The Guardian (1990)
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14% of critics liked it
(7 reviews) -
39% of users liked it
(4,766 ratings)
The Exorcist director William Friedkin made a return to the horror genre with this blend of straightforward suspense and Druid myth-inspired horror-fantasy. The idyllic lives of yuppie couple Phil and Kate (Dwier Brown and Carey Lowell) seem complete when they select the winsome young Camilla (Jenny… More The Exorcist director William Friedkin made a return to the horror genre with this blend of straightforward suspense and Druid myth-inspired horror-fantasy. The idyllic lives of yuppie couple Phil and Kate (Dwier Brown and Carey Lowell) seem complete when they select the winsome young Camilla (Jenny Seagrove) as a live-in nanny for their newborn child, but the lovely young Camilla -- whose natural sexuality begins to work its spell on Phil -- is not what she appears to be. This becomes shockingly apparent to the audience early in the story when she is set upon by a trio of rape-minded thugs who meet with a particularly nasty fate in the woods, but it seems to take the parents much longer to come to the same conclusion. In fact, the woods are the key to the entire equation, as Camilla is revealed to be a powerful forest entity from Druid mythology who intends to sacrifice her infant charge to a hideous tree-god. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi
- Directed By
- William Friedkin
- Written By
- Stephen Volk, William Friedkin
- Genres
- Mystery & Suspense, Horror
R,
- In Theaters
- Apr 27, 1990 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Calvin Baxter, SFX Magazine
Plenty of bark, but not much bite.
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Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Admittedly, it doesn't seem like one that Friedkin put his heart and soul into, but it still has some of his touches, and it's too interesting to write off completely.
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Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily
A dumb horror film that's down there with Deal of the Century as one of Friedkin's worst efforts.
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Gregory Weinkauf, ÜberCiné
Friedkin here seems strangely determined to squander his talent; lots of wasted opportunities.
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Absolutely hysterical. Unfortunately, it's supposed to be scary
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Cast
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Jenny Seagrove
as Camille
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Dwier Brown
as Phil
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Carey Lowell
as Kate
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Brad Hall
as Ned Runcie
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Miguel Ferrer
as Ralph Hess
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Natalia Nogulich
as Molly Sheridan
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Iris Bath
as Mrs. Horniman
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Xander Berkeley
as Detective
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Pamela Brull
as Gail Krasno
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Josh Fischman
as Baby Jake
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Jacob Gelman
as Scotty
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Rita Gomez
as Rosaria
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Dr. Berry Herman
as Doctor at Birth
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Craig Nemeth
as Baby Jake
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Frank Noon
as Punk
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Willy Parsons
as Punk
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Theresa Randle
as Arlene Russell
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Ray Reinhardt
as Dr. Klein
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Bonnie Snyder
as Older Woman
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Gary Swanson
as Allan Sheridan
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Jack David Walker
as Punk
