Thursday, October 7, 2010

Movies that remind me of Halloween: #2, The Watcher in the Woods

Movie #2: The Watcher in the Woods
Stars: Bette Davis, Lynn-Holly Johnson (the Ice Castles girl), Carroll Baker
Director: John Hough

Essential Halloween-ish elements:  A foreboding British manor located in sinister woods with rustling trees, ghostly phenomena that affect two young girls, Bette Davis wandering around with her chilling voice and black clothing, menacing mood music, scenes that make you jump out of your seat.

When I first saw it: I was around ten, and I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it. I showed it to my daughter last year when she was ten, and she freaked out.  One scene literally caused her to scream and burst into tears.  I told my younger sister about my daughter's reaction, and she said, "Don't even mention that movie!"  I guess that says something about my obsession with ghostly horror from a young age.  P.S. This is a Disney movie.

Most memorable line: Narek--spoken by a girl temporarily possessed by something.
 
Best character names: No dark or clever names stand out in this particular movie.  The missing girl is Karen, and the main character is Jan.  Pretty typical for a film from 1980.

Bottom line: Perfect for the Halloween season, despite some early-eighties hairstyles.

4 comments:

Ara Burklund said...

I never saw this one. Hopefully your sister's not scarred for life. My sis threw up a strawberry shake once when Bigfoot came through the window in a movie we were watching (in her defense, I think she was only six).

Cat Winters said...

Wow! I've never seen anyone throw up from a scary movie, although I think my daughter and sister have come close.

Ara Burklund said...

Someone posted the clip on YouTube. Here's a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiQXnR1J7Jg&feature=player_embedded

I bought my sis a copy of the DVD. ; )

Cat Winters said...

I'm so glad you found the clip--that made the story all the better! I can see how that would be traumatic for a six-year-old. I was snickering to myself as I was watching the clip, waiting for that hairy arm to come through the window. Bigfoot delivered.