Willard

The best bit are the opening credits which look like illustrations by McKeen. Then the quality rises again with the scene with the “kitty cat" in the house, nicely underscored with a wonderfully melancholic song. Too bad that Ben is rather unfairly sidelined by emphasis on Glover. I haven’t seen such a charismatic and likeable anti-hero in a long time! (04/15/2005)

Willard is a neurotic, solitary oddball who spends all his free time locked in an old house with an equally strange mother and a bunch of rats in the basement, who keep him company and replace human contact. The relationship between the animals and Willard evolves into something deeper but unhealthy. Willard's efforts as a rat-catcher cannot be denied. Crispin Glover overacts just like his boss or mother. The camera delves into the dark corners of the house, lighting, editing, music, and subtitles, all in service of creating an atmosphere, which the film does have, but despite all this, the film overall doesn't work and gets only halfway there. It lacks a story, exaggeration, and ultimately someone the viewer could sympathize with and identify with. Willard is simply annoying and the viewer eventually wishes for his deserved fate. Overall impression: 40%. (11/01/2009)