years later - when the film hit home video - that more fans began to crop up, most of them citing fond childhood memories of a creepy flick. The controversy surrounding the film's difficult birth only added fuel to the fanbase fire, which is just one of the reasons that this Anchor Bay DVD is a long overdue sight for the hardcore fans. The plot is a family-friendly pastiche of nighttime creaks, forest-bound shivers, past-life problems, and ghostly messages. Hollywood legend Bette Davis plays Mrs. Aylwood, a kindly-yet-creepy old lady who rents her massive estate to a friendly American family. The Watcher in the Woods is an intermittently creepy and quite well photographed piece of "gothic lite", but newcomers to this movie may struggle through the movie's numerous slow spots and ponderous pacing. The screenplay (based on the novel by Florence Engel Randall) sets up a few provocative ideas, but they're rarely followed up in satisfying style. Most of the acting performances are essentially wooden, with Ms. Davis turning in a glorified cameo that doesn't leave much of an impression. On the whole, The Watcher in the Woods isn't a really bad movie; it's just a bit too safe and more than a little drab. Fans of old-fashioned, atmospheric ghost tales will undoubtedly forgive the film's obvious faults more than others might, but even they will have a hard time generating much enthusiasm for the movie. To call this "the scariest movie ever made" is a flat out lie. I mean you're more likely to laugh at it that get scared in it. I really wanted this to be scary, but I was very dissappointed. Haven't been this dissappointed since When A Stranger Calls. See it if you want, but don't expect anything like The Exorcist or The Shining. Watch it alone in the dark. May be it'll scare you.

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Good flick, although not for young children
Im not surprised this movie was pulled, because of parents complaints. After watching such movies as 'shaggy dog' and 'that darn cat', this DISNEY film will grab you in a way your not accustomed to. A family with 2 girls moves into an old English home set in the woods. The eldest daughter stumbles upon mysterious secrets that unravel into a spooky ending (can't you give the plot or i'll give it away). This is a movie that i wouldnt recommend young children seeing and i definitely wouldnt watch it alone at night.

(I keep finding this video in the 'childrens' section of the video stores and im always puzzled...)

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A great scary slumber party movie!!!
Two young girls and their family move into a big old mansion with an interesting past!!!I remeber watching this as a child and just being absolutely fascinated and frightened. It is so fun and suspenseful and scary! I would reccomend this for age 9 and up for a super scary slumber party or nightime movie!! I cannot wait for my seven year old to get old enough to watch it, but right now she is too prone to nightmares after semi scary movies! Also recommend, "The Labrynth" for a fifth grade slumber party movie! Oh the memories!