This Early Disney Film Is Essential Gateway Horror
Disney’s horror-infused sci-fi film The Watcher in the Woods observes a release date anniversary today. This gateway horror picture holds a special place in my heart because it’s perhaps the only classic Disney film to feature a séance. The subject matter is darker than a lot of children’s fare from its era, dealing with macabre themes and repeatedly placing the youthful protagonists in serious peril.
The Watcher in the Woods (based on Florence Engel Randall’s novel of the same name) may seem a bit dated to some and may not be as effective to those watching the film for the first time through adult eyes. But to anyone who saw this picture at the right age, it remains a pivotal gateway horror offering a nostalgic trip down memory lane.
In the film, the Curtis family moves into a massive estate in the English countryside. Long ago, the owner of the manor, Mrs. Aylwood (Bette Davis), lost her daughter Karen (Katharine Levy) under mysterious circumstances. Jan (Lynn-Holly Johnson), the eldest Curtis daughter, bears a striking resemblance to the missing child. What’s more, she and her sister Ellie (Kyle Richards) seem to have a psychic connection to the long-lost girl. As Jan investigates, with Ellie in tow, they learn that several neighbors were present at the time of Karen’s disappearance. Jan probes for answers, but those on the scene that fateful night quickly become tight-lipped about what they saw.
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In time, we learn that Karen disappeared during a séance. It’s eventually revealed that the chapel where the occult ritual took place caught fire, but no trace of Karen remained when the area was searched. There’s a level of secrecy pertaining to Karen’s disappearance that is teased out effectively over time. We get bits and pieces of information about the night she vanished as Jan and Ellie attempt to track down those on the scene when she disappeared. The story eventually culminates in a fantastical conclusion fitting to a Disney picture. To say more than that might spoil the fun, so I will leave it there.
The first two acts of the film feature a number of near misses that help create a baseline of tension. Jan and Ellie have several close calls involving an exploding motorcycle, runaway horses, and various other brushes with danger. Because this is a product of the ‘80s, the parental figures are primarily absent from the narrative, leaving Jan and Ellie to run amok and cause trouble as they look into Karen’s disappearance. Free-range parenting is a sign of the times but also serves to raise the stakes for Ellie and Jan. They are investigating what appears to be some sort of supernatural foul play and often doing so without a safety net. You don’t see minors getting that kind of autonomy in mainstream releases these days and that’s a true shame. But that’s another essay for another day.
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Seeing as The Watcher in the Woods is family-friendly fare put out by Disney, certain aspects of the film are fairly tame. But the flick never holds back on atmosphere. The persistent level of unease stems from a number of places, including the ominous estate the Curtis family rents, the eerie manner in which the foggy wilderness outside the home is framed, and the specter-like apparition Jan keeps seeing.
Director John Hough (The Legend of Hell House) compliments the imposing nature of the subject matter and set pieces with a haunting score by Stanley Myers and creeping camerawork captured by Alan Hume. Hume often positions the camera behind bushes and lurks in the shadows, creating a voyeuristic experience that suggests someone or something is lying in wait and watching. Another setup that employs the effective use of creative camerawork sees Jan plagued by visions of Karen in a carnival house of mirrors. The cinematography in this sequence is equal parts dizzying and imposing, paving the way toward a chilling denouement.
To be fair, The Watcher in the Woods is not without its flaws; the child actors are a little hammy, the narrative is more than a little far-fetched, and some of the logic doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. But if you can look past all that, there’s a compelling storyline likely to captivate younger viewers and serve as an accessible entry point to the horror genre.
If you’re interested in seeking out The Watcher in the Woods in observance of the picture’s release date anniversary, you can find the film available as a digital rental and on physical media.
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