Willard (2003)

65% of critics liked it
(125 reviews)
49% of users liked it
(20,957 ratings)

A young man uses his vermin pals to exact revenge upon the people who've domineered his life in this remake of the 1971 cult classic. Starring Crispin Glover in the role originated by Bruce Davison, Willard concerns the mundane, repressed existence of the twentysomething title character, who lives… More A young man uses his vermin pals to exact revenge upon the people who've domineered his life in this remake of the 1971 cult classic. Starring Crispin Glover in the role originated by Bruce Davison, Willard concerns the mundane, repressed existence of the twentysomething title character, who lives at home with his nagging mother (Jackie Burroughs) and works at a shipping company for a stern, authoritarian supervisor (R. Lee Ermey). When Willard becomes fascinated with a gaggle of rats living in his decrepit home, they become both his friends and his aggressors, as he sics them upon anyone who crosses his path. But one rat, Ben, isn't so amenable to Willard's orders, and a horrifying test of wills begins. Willard was brought to the screen for the second time by writer/director Glen Morgan and producer James Wong, who previously worked together on episodes of The X-Files as well as the features Final Destination and The One. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By: Glen Morgan
Written By: Glen Morgan
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Horror

In Theaters: Mar 14, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Oct 7, 2003
Studio: New Line Cinema

Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
[Y]ou got a real opportunity here to do something really funny -- because Crispin Glover is really fun -- and something scary, but the rats, I guess, aren't up to the task.
Michael Atkinson, Village Voice
In a culture clogged with appropriated effluvia and remake cop-outs, Willard is wittier and nastier than we deserve.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
This new incarnation of Willard emphasizes one thing: no matter how bad the original was, it didn't need to be remade.
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
The movie keeps it close, clammy and simple, the better to focus on what is unquestionably this little thriller's strongest point: The tragic love between a boy and his rodent.
Jonathan Curiel, San Francisco Chronicle
A silly, snarling romp.
Gene Seymour, Newsday
What elevates this nouveau Willard above similar restorations of used pulp is the way it sustains the original's queasy menace while applying neatly stylized layers of grit and wit.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Terrifying and violent horror movie. Rats -- EWW.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
No one can do the funny/scary/crazy/creepy high-decibel wig-out/breakdown scene nearly as well as Glover can.
Christopher Smith, Bangor Daily News (Maine)
The rats multiply at a rate that suggests Willard's basement is the city's red light district.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
This Willard remix is a gothic, creaking, brilliantly macabre and unexpectedly intimate movie.
Jeffrey Overstreet, Looking Closer
If you want a lesson in eccentric acting, or if you are interested in a nightmarish story well told, Willard is a noteworthy effort.
Jake Euker, F5 (Wichita, KS)
The filmmakers may have been too intelligent for their camp material. They spend too much time on background material, an over-developed hero, atmosphere, and in-jokes.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Não funciona como filme de terror (sua intenção original), mas torna-se interessante graças à curiosa atuação de Glover e à fotografia sombria. E Ermey é sempre fascinante.
Greg Maki, Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
...Writer-director Glen Morgan gives us nothing more than a standard horror/revenge of the nerd tale.

Read all 14 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

MisterYoda ?

three stars
Drew S

Probably only works as a horror if you're scared of rats. I don't find them particularly menacing, even as a squirming, darkly-lit, devouring mass. Willard's a clever film, though, and it's buoyed by a reliably demented performance by Crispin Glover. Fevered,… More
Probably only works as a horror if you're scared of rats. I don't find them particularly menacing, even as a squirming, darkly-lit, devouring mass. Willard's a clever film, though, and it's buoyed by a reliably demented performance by Crispin Glover. Fevered, desperate and lonely, it's like he wears his neuroses on his face and no one has the capacity to see them. When things fall apart, it's especially rewarding for the viewer to have been aware of this precariously unbalanced man all along; the events of the end are a surprise to everyone but us. This dissolution, again, isn't particularly frightening. With Glover and R. Lee Ermey's performances, as well as some absolutely bonkers set pieces (the cat), the ridiculousness of the film is turned up to a dull hum, and its flourishes of black comedy feel like the parts it's most comfortable with. One could probably chalk this vague disappointment up to mismarketing, in the vein of Bug, but I felt as I watched Willard that it was legitimately trying for horror. It can be squicky and uncomfortable at times, but horrific? Barely.
Anthony L

Willard is a great creepy horror film, I've not yet seen the original but I'm going to now. I think Crispin Glover is brilliantly cast as the timid Wallard, who has suffered a life of bullying. His quirky style only emphasises the characters descent into madness. Glen… More
Willard is a great creepy horror film, I've not yet seen the original but I'm going to now. I think Crispin Glover is brilliantly cast as the timid Wallard, who has suffered a life of bullying. His quirky style only emphasises the characters descent into madness. Glen Morgan's direction is very good, as is the set design. Hats off to the rat trainers too! Wouldn't Willard make a great Batman villain!
Jason S

An ok remake. Crispin Glover makes the movie and without him it would have been pretty bad. But I like to watch this guy work and this seems like a movie that was tailor made to fit his personality and his look. If you are a horror fan then you may like it.
Wahida K

From small things... comes great power.
Dan S

A creepy, atmospheric film that only succeeds partially due to a nastily brilliant performance from Crispin Glover. It's definitely interesting when it starts, and for the most part, it's compelling and offbeat, but eventually it falters a bit at the end. Definitely worth a… More
A creepy, atmospheric film that only succeeds partially due to a nastily brilliant performance from Crispin Glover. It's definitely interesting when it starts, and for the most part, it's compelling and offbeat, but eventually it falters a bit at the end. Definitely worth a look, but not much more.
Kylie B

Rats, you say? Yes, lots of them. As people say, rats aren't necessarily scary, but what makes this so entertaining (and yes, frightening) isn't the animal talent but Crispin Glover's performance. You get to watch an isolated and initally rather sweet man go slowly… More
Rats, you say? Yes, lots of them. As people say, rats aren't necessarily scary, but what makes this so entertaining (and yes, frightening) isn't the animal talent but Crispin Glover's performance. You get to watch an isolated and initally rather sweet man go slowly insane and indirectly homicidal.
Lafe F

A very dark movie. Crispin Glover gives a strong demented performance, but I just didn't find the rats very scary. There's some effective death scenes, but I just wasn't too interested.
Dr Blood

A lot funnier than the original "Ben" and "Willard" rat films from the 70s.
Bobby H

Crispin Glover has a good acting performance in this, and thats the only reason I'd give it the rating that I did. The movie itself is ridiculous. Why would anyone remake this?
Curtis L

Crispin Glover freaking out is worth three stars.
Luke B

A fanatstic remake about a man who trains rats to do his bidding. Crispin Glover in a performance of a lifetime steals the show but leaves enough room for R. Lee Ermey and his show stealing talents. Manages to hit an emotional nerve despite being a creature feature.
Jacob P

A very disturbing, yet fun horror movie. It's pretty much a movie about a man obssessed with rats. It was very fun to watch, and i really enjoyed it. I wouldn't consider it a classic, though.
Sylvester K

Excellent score and acting. Crispin Glover is amazingly well at portraying the titular character. It's a horror film? Wasn't scary at all. The direction was very nice, I love the final scene where he was in the house. I suppose it's a black comedy cuz there were a lot… More
Excellent score and acting. Crispin Glover is amazingly well at portraying the titular character. It's a horror film? Wasn't scary at all. The direction was very nice, I love the final scene where he was in the house. I suppose it's a black comedy cuz there were a lot of tongue in cheek moments, it's a nice little film to watch.
Marion R

I wanted to like this, but it's just silly. I mean no matter how hard you try, rats aren't menacing.
Donna D

Creepy movie with great actor Crispin Glover to play Willard. He's a lonely, strange, outcast at work and in society who has a hateful boss and complaining mother, Befriending a huge rat named BEN, he decides to take revenge on all who mistreated him with his army of rats.… More
Creepy movie with great actor Crispin Glover to play Willard. He's a lonely, strange, outcast at work and in society who has a hateful boss and complaining mother, Befriending a huge rat named BEN, he decides to take revenge on all who mistreated him with his army of rats. Amusing somewhat and predictable.
Janice :

This wasn't so much as scary although it was quite morbid and dark. I honestly didn't enjoy it as much as i probably should... Crispin Glover is a great actor but the story is boring and that just ruins everything!
Moe E

Not too bad for a remake...
paganchild1979 p

Not too many thought of controlling the rats. But that is awesome!
Haley A

I found this film entertaining...but Crispin Glover really creeps me out!