Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: Fun for the Whole Family Review: This movie is a bit intense for small children but an excellent choice for family night viewing. Mystery, suspense and a good time guaranteed. The ending is a bit hokey and leaves questions to be answered but all in all it is entertaining and worth the effort.
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: Good - but not great thriller Review: Some people would have you believe that this is the scariest movie ever made...it's not. That's not to say that there aren't some pretty darn chilling moments though. Anchor Bay has done a really great job on this disc. The widescreen print looks fantastic and the remastered dts/thx likely sounds better than when the film was released in '81. Several trailers are featured on the disc, and I have to say that they nicely put together, they're far creepier than the movie itself. There is a feature length commentary by director John Hough which is self serving at best. He spends the majority of the movie talking about himself, his career, and what Watcher meant to him. Who cares?! When I listen to commentary I want to hear stories from the set, about working with the actors, about the script/story development. Sadly, that's missing from this disc. The crowning glory of the dvd is the chance to finally see the original ending. All I have to say is, they changed it for good reason. The original ending features a giant alien puppet that takes Jan away to an "otherworld" where she rescues Karen. The special effects are mind-bogglingly bad. The reshot "ball of light" ending makes far more sense. Watcher in the Woods is a pretty good movie that's made better by the terrific presentation on this disc.
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: This was so scary... Review: I haven't seen this film in a long time, but it will stand as one of the most frightening film experiences I ever had. I don't rememeber how old I was - probably around 8 - when I saw this, and it scared the pants off me. I distinctly remember the part when the younger sister names her dog and writes the name in the window - YEOW! And what about the scene at the river? And the climax was extremely unsettling. I didn't sleep well that night. An amazingly effective film, and I still give kudos to Disney for making it. A creepy creepy ghost story. Much stronger than "Burnt Offerings" or this director's own "The Legend of Hell House".
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: One of the psychologically scariest movies of all time Review: Like others have already stated, I too saw this movie as a kid in the early 1980s. I can't tell you how many nights I would try to go to bed, and be too scared that the "watcher in the woods" was somehow out there just waiting to snatch me :) This movie is seriously one of the most psychologically scary horror movies I have ever seen. I can't believe this was a Disney movie! The storyline will drag you in, and it will be impossible to forget. I am very glad to see this released on DVD. I anxiously await the deleted scenes! Even if you do not purchase this dvd, at least rent it if you have never seen it. However, no matter if you are 7 or 57, do NOT watch it alone!
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: SCARY!!! Review: I saw this movie when I was about 10 years old and can I just tell you that after 16 years it is still the scariest movie I have ever seen! The element of fear that you experience in this movie is amazing considering that it isn't bloody at all. I highly recommend it to everyone!
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: The mirrors Review: The mirrors in this movie always got to me. The watcher in the woods has been one of my favorits ever sence I was a kid. Its mystery and SiFi background will always keep you guessing. The emotions in tis film are real, and as make believe as the story is, it seems real to. You can feel a mothers pain as she searched for her daughter for so many years. You can feel the wonder and excitment as we slowly descover what happend to Karen so many years ago.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: wonderful english country side thriller Review: This spooky and delightful movie gets me every time. The first time I saw it I was susrprised that it was a Disney movie. It is full of suspence and thrill around every corner. You know your in for a ride when you see the huge house and the dark woods.You can see wierd things happening almost as soon as the youngest daughter walks through the door. Things fall of shelves wierd voices in the night. An elderlly woman who lost her child with no trace, she just vanished. The little girl talking in other people's voices. Wierd things happen to the family that lets the family of the lost girl know she is trying to reach them. It all comes together in this clever yet confusing cult thriller. It is a must see.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: THE WATCHER IS FINALLY SEEN AND IS COOL LOOKING!! Review: Finally we get to see the 2 other legendary endings for WATCHER IN THE WOODS. I got ahold of an advance copy of this at the used DVD shop near me. I'm telling you the watcher is worth the wait to see! I am kinda perplexed that audiences laughed and booed the alien. It is no more fake looking than E.T. or other eighties creature creations. It is very unusual looking and sinister for the time. Rather demonic and insectile at the same time. Maybe if they had shown less of it, it would have gone over better... The brief glimpse of the aliens planet in the longer ending is kinda fun if cheesy. The only real problem with the old endings is the explanations at the end for why everything happened are a little week. Something to do with negative images. One is six minutes and the other is fourteen minutes. I have been wanting to see this...footage forever! And now... I finally can!! This is so great!! I HIGHLY recommend this to fans of the film. This disc is wonderful. It includes also three theatrical trailers and a TV spot that I completely remember as a child. This DISC is great and to me is an answer to life long wish to actually see this footage of the alien. I was not dissapointed. I really think it's very cool and different...
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: Atmospheric Disney Effort Review: Forget Midnight Madness and The Devil and Max Devlin. Disney's main foray into more adult features (aside from the GREAT Night Crossing) is "Watcher in the Woods." Hopefully, this Anchor Bay Release will deliver the goods they've promised (the original ending). The film is BEAUTIFULLY shot, and certainly atmospheric. And it features a pre-stroke Bette Davis in one of her last potent film roles. Poor Lynn Holly Johnston (Ice Castles) suffers the most, as the re-shoots during post-production really show her age difference. Still, I'm anxious to see this film again...
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Great Supernatural Film! Review: The first time I saw this film, I was 7 yrs. old and OH BOY....was I scared. Now, at 25, this is still one of my favorites!! It still send chills up my spine everytime I see it!
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