Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Willard Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 11, 2017

Take a look at the marketing for 1971’s “Willard,” and one could come away with the impression that the releasing company was offering a snuff film for sale, reserved only for the most practiced moviegoer. Watch “Willard,” and it’s a relatively cheery PG-rated chiller about a man and his relationship with a colony of rats. So much for the “This is one movie you should not see alone” tagline. I can’t image what director Daniel Mann had to do to maintain order on his set, but his efforts result in an entertaining horror picture, but one that plays rather peacefully between acts of rat-based savagery, leaning on star Bruce Davison to conjure some unnerving behavior and cuddle time with his tiny co-stars to help the feature sustain what little unease it provides.

Willard (Bruce Davison) is a timid man unable to stand up for himself or rise in stature at his job, always submitting to his bullying boss, Al (Ernest Borgnine). Suffering at home with his sickly but domineering mother, Henrietta (Elsa Lanchester), Willard makes friends with rat Socrates, who lives with his colony in the backyard, also home to Ben, a more aggressive rodent. Empowered by his command of the rats and romantic interest from office temp Joan (Sondra Locke), Willard begins to lash out at those who’ve wronged him, using his tiny but determined army to achieve the respect he’s always desired, with Ben taking things too far.

While a film about killer rats, what’s immediately striking about “Willard” is Alex North’s musical score, which comes through with pure force during the main titles. I’m not sure what North was thinking with his lively, almost heroic tone for the picture, but he definitely captures what “Willard” attempts to do during its run time, tracking the emasculated man’s efforts to gain any morsel of respect he can find, even through rats. The music gives the B-movie some real presence and it disturbs expectations, with the inevitable rat rampage taking time to brew. The production has more interest in Willard’s journey of personal awakening, supported by North’s unexpected orchestral might.

“Willard” takes it time with characterization, getting to understand the twentysomething’s agony of self-loathing, unable to stand up to those who enjoy belittling him, including Al, a workplace bully who refuses to take Willard seriously. Scenes of antagonism are amusing, building a decent case for Willard to retaliate with rat power, but the primary pull of the feature are moments of bonding between the spineless man-child and his vermin brotherhood. It’s quite the performance from Davison, who’s tasked with communicating a broad character arc of maturation and deal with rats crawling all over the place, even acting adoringly with dear Socrates. It’s brave work, and the role seems tailor-made for the actor, who’s enjoyed an entire career playing easily winded jerks, with Willard’s descent into authority and panic vividly captured.

Willard Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation brings "Willard" to the HD realm with ideal clarity, offering fans a chance to revisit the effort with a bright viewing experience that does justice to the original cinematography. Detail is excellent throughout, with human stars and the rat menace captured with texture and depth, and set decoration is also open for inspection. Distances are preserved throughout. Colors are boosted by period costuming, with primaries inviting and stable, and greenery is precise. Skintones are spot-on. Delineation is communicative, handling evening encounters with care. Grain is managed tastefully. Source is in terrific condition, with only periodic blips of wear and tear.

Willard Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is generally led by Alex North's enormous score, which offers commanding presence and defined instrumentation, but also balances well with dramatic needs, supporting when necessary. Dialogue exchanges are clear, without distortive extremes, handling surges of panic well. Sound effects come through as intended, with rat screeching and movement adding to the listening event. There is a very mild hum that carries through most scenes, but one has to be paying attention to it to be distracted by it.

Willard Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features actor Bruce Davison.

• Interview (12:27, HD) returns to Davison, who offers a lively discussion of the "Willard" production experience, starting with his casting, which required a "chemistry" test with a live rat inside a California garage. Davison discusses his colorful co-stars, including Borgnine, who offered marital advice, and director Daniel Mann, who was a gregarious helmer, but also invasive at times, with Davison walloping himself with a toilet lid as motivation when Mann's words proved to be ineffective. Davison remains pleased with the picture after getting used to its somewhat light take on dark psychological matters, also sharing his struggles with typecasting after "Willard" became a hit.

• Still Gallery collects 68 promotional and publicity scans, along with newspaper ads and poster art.

• Radio Spots (1:26) and a T.V. Spot (1:02, SD) are offered.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:23, HD) is included.

Willard Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Willard" brings out more defined nightmare material in its second half, and anyone with a rodent phobia is sure to climb the walls during attack sequences, which are crudely rendered but effective in the heebie-jeebies department. The last act does the most with Ben and his easily triggered angry side, with Mann successfully selling the concept of animal acting, though I don't want to know how one gets a rat to scowl. Let's hope this isn't another "Milo and Otis" situation. Perhaps "Willard" doesn't go for the throat, oddly holding back when it comes time to really organize some gruesome incidents. It's more interested in becoming a character piece, studying Willard and his wrongheaded efforts to reclaim himself, trying to shed decades of shame and fragility to become a man of action. The exploitation elements of the feature manage to surface from time to time (inspiring "Ben," a quickie sequel), but the production doesn't feel up to meeting expectations for rat recklessness, doing something different with familiar working parts, coming up with an interesting take on identity and revenge.