Release Date: 10/7/2003 Original Release: 2003 Format: DVD Length: 95 minutes Rating:PG-13 (MPAA) Rating Reason: terror/violence, some sexual content, and language UPC: 794043641923 Studio: Warner Home Video
Horror/Suspense, Black Comedy, Theatrical Release, Remake, Revenge
Description
Glen Morgan's WILLARD stars Crispin Glover in the title role as a socially awkward loner who lives with his ailing mother (Jackie Burroughs) in a decrepit old house. Trapped between duties at home and working at a dreary company formerly owned by his deceased father, Willard leads a bleak and routine existence until he befriends Socrates, an albino rat living in the basement. This new friendship leads to an affinity for the ever-growing rodent population under his house, and soon Willard discovers the rats will do anything he tells them. When Willard is pushed too far by his bullying boss (R. Lee Ermey), he decides to use his four-legged companions to get revenge.
A perfect pairing of actor and character, Glover is ideal as Willard in this Burton-esque remake of the 1971 cult horror film. Widely known as an introvert and eccentric in real life, Glover expertly transfers his quirks to Willard in a giddily affected performance that ranges from subdued to outraged. Ermey (of FULL METAL JACKET) and Laura Elena Harring (of MULHOLLAND DRIVE) provide excellent support as his dictatorial boss and concerned coworker, respectively, but the true costars of this thriller are two rodents, the affectionate Socrates and the imposing, cat-sized Ben. Although some of the rat scenes are rendered with animatronics or CGI animation, the majority of Glover's scenes with Socrates and Ben involve real animal actors who convey distinct personalities and factor heavily into the story. The clever and darkly comic script even manages to bring in an element of the original film by featuring photos and paintings of Bruce Davison, star of the earlier film, as Willard's dead father. And be sure to listen for both a young Michael Jackson and Glover himself singing WILLARD's adopted theme song, "Ben."
DVD Features
Region 1 Keep Case Dual Side - Dual Layer Full Frame - 1.33 Letterbox - 2.35 Widescreen - 2.35 Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound - English Stereo Surround Sound - English Additional Release Material: Music Video: "Ben" - Crispin Hellion Glover (with Optional Commentary) 12 Deleted Scenes (with Optional Commentary) Audio Commentary: Glen Morgan - Director, James Wong - Producer, Crispin Glover and R. Lee Ermey - Stars Trailers: Theatrical Trailer Three TV Spots Featurette: 1. "Year of the Rat" - Behind-the-Scenes Documentary 2. "Rat People - Friend or Foe?" Documentary Interactive Features: Interactive Menus: Animated Menus DVD-ROM Features: Rat Gallery Script-to-Screen Trivia Game
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I love the scene where Crispin Glover, as Willard, is crying about his mother's death and a trail of snot comes running out of his nose. He's a dedicated actor, if not the most subtle of them. He... Read the whole review at MatchFlick
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Crazy/fun Crispin Glover + B movie plot + Final Destination's Glen Morgan= loads of horror fun. NOT REALLY. I so wanted to like this movie but the pace is so slow and the death scenes seem so drawn... Read the whole review at MatchFlick
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