The Watcher in the Woods

Name: The Watcher in the Woods
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Family
Released: October 9, 1981
Duration: 84 min
Rating: 52
Cast: Benedict Taylor, Bette Davis, Carroll Baker, David McCallum, Frances Cuka

1981

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Mixed or average reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews

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Movie Details & Credits

Buena Vista Distribution Company | Release Date: October 9, 1981 | PG

Starring: Benedict Taylor, Bette Davis, Carroll Baker, David McCallum, Frances Cuka, Ian Bannen, Katharine Levy, Kyle Richards, Lynn-Holly Johnson, Richard Pasco

Summary: An American family moves into a spooky manor house located within a wooded area in the English countryside. Before long they start to see some odd things, like mirrors that don't reflect, and the ghost of a blindfolded girl. The new tenants learn that 30 years ago, a teenage girl, who bears an uncanny resemblance to their daughter Jan,An American family moves into a spooky manor house located within a wooded area in the English countryside. Before long they start to see some odd things, like mirrors that don't reflect, and the ghost of a blindfolded girl. The new tenants learn that 30 years ago, a teenage girl, who bears an uncanny resemblance to their daughter Jan, disappeared nearby. Soon, the supernatural presence starts contacting both sisters.… Expand

Director: John Hough and Vincent McEveety

Genre(s): Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 84 min

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Critic Reviews

Rakesh Satyal

This so-called “children’s film” selects a variety of phobias and stitches them into a patchwork of shimmering terrorscapes and half-baked ideas about secret societies, the occult, and, of course, dirt-bike-racing in rural England. In other words, it’s perfect. Read full review

Screen Rant Padraig Cotter

The Watcher In The Woods is an eerie, gothic horror movie and while it's suitable for older children, it feels utterly unlike anything else Disney has ever made. Read full review

Slashfilm BJ Colangelo

Parents are frequently looking for transitory horror films to help bridge the gap between certifiable children's films to hard-R horror, and The Watcher in the Woods is a perfect addition. Read full review

Empire Ian Nathan

It does slow down a bit too much for endless walking hither and thither scenes in the woods, as we ebb toward the grand reveal, but the mystery proves strong enough to hold you. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

The acting and writing are barely professional but the art direction, especially Alan Hume’s stunning camerawork, gives the pic a gloss. Read full review

Vincent Canby

A peculiar sort of Disney movie in that it's likely to scare the daylights out of the very young while reducing their usually sober-sided elders to unfortunate giggles. The audience in-between may well enjoy the standard spook-movie effects, but I challenge even the most indulgent fan to give a coherent translation of what passes for an explanation at the end. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

This tepid ghost story fails to focus on either its story or its target audience. Read full review

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