Customer Reviews

Something Wicked This Way Comes

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2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

"And in despair I bowed my head, there is no peace on earth," I said. "For hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men." Then pealed the bells more loud and deep, "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep. The wrong shall fail, the right prevail. With peace on earth, good will to men"...

With Shakespeare & Longfellow both quoted in the film & movie screenplay, penned and adapted by the author Ray Bradbury, how could you go wrong with this Disney Family great!

Set in the 1940's in a small idyllic town called Greentown, Illinois; it is the pseudonym for Ray Bradbury's own home town of Waukegan, Illinois. Waukegan plays quite a big role in most of Ray Bradbury's works, just as Bradbury had a pseudonym himself by the name of Douglas Spaulding.

Greentown is mentioned in passing several times in short stories, just for the reader to put a name to the place, but it is featured most prominently in "Dandelion Wine", a beautiful anthology Bradbury wrote concerning his childhood
memories, and in the dark fantasy novel, "Something Wicked This Way Comes". So essentially, you COULD visit Greentown if you wanted to... Just be careful of the carnival "Autumn People" in October.

Jason Robards heads a stellar cast as the small town's middle-aged, midlife crisis cursed, librarian, Mr. Charles Halloway. Vidal Peterson plays Charles' son, the light, tow headed good boy, Will Halloway and Will's best friend, blood brother and alter-ego, the dark & brave Jim Nightshade, played by Shawn Carson.

This dynamically diametric duo get caught up in the carnival that literally blows into town, courtesy of a spooky black train, one fateful, autumn night. "Dark's Pandemonium & Carnival" to be exact & the name does apt justice to the goings on all along the carnival grounds.

All of the Greentown folk's deepest and most secret desires are met by the devilish denizens of the travelling fair and with dire consequences.

Take in the sights and sounds of Mr. Dark's (a deliciously evil & seductive, Jonathan Price) Pandemonium Carnival, such as the beautiful dancing girls, the spooktacular and haunted Ferris Wheel, the fortune teller, the confusing "House Of Mirrors", gambling tables, the "dust witch" (Pam Grier) and the demonically charged, Merry-Go-Round/carousel that will take you on the ride of your life... Literally!

Diane Ladd plays single mother, Mrs. Nightshade while Ellen Geer, daughter of the late Will Geer (Grandpa of The Waltons), portrays the mother of Will Halloway.

Someone HAS to save the citizens of small Greeentown from the "Autumn People" with their trickery, spells, evil powers and destructive ways. Who will "Step Right Up..." just like the carnival barker bellows???

Watch this gem of a film and find out for yourself!

Happy Watching & Unpleasant Dreams!

This is not really a review, but if you are looking for the widescreen version of this film, it is also included on this DVD. That has NOT been noted in the description provided by Amazon. It really irks me when DVDs are issued in only full screen versions. I won't go into the particulars as to why. Those of us who are into this know why. This DVD has both 1.33:1 and 1.85:1 versions on a one-sided dual layered menu selectable format.

Based on the best-selling 1962 novel by venerable SF and horror writer Ray Bradbury--who also penned this cinematic adaptation--1983's SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES is the unabashedly nostalgic story of two young boys, Will Halloway (Vidal Peterson) and Jim Nightshade (Shawn Carson), who engage in a battle of wills with Mr. Dark (Jonathan Pryce), the nefarious proprietor of a preternatural carnival that that literally blows into the boys' hometown one brisk October night (circa 1940). When Will and Jim discover that Dark and his troupe of midway miscreants are hiding some evil secret that might endanger the town, the boys take it upon themselves to uncover the truth and protect their friends and neighbors.

Some viewers are surprised to learn that this somber film is a product of the Walt Disney Company. Though there are the lovable small-town characters that one expects from Disney, it is admittedly rare to find a Disney flick with an incorrigibly evil character such as Mr. Dark (obviously the Devil in all but name). It is also unusual for a Disney film to have such a grim atmosphere, at least one that is not regularly punctured with puerile comedic relief, but SOMETHING THIS WAY COMES has a consistently spooky ambiance and an earnestly frightening plot, both of which elevate it to the level of a genuine horror film DESPITE its Disney label.

The performances in SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES are top-notch. Jonathan Pryce is deliciously wicked as the enigmatic Mr. Dark--genre fans might recognize Pryce as the actor playing Governor Swann in the 2003 blockbuster PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL--and Jason Robards does a fine turn as the wise librarian father of young Will. Vidal Peterson and Shawn Carson, the two young actors portraying Will and Jim, are relative newcomers whose lack of substantial experience is an asset rather than a liability, as it actually adds to the realism of their characters' youthful innocence. Some of the seasoned actors that fill supporting and background parts also contribute greatly to the quality of the film. The gorgeous Pam Grier, star of several popular "blaxploitation" flicks in the 1970s, plays the carnival's witch-like fortune-teller; Diane Ladd plays Jim Nightshade's mother, a woman who is raising her son alone after both were abandoned by the boy's father; and Ellen Geer, daughter of the late Will Geer of TV's THE WALTONS, portrays the mother of Will Halloway. Horror fans might recognize the late Royal Dano in the role of Tom Fury, the lightning-rod salesman. During his lengthy career, the ubiquitous Dano appeared in such genre favorites as Hitchcock's THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY (1955), 7 FACES OF DR. LAO (1964), and KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE (1988); and also in episodes of genre TV shows like LOST IN SPACE, NIGHT GALLERY, AMAZING STORIES, and TWIN PEAKS.

Although the script does not have the same scope and attention to detail found in the novel, Bradbury has still done an exceptional job of translating to screenplay the novel's eerie essence and moral subtext. And director Jack Clayton does almost as well in visually interpreting Bradbury's script. He generates the perfect atmosphere for some genuinely creepy moments, and he is also quite adept at evoking Bradbury's primary theme of innocence lost.

SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES generates most of its chills and scares the old-fashioned way--through atmosphere, suggestion, good plotting, and great characterization. Unfortunately, the flick was originally released during the peak of the first big wave of slasher films in the early 1980s, and it was therefore unfairly ignored by moviegoers and panned by critics. But thanks to the cool folks at Anchor Bay, this little beauty has a new lease on life via DVD.

Anchor Bay's disc is short on extras, offering only the theatrical trailer and the option of viewing in either pan-and-scan or 1.66:1 Letterbox formats. But the digital transfer looks nearly pristine--even when viewed on a widescreen HDTV-- with only a few minor defects from the source print noticeable. In keeping with the subject matter, the film was shot with dark tones and subtle hues, and these come through wonderfully on the DVD. Serious collectors of horror films on DVD won't want to let this genre gem slip away.

I have watched this film every October since it first came out on video, so you can see what a fine piece of work I think it is. The opening scenes perfectly sum up the spirit of autumn for me: the narration (accompanied by James Horner's wistful and beautiful score) along with the photography of the October landscape conjure up a rather melancholy longing for the past. There are some great scenes showing the different ways people deal with their own private sadnesses and regrets. (And it makes you think, if the dark carnival came to your town, what would you wish for? On which longings of your own would the carnival feed?) The film is particularly suited to viewing in October, but it isn't a Halloween story, and can be enjoyed year-round. Watch the film, but by all means view the LETTERBOXED version! Even though the black bands on the top and bottom of the screen are minimal (the film wasn't shot in a very widescreen aspect ratio), the letterboxed edition shows much more of the original film frame than does the standard tv version--it makes a big difference (I've done a direct comparison of the two versions)...Highly recommended!

I remember seeing this film when I was just a toddler and I remember being creeped out by it. Having seen it just recently as an adult, I can't understand why it bothered me. It's a harmless, fun little movie. This is a film based on the short story by Ray Bradbury. He also wrote the screenplay for the movie as well. The movie takes place at the turn of the century in a small, picturesque burg of Green Town. It looks like it could be somewhere in New England. It is October and the town and film has a very rustic, fall look. It looks real good. We meet two best pals named Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade. Both have father 'issues'. Jim's dad took off and Will's dad, the town librarian Charles Halloway(The always wonderful Jason Robards), is an older fellow with a bad heart. He feels bad that because of his condition and age(I'm guessing Robards was around 60 here, but the character might of been younger)he can't do the normal father/son thing with Will. He is also haunted by an incident a few years back that had someone else rescuing Will in a river while he only stood at the river bank and watched. The father/son arc between him and Will is touching and well done. It is the heart and soul of this film. Things turn weird when a strange man in black named Mr. Dark(Jonathan Pryce)shows up in town with his mysterious traveling carnival called "Dark's Pandemonium Carnival". This new attraction isn't what it seems to be. After some snooping around, our two young friends discover that Mr. Dark is truly evil. He lures innocent people in and feeds off their misery and pain. These people, in turn, become part of the traveling carnival. Once Mr. Dark sees the two boys witnessing something they shouldn't, they become his main targets. This being a Disney film, it is not violent, bloody, or scary. The father/son relationship runs through the whole movie and is the centerpiece. I also like how this film shows off the simple fun and adventures you had when you were a little kid. How these two boys get into mischief and stuff. It's like seeing yourself in your town during your childhood getting into things. I always like that in movies. The small town and it's quaint town square and nearby fields and woods are choreographed very nicely. Makes it really look like fall in whatever year it is supposed to be. Our main actors are all good. Especially Robards(naturally), and Pryce(as always). Pryce really gives off bad, evil vibes as Mr. Dark. A very mysterious presence. Robards was one of the best. I could just listen to his voice all the time. The young boys as Will and Jim are just fine, but they are nothing to write home about. Diane Ladd has a supporting role that is pretty much nothing. Same can be said for "Foxy Brown" star Pam Grier as the Dust Witch. Even though it's a small and ill fleshed out role, she brings mystery and beauty to the role. If only it were used for a bigger and more meaningful role. This is a nice little movie that is suitable for anyone of any age to watch. Especially on those cold, windy October nights. Having seen it again for the first time in 15 years or so, I realize what a pretty good movie it is. Wished I had re-discovered it a bit sooner. Check it out.

I've read through several reviews and find myself in agreement with fans of this film. It is truly one of the most underrated films in Disney's library. Whether Disney has disowned it is questionable and I suspect there is a connection behind the scenes with Anchor Bay, just as there is (or was?) with Miramax Films.

The key to this film is that Bradbury captured the tone and flavor of his book perfectly. While nowhere near as complete as the book and the story told therein, it is, nonetheless, complete in and of itself. There's nothing missing for those who haven't read the book. But, if you liked the movie, go find a copy of his book and read it one dark and stormy night.

If you've seen some of the weird science before in other films, most likely it was because Bradbury wrote about it first. He is and was the Stephen King of his generation with such strange tales as The Illustrated Man and The Martian Chronicles (both are actually linked anthologies of his short stories).

If you haven't read the description of the film, it is a story about Middle America early in the first half of the Twentieth Century and two boys sharing their childhood. One comes from a respected, if unexciting family and the other from a less than honorable setting. Yet they live beyond their differences and hold on to their own special fantasies and memories in a Norman Rockwell sort of way. Life was simpler then than it is now, and yet it has its dark side, as the boys soon find out. Mr. Dark's Carnival has come to town in as mysterious way as it did in another time, many decades before, affecting all who became involved.

The film is deliciously handled with a flare that defies description, probably because Bradbury graced it with his retelling through the screenplay. Coupled with the compelling music that adds flavor and color to the outstanding cinematography, the film draws us into a Twilight Zone of the familiar and macabre.

The film is treated as one for children. It decidedly is not one for little ones who are half-awake, and yet the story is more disturbing to those who will think upon the hidden messages that are as old as time itself and what every parent dreads... What is to become of us? What is to become of our children? This is the very heart of the fear that is so omnipresent once the carnival arrives that dreadful night.

Don't just watch this story once. See it twice, but not on the same night. Give it some time to develop in your subconscious, and then, one autumn night, when the leaves are turning color, give it another look, ignoring the cliches it has spawned in other, later and lesser stories.

Excellent film adaptation to Mr. Bradbury's whimsical book by the same title.

The film is cast in the autumn (the autumn of life?) and a small town around turn of the century America (our dream of what America should be?). Two boys, Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade are excited to hear of a carnival coming to town (remember our youth when autumn always brought some sort of carnival to your town?). However, this carnival is no ordinary one. It's proprieter, Mr. Dark, offers people what they desire most -- at a fearsome price.

Jim and Will discover the underlying nature of Mr. Dark, his menions and the carnival and end up as quarry for the mysterious, sinister man. Will's father, Charles Halloway - the town librarian - is an unlikely hero who faces his own fears and temptations to protect the two youths from Mr. Dark.

Not really bloody or scary, I'd say the theme of this movie (that of facing the realities of life) creates uneasiness because of the familiar setting and its dealing with normal everyday people and their dreams/wishes.

The movie is well done and entertaining. Certainly worth a look. You might consider before allowing younger children to view it - it would probably give them dreams.

~P~

This movie is like a Twilight Zone Episode. It depicts an America we really aren't anymore, but we wish we were.....the small town, the family structure etc etc. I love Jason Robards in this movie, he is really moving and effective. Spiders fall from a boy's ceiling, a carnival comes to town whose leader is called "Mr. Dark", corpses in coffins melt and autumn leaves blow in this classic Bradbury story. Its a great family film for Halloween. I have happy memories of watching it as a youth with my family.

This movie is great for Halloween!

While there are a couple scenes, if that, that could cause a blanket over the head (the spider scene), I really don't think that this would cause younger viewers any nightmares.
I would totally be ok with showing this movie to my nieces.
Don't take my word for it alone though, you should watch it first just to make sure.

I've got nieces that range from 5 to 18 and this is one of the movies, along with Hocus Pocus and Nightmare Before Christmas, that their parents let them watch.
If you're a parent looking for Halloween movies that both adults and kids will enjoy, check these out (ha... like you haven't seen them already...).

Yea yea... I KNOW it's June... but it was cold today, got me thinking of Halloween...

I had to read the book for my English class and found it hard to get into. I ended up loving it once the action picked up! The movie was just not as good as the book. The effects were cheesey and the boys looked way too young. The adult characters were picked well. I think if I hadn't read the book i would not have enjoyed the movie at all. My suggestion is to read the book first, then see the movie.