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Something Wicked This Way Comes.
Something Wicked This Way Comes is a 1983 family horror film directed by Jack Clayton with a screenplay by Ray Bradbury, based on his novel.
Walt Disney Studios in the 1980s was a far cry from the studio behemoth we know today. There were no superheroes, no princesses who can't seem to let it go and Star Wars was owned by 20th Century Fox. Instead, Walt Disney Studios was renowned for its family friendly horror and existential sci-fi films. Something Wicked This Way Comes is one of the more prolific items from this bizarre period.
Something Wicked centers on two boys, born on the same day, who live in a small town in Illinois. In October (wonderfully evoked in the opening segment), a strange and sinister carnival springs up seemingly from nowhere on the town's outskirts. Things go downhill from there.
The story is terrific. It moves at a clip, has profundity, pathos and a happy ending that feels like a sigh of relief after the onslaught of family friendly (yet no less terrifying) horror setpieces. The camerawork is disorientating and has a predatory feel to it. The special effects are good and genuinely add to the horror. The score, by a young James Horner, screeches and racks the nerves without overpowering the senses. And the best thing of all? It is genuinely frightening, no matter how old you are.
Most of this fear comes from Mr Dark. I won't say anymore.
The worst aspect of the film is the performance from the child actor who plays Jim Nightshade. It says something about a film when you can hone in on the one thing that stops it from being a masterpiece.
The reviewer recommends this film to anyone who enjoys a horror film with a good story (for once!). In particular, if you are a member of a young family and have brave children to watch it with. The reviewer does not recommend this film to anyone who is afraid of spiders. At all.
Something Wicked This Way Comes is a 1983 family horror film directed by Jack Clayton with a screenplay by Ray Bradbury, based on his novel.
Walt Disney Studios in the 1980s was a far cry from the studio behemoth we know today. There were no superheroes, no princesses who can't seem to let it go and Star Wars was owned by 20th Century Fox. Instead, Walt Disney Studios was renowned for its family friendly horror and existential sci-fi films. Something Wicked This Way Comes is one of the more prolific items from this bizarre period.
Something Wicked centers on two boys, born on the same day, who live in a small town in Illinois. In October (wonderfully evoked in the opening segment), a strange and sinister carnival springs up seemingly from nowhere on the town's outskirts. Things go downhill from there.
The story is terrific. It moves at a clip, has profundity, pathos and a happy ending that feels like a sigh of relief after the onslaught of family friendly (yet no less terrifying) horror setpieces. The camerawork is disorientating and has a predatory feel to it. The special effects are good and genuinely add to the horror. The score, by a young James Horner, screeches and racks the nerves without overpowering the senses. And the best thing of all? It is genuinely frightening, no matter how old you are.
Most of this fear comes from Mr Dark. I won't say anymore.
The worst aspect of the film is the performance from the child actor who plays Jim Nightshade. It says something about a film when you can hone in on the one thing that stops it from being a masterpiece.
The reviewer recommends this film to anyone who enjoys a horror film with a good story (for once!). In particular, if you are a member of a young family and have brave children to watch it with. The reviewer does not recommend this film to anyone who is afraid of spiders. At all.