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All Flixster 3.5 Stars (807) Want To See 397 Not Interested 2959
Female 3.5 Stars (463) Want To See 227 Not Interested 1693
Male 3.0 Stars (344) Want To See 170 Not Interested 1266

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Plot: Ghost story meets paranormal mystery in Disney's PG family spookfest, a rare kid-friendly scary movie that still manages to frighten. American girls Lynn-Holly Johnson (Ice Castles) and little ...( read more read more... )sister Kyle Richards move into a secluded British manor cradled in a mist-shrouded forest, home to a ghostly guardian angel and a decades-old mystery that still haunts the place. Director John Hough (whose Legend of Hell House is a classic of supernatural suspense) delivers all the right shiver-inducing ingredients: flashes of light, whispers in the wind, eerie visions of a blindfolded little girl lost (the long-lost daughter of withered widow Bette Davis) reaching out from mirrors, as if trapped behind them. Though tame by today's bloody standards and a flop on its original release in 1981, this handsome little gothic ghost story has become something of a cult film for its suggestive direction, impressionistic imagery, and spooky sense of the unknown. Ages 9 and up, although more sophisticated younger kids should enjoy this. --Sean Axmaker

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Recent Reviews


  • 2.5 Stars
    MCT:
    August 24, 2008
    If you want to STAY scared (because, yes, for some bizarro reason this DISNEY-rated, PG movie, scared me a litte!) turn it off BEFORE the end. You'll stay all creeped out. But watch till the end and you'll end up going, What the...
  • 2.0 Stars
    MCT:
    April 13, 2008
    It's hard to fathom what Disney were trying to do with this messy horror picture; "The Watcher in the Woods" is more likely to upset rather than enchant young children, and older, more discerning viewers will probably find it as toothless as it is incoherent. It was infamously chopped about and re-shot by the studio and, consequently, makes very little sense. Although there's a good deal of subjective, "Watcher's-eye-view" camerawork, disappointingly we don't ever get to see the creature itself. However, the atmosphere is reasonably potent and there are a couple of spookily effective moments. Bette Davis makes a late-career appearance, but she's only on hand to look vaguely sinister and contributes little more than a cameo. Interestingly, the film cribs a couple of elements from "The Shining", namely ESP and backwards writing. Undoubtedly, the worst thing about the movie is the awful lead performance of Lynn-Holly Johnson, who some people may remember being equally bad as the figure-skater in "For Your Eyes Only".
  • 3.0 Stars
    MCT:
    April 5, 2008
    Two young sisters move to a house in woods. Soon there are mysterious sightings of a girl who went missing decades ago.
  • 2.5 Stars
    MCT:
    January 11, 2008
    This is a Disney Film, With Betty Davis, Think thats why it was on my rent list. An Ok Film, will not add to my collection unless its found in a pawn shop. Betty Davis has alwaysn scare me since seeing Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte. Now that was a scarey B&W Movie. Rent it and enjoy, just don't expect to much
  • 3.5 Stars
    MCT:
    October 29, 2007
    This movie pretty good for a disney horror movie. It would be a lot better if they had a better ending. (Watch the alternate endings...they are SO stupid it makes you grateful for the one they have).
  • 3.5 Stars
    MCT:
    October 2, 2007
    I was afraid of being alone in the woods for quite a while after watching this "family friendly" scary movie. (In other words, it's clean but it's still dang spooky). I believe it was actually released by Disney, so it keeps it clean. Good to watch with younger scare-lovers.
  • 4.5 Stars
    MCT:
    September 25, 2007
    Oh my gosh, i actually used to poo myself when i watched this as a little kid... (nto literally)

    Quite frightening to be honest

    But super :)
  • 3.0 Stars
    MCT:
    August 9, 2007
    i read the book & saw the movie when i was very young - would see it again to give it a real review - but from what i remember it was good & creepy
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    July 30, 2007
    Scary scary Disney movie from the 80s. None of the slight 80mins running time is wasted as more and more details of the mystery are revealed. Possibly not one for really young children, but then I saw it when I was a kid and I turned out ok....I think!
  • 4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    July 17, 2007
    The image is pretty old, the story is a fantasy... the movie is good although it could never happen on grounds of reality, I enjoyed it!
  • 4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    May 19, 2007
    Some may say it is cheesy and not scary! But when I was a kid me and my friends would watch this again and again! Got me every time!
  • 3.0 Stars
    MCT:
    May 12, 2007
    Now here's an interesting paradox - a serious horror movie for the kiddy crowd. It works on a few levels, but awful acting and a weird ending kind of relegate it to its current place in Obscure Disney Movie History.

    Regardless, this is actually a really good pick for a sharp younger child who's getting bored of all the big-eyed orphan animal adventures, and not a slouch for older audiences either.

    I just watched this again for the first time in five years last night, and I have to say...it's a really bizarre film. Certainly a better concept than its execution allowed (Disney certainly shot this one in the foot), but an enjoyable flick on all levels. I submit this one to my Guilty Pleasures list. :D
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    May 11, 2007
    I analyzed this film for a paper on Disney's production values during the transition from Ron Miller to Michael Eisner in the early-80s. Many of the lines are cheesy, the effects are laughable (as an indirect result of this regime change--long story), and parts just don't make sense . . . but this movie is CLASSIC. Almost better than the movie is the director's commentary, which reveals much more of the intent.
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    May 2, 2007
    Used to be one of my favorite movies to watch. Talk about a suspension movie! It really keeps you on your toes and wondering through the entire movie.
  • 4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    February 27, 2007
    This movie scared me to death when I was a kid, but now I love it. It's a great suspense thriller. This story is very creative and enjoyable.
  • 3.0 Stars
    MCT:
    January 29, 2007
    I remember recommending it for a sleepover and my friends were all skeptical because of the PG rating. Turns out that the rating doesn't stop it from being effectively scary in a really eerie way.
  • 4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    January 17, 2007
    My friends and I got this spooky flick to watch on a sleepover.. it was great... I have to have seen it at least a dozen times since then..
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    January 14, 2007
    now this movie was pretty much the scariest movie amy and i watched when we were little. this is a weird poster for it though.
  • 4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    November 30, 2006
    A dark and altogether different theme for a Disney film, but one definately worth a look, perhaps not for young children
  • 4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    November 19, 2006
    This movie popped into my head this evening, and I decided I wanted to see it.. I really quite scared me when I was young, but I also remember really liking it. Very few of my friends recall this movie, so I'd almost consider it a cult classic.
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    October 27, 2006
    this was a really good movie. it realy scared me when i watched it when i was little, but i would totally watch it again
  • 0.5 Stars
    MCT:
    October 26, 2006
    Wow this movie sucks. I didn't even the see the whole thing and frankly, I didn't want to. It was that bad. I mean, how stupid can a movie get? Obviously this is directed towards younger (and much MUCH more naive) audiences, but you could at least make it family-friendly! I mean, the special effects were horrendous, even for an oldie, and the acting was so terrible it was like they shouldn't have even been paid. With a highly ridiculous storyline and a completely retarded aspect of every feature, I sentence this movie and all copies to be picked up, smashed, and thrown into a forest that is set on fire, then put out with dirty water. And then stomped on. A half star out of 5 for making me laugh at its stupidity.
  • 2.0 Stars
    MCT:
    October 11, 2006
    This movie was the first and last Horror movie made by DISNEY. It starts out promising enough-m Family moves into weird potentially haunted old house overseen by spooky Bette Davis...but its ideas dont mesh well together and it totally falls apart at the end.
    If you DO watch it get the version that has alternate endings.
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    September 28, 2006
    This movie absolutely terrified me as a child but I used to watch it again and again...would love to see it again to see if it's anywhere near as scarey as I remember ( I would guess not!)
  • 4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    May 18, 2006
    Cheesy with questionable acting and bad special effects, but everything about it eventually grows on you.

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Details


  • Rated: (PG)
  • Directed by: Vincent McEveety, John Hough
  • Genres: Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense, Kids & Family
  • Released: January 1, 1981
  • DVD Released: April 2, 2002

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