When a family moves to a country home, the young girls experience strange happenings that have a link to an occult event years past.When a family moves to a country home, the young girls experience strange happenings that have a link to an occult event years past.When a family moves to a country home, the young girls experience strange happenings that have a link to an occult event years past.
- Awards
- 1 win & 4 nominations
Ina Clare
- Motorbike Race Spectator
- (uncredited)
Dominic Guard
- Young John Keller
- (uncredited)
Derek Lyons
- Motorbike Race Spectator
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe Anchor Bay DVD release was originally going to be a two-disc set, with both the famous original 100 minute cut that test audiences saw (Anchor Bay found the footage that was thought destroyed, and was going to re-edit it as close as possible to the preview version) and the theatrical 84 minute cut. Unfortunately Disney did not allow Anchor Bay to have the original cut, and only let them use the two "alternate endings" which now appear on the DVD. This explains why director John Hough referring to the movie as being finally edited the way he intended (the commentary was recorded before Anchor Bay had to drop the two-disc idea), when it actually isn't. The alternate endings, however, do provide the majority of the missing footage from the 1981 preview, save some small scenes/changes. Hough explains that "his" ending is a combination of the two alternate endings and the film's current ending.
- GoofsWhen seen in the mirror maze, Karen is wearing white tights. When she returns to the chapel, they are gone.
- Quotes
Mrs. Aylwood: [to unseen presence in the woods] She's going to stay here. Is that what you wanted?
- Alternate versionsOriginal version ran 100 minutes. Notorious for the numerous ending recuts, the film runs 84 minutes. However, you can see some deleted footage in Jan's flashback dream. You see a flashback at the carnival in which Mike says "We've got to hurry!".
Featured review
Incredible film that holds up well to age
When I was younger I saw this film for the first time and it made an impact, although with age of course the memories faded. However, when I spotted the recent release DVD of this title I had to get it. I felt compelled, and so I snatched it up. When I sat down to watch it, I was instantly drawn into a world of eerie mystery that's surprisingly well-done, especially for a film that bears the name of Disney, notorious for their sanitized, 'family-friendly' fare. This certainly wasn't anything like most of their films, and it was a welcome change. I found myself putting together the mystery a bit faster than the characters, although I was indeed thrown a curve by the ending, which was still quite impacting. The thing about it is, even the alternate endings included on the DVD are still just as impacting, each in its own way. Each one makes quite an impression, and each one resolves the story without tying up each loose end in an impossibly pat way. The 'default' ending is abrupt but poignant, whereas the others are more drawn-out and overtly horrific. But the buildup makes it so, and the buildup is absolutely faultless, especially with the inclusion of the understated and brilliant Bette Davis.
I was absolutely floored by it. Watcher in the Woods is every bit as brilliant a horror film as any other much-discussed title, if not better. It's reminiscent of Lovecraft in many ways and yet gives a distinct impression of a dark, dark fairy tale. The acting is very good, the cast excellent, and the settings simple and isolated yet stunning and evocative. Every fan of film, horror fans in particular, must see The Watcher in the Woods. The DVD release is something that collectors too will enjoy, with the trailers and alternate endings cleaned and clarified for their magnificent DVD presentation. This is a film that should, and will, live in history as one of the hidden gems of film.
I was absolutely floored by it. Watcher in the Woods is every bit as brilliant a horror film as any other much-discussed title, if not better. It's reminiscent of Lovecraft in many ways and yet gives a distinct impression of a dark, dark fairy tale. The acting is very good, the cast excellent, and the settings simple and isolated yet stunning and evocative. Every fan of film, horror fans in particular, must see The Watcher in the Woods. The DVD release is something that collectors too will enjoy, with the trailers and alternate endings cleaned and clarified for their magnificent DVD presentation. This is a film that should, and will, live in history as one of the hidden gems of film.
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Ojos en el bosque
- Filming locations
- Ettington Park, Warwickshire, England, UK(chapel, manor: home of John Keller)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $5,000,000
- Gross worldwide
- $5,000,000
- Runtime1 hour 24 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.75 : 1
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