Ever since the whole 'Black Death' thing, rats have had a bad rap, but I love the much-maligned rodents: I owned a pair of pink-eyed whites and they were adorable - inquisitive, intelligent and very cute. My affection for the animals made Willard a real treat, the bewhiskered critters putting in winning performances throughout as the obedient furry friends of social misfit Willard Stiles (Bruce Davison).
Rat fans be warned though: it's not all cutesy fun. As Willard slowly loses control of his life following the death of his overbearing mother, and decides to exact revenge on his bullying boss Martin (Ernest Borgnine), the rat action gets more disturbing. Numerous rats are beaten by a chair when they crash Martin's dinner party, loveable white rat Socrates is poked to death in a stock cupboard, and, following the death of his boss (who leaps out of a window when he is attacked by the rodents), Willard is forced to dispose of his little accomplices by drowning them.
Of course, those who find rats about as appealing as I do spiders (aaaargh!) might feel differently: they'll be squirming in their seats as the rats go about their business and cheering when they get killed. Either way - love 'em or loathe 'em - the rats make this film highly entertaining, although solid human support from Davison and Borgnine certainly helps. The film ends with large rat Ben, who escaped a watery death, taking revenge on Willard with the help of some furry pals, paving the way for the following year's sequel, Ben.
6.5 out of 10, rounded up to 7 for IMDb.
Rat fans be warned though: it's not all cutesy fun. As Willard slowly loses control of his life following the death of his overbearing mother, and decides to exact revenge on his bullying boss Martin (Ernest Borgnine), the rat action gets more disturbing. Numerous rats are beaten by a chair when they crash Martin's dinner party, loveable white rat Socrates is poked to death in a stock cupboard, and, following the death of his boss (who leaps out of a window when he is attacked by the rodents), Willard is forced to dispose of his little accomplices by drowning them.
Of course, those who find rats about as appealing as I do spiders (aaaargh!) might feel differently: they'll be squirming in their seats as the rats go about their business and cheering when they get killed. Either way - love 'em or loathe 'em - the rats make this film highly entertaining, although solid human support from Davison and Borgnine certainly helps. The film ends with large rat Ben, who escaped a watery death, taking revenge on Willard with the help of some furry pals, paving the way for the following year's sequel, Ben.
6.5 out of 10, rounded up to 7 for IMDb.