Willard (2003)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Glen Morgan

Writers (WGA):

Glen Morgan (screenplay)
Gilbert Ralston (1971 screenplay)

Release Date:

14 March 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

A new breed of friendship

Plot:

A young man with an unusual connection with rats, uses them at his own sociopathic will.

Plot Keywords:

Rat | Office | Murder | Fired | Employment Dismissal

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Crispin Glover	...	Willard
R. Lee Ermey	...	Mr. Martin
Laura Harring	...	Cathryn (as Laura Elena Harring)
Jackie Burroughs	...	Mrs. Stiles
Kim McKamy	...	Ms. Leach (as Kimberly Patton)
William S. Taylor	...	Mr. Garter
Edward Horn	...	Colquitt
Gus Lynch	...	George Foxx
Laara Sadiq	...	Janice Mantis
David Parker	...	Detective Boxer
Ty Olsson	...	Officer Salmon

Also Known As:

A Vingança de Willard (Brazil) [pt]
Willard (Spain) [es]
Willard (France) [fr]
Willard (Germany) [de]
Willard (Finland) (DVD title) [fi]
Willard'in fareleri (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for terror/violence, some sexual content and language.

Runtime:

USA:100 min | UK:96 min (DVD)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

New Zealand:M | Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating) | USA:PG-13 (NO. 39665) | Australia:M | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Lion's Gate Studios, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

There have been reports that the enormous rat Ben was not portrayed by a rat, which is not quite true. Ben was played by a giant Gambian Pouched Rat (cricetomys gambianus), a distant relative of the Norway rat (rattus norvegicus), the species in the film. Gambian pouched rats, while fairly docile, can grow to body lengths of as much as 10-17 inches from head to base of tail, with a tail about the same length again or longer, and generally weigh anywhere from two to over six pounds.

Goofs:

Continuity: Willard lays out some glue strips to catch the mice. A mouse steps on one and gets stuck. When Willard first sees it, the mouse is only glued on the bottom 3/4 of its body. Its front legs are free and it is crawling away with its belly and lower legs flattened onto the strip. Then Willard decides to save it. In the next shot of the mouse, all four feet are on the glue strip with its belly raised up. It is also in the center of the glue strip whereas before it was hanging off one end of it.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Willard's Mother: Willard! There are rats in the basement!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Year of the Rat (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

Ben

Beautiful

OK, it took me a long time, but better late than never. So, the main reason why most people didn't liked it, because it was not a horror film. So what? If you can understand that it's not a horror, then why don't you watch it wherever you think it is? "Willard" is an absolutely beautiful movie. I couldn't believe how atmospheric it was. I didn't expected much from the movie, esp. I was worried about CGI rats, but I wanted to see it for Crispin Glover. And the moment I've heard the music score I knew it is going to be something special. I don't think that it is weird movie at any point. It was beautiful movie. This is probably the word that describes it best. It may sound stupid, but I know that I have a good taste in movies. *coughs* That's why I can say that "Willard" is definitely one of the best recent movies and I can tell that it is not just personal opinion, it is one of the best movies. If it is a bad movie, then what do you consider a good movie?.. OK, it worked just because of Crispin Glover. He glued everything together. Without him it would be stupid and pointless. But he makes the concept believable. It should of get a few Oscar nomination, that's for sure, but no one surprised that it didn't. The music score was really outstanding, gave it a real feeling, kudos to composer. Definitely deserves an Oscar nom. The production design as well. Superb atmosphere. CGI was great! It was a real surprise and delight to see that CGI is great. Glen Morgan, he did such a great job. He had some small mistakes, but he is way much more superior than today's directors. It still hard to say about his style, because there is a lot of Hitchcock in him, but he did a great job in "Willard" without doubt. Kudos! Now, the acting. What can I say about Crispin Glover? He is a genius! An absolutely amazing genius! The Academy is just an ass, but it is not surprise. But he definitely deserves an Oscar, he owns it, it is THE best performance of 2003! He scared me to death, in good way. He has so much emotion in him, I couldn't believe how amazing his performance is! I have no right words to give him a credit. I'm just speechless… R. Lee Ermey, I like him a lot. He is one of my favorites too. Such a fun man. Kudos to you, R. Lee Ermey! Jackie Barroughs…creepy! In a good way, she did a great job, she really is! I mean, without her scary mother the movie wouldn't be the same! Laura Harring, I like her too, she was great in "Mullholand Drive". I know some people say that she was completely wasted and they right, but she still was a nice touch. I mean, it is always nice to look at her, she has that good quality about her. I don't know, but maybe she regret that she wasted her time here, but if I could I would say to her, that I think it's better to be a part of this labor of love, than some crappy Hollywood s***. If you watch deleted scenes on DVD it doesn't seem like she is wasted at all. And, the end. I like the new ending better, because it gives you to think about more, the old ending, IMHO, is quite pointless. So, to end the review. It is a masterpiece on its own right. It is an absolutely beautiful movie. So sensitive, so atmospheric, so emotional. My eyes were just glued to the screen. I know that Glen Morgan feels bad about the movie's failure, but he shouldn't, it was not his fault! It IS a great movie! When it ended I hoped that the teenagers will love it (I'm a teenager, myself), because the studio target at them, I hoped that this beautiful movie will be an exception, when they gonna love it for not being a usual stupid movies. But when they didn't, I just realized that some people will always be stupid no matter what. Well, their loss. It is one of my favorites. It is a deep, emotional movie. I'm sure Crispin Glover would be happy to know that "Willard" makes people think. It really is, esp. about human condition. I thought a lot about this movie and I'm not the only one. I recommend it highly. Definitely 10/10.