WATCHER IN THE WOODS

US, 1982, 83 minutes, Colour.
Bette Davis, Lynn Holly Johnson, Caroll Baker, David Mc Callum, Ian Bannen.
Directed by John Hough and Vincent M cEveety.

Watcher in the Woods is atmospheric but minor Disney material. It is directed by John Hough (Twins of Dracula, Dirty Mary Crazy Larry, The Legend of Hell House) who also directed the two Witch Mountain films for Disney. This film has an excellent cast including Bette Davis, Carroll Baker and David Mc Callum. Skating champion Lynn Holly Johnson (Ice Castles, For Your Eyes Only) is the heroine. The film was considered not satisfactory when produced and there was consequent pruning and some more material directed by Vincent Mc Eveety.

The film is Disney material with its focus on the family and capitalises on the interest in the occult. However, the alien is a benign presence. The film received only supporting release.

1. Entertaining Disney thriller?

2. Production values: British locations, the stars? Atmospherics of the mansion, the village, the woods? The cast? Difficulties in production and a truncated final version?

3. Colour photography, British beauty, period? Special effects? Atmospheric score?

4. The plausibility of the plot: the American family on sabbatical in England, the renting of the mansion, the encounter with Mrs. Aylwood, the mystery of the house and the woods? The effect on Jan? Puzzle and mystery?

5. The plausibility of the past events: the post-war period, the youngsters, the church, the rituals, Karen's disappearance and the repercussions -especially for Mrs. Aylwood? Jan similar to Karen? The contact with Karen, the voices? Reliving the rituals, the presence of the benign alien and the return of Karen?

6. The family: background, music? The ordinary events of their sabbatical holiday? The sketch of the parents? Jan and her age, mysterious experiences - the mirror, the wind in the woods, the blindfold girl? The puppy and the giving of the name Narek? Her encounter with Mike -and the proper falling in love with him? Telling him the story, sharing the puzzle? Ellie - young, wandering, her fears? Jan chasing her in the woods and her almost drowning - Mrs Aylwood's rescue?

7. Jan and Mike - Mike with the very refined accent etc.? Suitable hero? His questioning Keller, Colley, and his mother? The mysterious happenings with the horses and the bolting, the winds, the lightning? Growing apprehension?

8. Mrs Aylwood and Bette Davis' style, seemingly sinister, seeming to drown Jan but saving her? The puzzle about Karen - and her finally appearing a nice old woman?

9. The church. the site of the ceremony, persuading the three older people to overcome their fears and re-enact the ceremony? The difficulties of persuasion? The ceremony, the church, the lightning and the eerie atmosphere, the struggle and some wanting to let go? The alien, Ellie, Jan. Karen's return?

10. The happy ending and Karen's reunion with her mother? The importance of the flashbacks with the young Mrs Aylwood and her love for her daughter and the horror at her disappearance? The flashbacks with the ceremony and Karen's disappearance?

11. Theme of the united family? Fear and reassurance? one critic said it was an exercise in anti-horror: is this so?