Summary
- Disney delved into the horror genre in the 1980s due to a shift in audience preferences favoring high-stakes suspense.
- The Watcher in the Woods
is a supernatural horror film featuring Bette Davis, aliens, ghosts, and the occult. - After significant negative reactions, Disney made several changes to the film to fix the complicated ending, creating somewhat of a cult classic.
As a cinephile with over three decades of movie-watching under my belt, I must say that the saga of “The Watcher in the Woods” is a tale as old as time itself – Hollywood botching a potentially great film, only for it to find new life as a cult classic. Having watched several versions of this movie myself, I can attest that the original ending left more questions than answers, much like my teenage years spent pondering life’s mysteries.
In the 1970s and 80s, if you happened to catch any movies produced by Walt Disney Studios, you might have noticed that they sometimes had a rather grim tone for young viewers. This was due to a shift in audience preferences, with movies like George Lucas’ Star Wars and Steven Spielberg’s Jaws being blockbusters at the box office. These changes led to a decline of lighthearted, cheerful characters and an increase in high-tension suspense stories with emotional depth (as teenage audiences became more dominant). Seeking to create their own unique space and appeal, Disney ventured into the horror genre.
1983’s “Something Wicked This Way Comes” showcased grim processions led by tormented adults who were under a curse for yearning to regain their lost youth. Similarly, 1985’s “Return to Oz” began with young Dorothy being committed to an asylum for expressing her desire to revisit Oz. Although there were several other films that followed this pattern, it did not endure popularity. Instead, Disney achieved success with more cheerful titles in 1989. However, the first frightening movie in Disney’s collection had a tumultuous genesis, and its intriguing origins need to be shared.
Disney Once Tried Capturing the Horror Market
Back in 1980, on the 17th of April, I had the chance to watch a chilling supernatural horror movie titled “The Watcher in the Woods.” This film was an on-screen adaptation of the novel penned by Florence Engel Randall, published four years prior. The stellar cast included none other than Bette Davis, Lynn-Holly Johnson, and a young Kyle Richards. This Disney production marked their foray into horror, and it certainly delivered all the hallmarks of a suspenseful tale that gradually unfolds with a sense of impending dread.
Despite its aged condition and mysterious past, the family opts for a large country house in seclusion due to its low cost. The house’s owner, an enigmatic elderly woman, hides dark secrets. As hinted by the title, there appears to be something or someone lurking in the woods. The series gradually reveals who or what is haunting our two young female protagonists, creating a thrilling journey that combines elements of horror and science fiction. Regrettably, this unusual blend seems to have been the downfall of The Watcher in the Woods.
Called one of the best actresses in Hollywood history, the late Bette Davis delivers an excellent performance as Mrs. Alywood. This is one of the few reasons you are pulled into this ’80s Disney film. She keeps pulling the mystery forward with every spoken word and mysterious mannerism. While Johnson and Richards are quite new to mainstream acting at this point in time, the duo have believable enough performances that you care for their characters when any danger presents itself. The problem here was rushing to meet a deadline (Disney wanted the film to align with Bette Davis’ 50th acting anniversary), which not only harmed the visual effects but also the already complicated climax of the movie.
The Watcher in the Woods Has Aliens, Ghosts, and the Occult?
Opting for a brief path and omitting parts of the climactic scene rather than enhancing certain cosmic visuals, viewers were subjected to an unsatisfying scenario where telling was prioritized over showing. Originally, the character was abducted by a massive, skeletal alien and whisked into a spaceship to save Alywood’s daughter (which is quite frightening). However, most of this sequence involving the spaceship is cut out, and instead, an enigmatic bolt of light returns both characters without any clarification.
Towards the finale of the film, Jan offers clarification on the Watcher’s nature and the events that transpired on the mountaintop with Elie. However, this closing dialogue left many critics dissatisfied. The Hackensack Record criticized the confusing ending as filled with “more absurdities than answers,” while Vincent Canby of The New York Times posed a question to his readers: “Can you make sense of what is presented as an explanation at the end?”
Overwhelmed by such strong negative feedback, Disney decided to withdraw the film just a week after its release. To draw attention away from the controversy, they enticed audiences with a special rerelease of “Mary Poppins.” During this time, extensive reshoots and revisions were carried out. The spacecraft interior scene was eliminated, along with the alien character. Moreover, a disturbing introduction featuring a mysterious observer stalking a girl in the forest and then attacking her doll with a laser beam was removed. This unsettling scene seemed unnecessary to begin the movie. Perhaps it’s better they omitted it altogether.
The Watcher in the Woods Is Now a Cult Classic
In a more organic turn of events, Elie (under the influence of the Watcher) provides insights about Jan’s whereabouts after her mysterious disappearance following the alien abduction incident. Since the adults in this scene are eager for clarity regarding the recent events, this explanation seems fitting. It is worth noting that this version was released 11 months later, on October 9, 1981, and it was the copy distributed on VHS tapes, laserdiscs, and DVDs. The Blu-ray (which can be quite pricey) features the original “uncut” version.
In essence, Disney’s clever maneuvers have largely paid off, with media outlets such as The Hollywood Reporter, The New York Times, and the Associated Press all agreeing that the revised ending of The Watcher in the Woods has made the film significantly creepier and suspenseful. The movie even received recognition with award nominations in 1982, and was later adapted for Lifetime Channel in 2017. If you’re intrigued by Bette Davis’ captivating performance, curious about the numerous alternate endings, or simply want to witness the alien insectoid in action, several versions of The Watcher in the Woods can be found on YouTube. Sadly, this wide accessibility suggests that Disney prefers to overlook their past mistake instead of marketing it to contemporary audiences.
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2024-08-21 02:01