Willard

Name: Willard
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Horror
Released: March 14, 2003
Duration: 100 min
Rating: 61
Cast: Crispin Glover, Laura Harring, R. Lee Ermey

2003

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 31 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 24 Ratings

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6.9

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6.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 24 Ratings

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Willard

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Movie Details & Credits

New Line Cinema | Release Date: March 14, 2003 | PG-13

Starring: Crispin Glover, Laura Harring, R. Lee Ermey

Summary: Socially inept and saddled with a miserable job, Willard shares a powerful bond with the rats who dwell in his basement. When Willard's world is turned upside down by tragedy, those responsible must answer to his rapidly growing pack of ravenous, fearsome friends. (New Line Cinema)

Director: Glen Morgan

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Horror

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 100 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Kevin Carr

Willard doesn’t try to be great art (although if you really think about it, there are plenty of themes borrowed from “Hamlet,” “The Birds” and “Frankenstein” to name a few). Willard just is. Read full review

Kim Morgan

The "Citizen Kane" of rat movies makes for a terrific overhaul in this wonderfully entertaining and, yes, touching take on that terribly confused man/child named Willard. Read full review

Keith Phipps

It only takes rat trainers and CGI artists to create swarms of vermin, but it takes a twisted kind of genius to treat them as equals. Read full review

Kevin Thomas

The new Willard, which has taken the original's humanity and the psychological validity, leavened with a dollop of dark humor, and replaced them with a technically impressive but essentially heartless spoof. Read full review

Roger Ebert

There is real wit in Glover's performance. And wit, too, in R. Lee Ermey's performance as the boss, which draws heavily on Ermey's real-life experience as a drill sergeant. Read full review

Rene Rodriguez

As filler for the long, dry winter movie season, the movie is more than passable, and its sense of humor has a wicked, unforgiving spin that is decidedly pro-rodent. Read full review

Stephen Holden

The worst flaw of Willard is a clunky tone-deaf screenplay based on Gilbert Ralston's original and updated by the director. Barely a line flies by that doesn't land with a wooden thud. Read full review

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User Reviews

Sam

May 19, 2006

Willard isn't perfect, nor is it a classic, but it's still a great movie that has everything a horror movie needs: Scares, drama, and a a great leading actor.

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DirigiblePulp

Dec 11, 2016

Crispin Glover was born for this role, it is what it is. It has lots of fun, provides layer of social class commentary and has maybe the greatest performance by a movie animal in history -- Ben, the fat rat, the bad rat, the poor rat who just wants a friend rat.

It's amazing how you go fromCrispin Glover was born for this role, it is what it is. It has lots of fun, provides layer of social class commentary and has maybe the greatest performance by a movie animal in history -- Ben, the fat rat, the bad rat, the poor rat who just wants a friend rat.

It's amazing how you go from feeling bad for Willard, to despising him, fearing him and then back again. Willard is picked on by his boss, and his mother, and he in turn picks on Ben (while favoring Socrates) who in turn leads a revolt against Willard who is leading a revolt against his boss. I find it hard to use the word complex when describing a killer rats movie, but that's just what this is. Willard is no hero--he's not just a sad sack the world hates and the
audience is asked to feel sorry for--he's flesh and blood and he perpetuates all the things he hates and you can simultaneously root for him and against him. It's incredible how poorly he receives the little bit of companionship he gets from the new girl in the office, as a result of his lingering fears of being rejected and picked on by females his whole life.

There's only one gratuitous CGI rats scene, the rest is all too real. Socrates's death is one for the ages. I want more Glover in everything.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

HellHoleHorror

Feb 16, 2022

This is quite a dark tale about one of society's rejects forming a bond with a large number of rats that act as his friend and also his enemy. The film is interesting and very well made. The rats are a character in this movie just as the people are. The effects are totally convincing as isThis is quite a dark tale about one of society's rejects forming a bond with a large number of rats that act as his friend and also his enemy. The film is interesting and very well made. The rats are a character in this movie just as the people are. The effects are totally convincing as is the acting. My only minor gripe would be that the content is not very inspiring. It is intriguing but I felt that something was missing. Overall it was totally enthralling dark fairytale with some mild humour and a little fear.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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