Customer Reviews

Willard [VHS]

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I remember sitting in a dark theater back in '71, gobbling popcorn, slurping coke, and seeing how many Milk Duds could fit in my mouth, when suddenly, "Willard" began! I was 9 and nothing could have prepared me for the treat I was about to see! "Willard" is the story of a social outcast who has a crazy mother, a total creep of a boss, and no friends. He finds some rats and becomes close to them instead. Ben and Socrates (the white rat) are the standouts. Willard (Bruce Davidson) befriends his furry pals and teaches them lots of tricks. Everything's great until Willard takes Ben and Socrates to work with him. He hides them, but they are discovered. Willard's creepy boss (Ernest Borgnine) kills Socrates. That's when things get ugly! Willard unleashes his rodent horde on his boss, telling them to "Tear him up!". It's all downhill from there, as Willard goes increasingly insane, and Ben rises to turn the rats against him. The end is great and spawned the sequel "Ben". A classic...

"Willard" is not so much a great horror film as it is a [crude] film. If you are talking about a great horror film where masses of creatures attack humans than go check out Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds." With this 1971 film from director Daniel Man we are talking [scaring one with] a whole bunch of rats. The twist here is that these rats have their own Pied Piper in the person of social misfit, Willard Stiles (Bruce Davidson). The only friends poor Willard has in this world are his four-legged little friends, including his two favorites, Ben and Socrates, who he starts training to obey his every whim. Eventually he decides that his boss, Al Martin (Ernest Borgnine), needs to be taught a lesson in what ends up being one of the more memorable scenes by the former Academy Award winning actor. Willard even finds love in the figure of Joan (Sondra Locke). Unfortunately, his rat friends do not like being neglected.

This is an old fashioned film, which means these rats were actually trained by Moe and Nora Di Sesso to do thinks like walk planks and chew on someone's face. No computer generated effects for this film. But then just the idea of a horde of rats descending on a human being should be enough to send you cowering. Final Notes: Willard's mom is played by Elsa Lanchester, the original "Bride of Frankenstein." "Willard" was followed by the sequel "Ben," with its infamous title song sung by Michael Jackson. A remake of "Willard" is coming out soon and it will be interesting to see if a slick production of this story manages to take it to a new level beyond what this dark little film achieved by the strategic placement of cheese...

Willard is a quality horror movie. It was low budget and did not have the best film quality, but the story and plot were great. a must for rat lovers

My memories of 'Willard' are far better than the movie itself. Growing up in the 70's who could forget the great poster from this movie?(which I am lucky enough to own)the creepy trailer(which is scarier than the film) and an incredible and eerie performance by Bruce Davidson, which is too good for this lovable, but sub-par film.

If not for Davidson, Borgnine and the rats this movie would be a bad TV movie of the week! Regardless, I have fond memories of this film and I would like to see it released on DVD! I would buy it and I know I'm not alone. Where your nightmares end.....Willard begins!

I saw this movie on TV back in the 70's and thought it was a great horror film. I don't get freaked out by rats and actually was rooting for them. I have never seen it on TV since but I decided to see if this was still out in film and it was. Thank god I stil have a VCR because it was only out in VHS not DVD. Seeing it again showed me that it hasn't lost it's scary facture. If you can, see it.

All has been well said about this fine movie.
It would surly be a sin though to release Willard without its great sequel, "Ben". They are a MUST to be viewed together:-)

couldn't find this anywhere. my daughter loves rats and just had to have this. finally found it online. very old movie but in great shape and sent on time. excellent service thank you!

I was 11 years old the first time I saw this movie.I love everything about it the plot,story and the graffic ending.Lets face it there are not many movies today that are made as good as this low budget thriller.In movies today you see people with horses dogs, cats, birds, and even fish as pets but not rats thats why it is unique in its own right.I saw the remake of willard years ago its not as good as the original because they changed some of the story around.At the end of the original willard willard dies so they can make ben the remake he lives they havent made a sequal yet why see what i mean.As for myself i have a pet rat named ben hes very smart and does tricks and the best friend and pet you could ask for.

I loved watching Willard(1970). Such classic actors and actresses.
Compared to the sequel, Ben, which was like a made for TV movie. Highly recommend Willard.

Sandra Locke was great. This was before she married Clint Eastwood. Elsa Lanchester was Academy Award winning material!
That old house was way cool.

Crispin Glover was extremely creepy in the remake. This is the best of the bunch. A slice of history.

This is a standout from the Animal vs. Human motiff of horror genre of the 1970's (Day of the Animals, Food for the Gods).
Young, shy and social outcast "Willard" (everybody misreads Willard as the rat's name) adopts and tames a hoard of fast multipling rats. He then uses them to exact revenge on his oddball family and scummy boss (E. Borgie, who is very good). I have had 4 pet rats off and on for years and find them to be intellegent and affectionate (excellent pets) and always rooted for the ratties!!! You go Ben!!