The Guardian

Rating:
Summary: Watch it on Sunday afternoon cable...
Review: ...at least via television, you won't feel guilty when you get bored and retire to re-organize your sock drawer. This is B-movie drivel of the highest order.

Allow me to put this in perspective for you. I have only walked out of two movies, ever! "Arachnophobia" and "The Guardian." Truth be told, I'm a fan of Friedkin's work from "The Exorcist." His adaptation of his own novel was exceptionally executed and character driven. This film is merely a shallow attempt by a movie studio to bank on the naivete of horror fans. How? By repackaging and disguising a slasher script with clever direction by a horror film veteran and his impressive dossier.

Friedkin's vision is second to none, but the message and the suspense get lost in the predictable, cookie-cutter plot. Friedken works best as a builder of suspense by cultivating the charaters involved in the cine-play. The script for this film does not allow for this crucial development to take place. Thus, once the blood starts flowing we feel no remorse for any character's loss, or for the loss of any character for that matter. Very sad.

You will not be disappointed in Friedkin's direction. Hence the two stars. However, with dim narrative support, the film comes off as if Friedkin had been handed a butter knife to carve the Thanksgiving turkey. The vision is there, but the tools are not.

Save yourself twenty clams. If you want slasher suspense, invest in "Friday the 13th." Wait for this one to show up on UPN or a Turner network.

Rating:
Summary: How the mighty have fallen
Review: A young nanny decides it would be best if she sacrificed her infant charges to a tree. Respective parents are disapproving. A dreadful concept is here played out in the most ponderous, unexciting way - despite some explicit blood-letting. True, there are some well-organised wolves and a satisfying scene where some thugs are, er....dismembered by a tree, but otherwise this film is a disaster for all concerned. Considering this director's illustrious antecedents one is left shaking one's head and repeating, "Why?, Why?".

Rating:
Summary: a great 80's horror film
Review: and i love the idea of a baby-eating killer tree!

Rating:
Summary: An Strong Fantasy Horror Film.
Review: Director William Friedkin, he`s known for must films, he`s has directed, all different kind of films like:The French Connection(1971), The very popular horror film-The Exorcist(1973), Made for T.V. remake-12 Angry Men(1997) and the just recently box office hit-Rules Of Engagement(2000). This was his second horror since The Exorcist. Today-The Guardian is a film, many people, don`t remember, what the film about.

About a mysterious nanny named Camilla(Jenny Seagrove-She gives a strong performance), she look after new born babies for a living and older child, also. Then a yuppie couple, just move for new jobs in L.A., then his wife:Kate(Carey Lowell), told his husband, she`s expecting a baby. her husband:Phil(Dwier Brown-He`s a good actor) is thrill by his wife news. Then nine months later, after she had her baby boy. She doesn`t want to miss work at her job. They call a Guardian Agency, if they a nanny right a way. They hired Camilla from different interview with different nanny. They liked Camilla immediately, she`s lives with them. Phil has some vision about the nanny, is not, what she appear to be.

Some Excellent Production Designs(My favorite is the bizarre tree), a lot of good scares, some very strong horror scenes, strong make-up effects and special effects and good performances from the three leads. Well directed by Friedkin, he also co-wrote the screenplay-based on a novel by Dan Greenberg. The novel is called the nanny.

Carey Lowell, she known for the long running NBC T.V. show-Law and Order. Another film credit like-License To Kill and Fierce Creatures. She Married to Richard Gere and they a kid together.

Watch for a very small roles, including:Miguel Ferrer(Robo Cop, Stephen King`s The Stand, Hot Shots Part Deux!), Theresa Randle(Beverly Hills Cop 3, Spike Lee`s Girl Six, Spawn) and Xander Berkeley(Candy Man, Air Force One).

Disowned by Universal Studios, giving the rights to Anchor Bay Entertainment to Re-relase on Video and the first time on DVD. DVD version, include the first time on a Widescreen Presentation 1.85:1 Format and Pan and Scan Version. Best Extra:Audio Commentary by Director William Friedkin and Dennis Bartok. Grade:A-.

Rating:
Summary: Silly, but quite enjoyable horror thriller.
Review: I always enjoy a good splatter flick and while I wouldn't necessarily call The Guardian a "good" film, it sure as hell is an entertaining one. The plot's pretty silly, with Jenny Seagrove as Camilla, a newly hired caretaker of a young couple's (Dwier Brown and Cary Lowell) infant son. Camilla appears to be the perfect nanny, sweet and loving, but actually, she's a Druid who needs the baby to prolong her immortal life, or something to that effect (the movie really didn't explain too much, and if you think I gave anything away by mentioning her as a Druid, the opening subtitles already state that info). She's also got a weird relationship with a big tree in the forest.

The film's got a lot of stupidity here and there, especially the young couple, who don't bother checking Camilla's references before hiring her, or the fact that this caretaker happens to be able to move around so many residences freely without too much suspicion (okay, for a while, at least). And considering the fact Camilla's a Druid, where'd she get this tree? This is set in L.A., not Europe. As I said before, not much is answered, and I guess I should be grateful because I can't imagine any answers that wouldn't delve the material into further silliness.

But I credit director William Friedkin for handling all this with a straight face. Some of this stuff (particularly the scenes with the tree) could have been played as camp, but I'm rather glad Friedkin plays this seriously and, as he did with The Exorcist, he manages to craft some truly suspenseful and frightening moments here. Still, the film does slide into scenes that simply can't be taken very seriously; you'll know what I mean when you see the chainsaw scene near the end of the movie.

Unlike The Exorcist, he shows no restraint with violence, preferring to give us several enjoyably gory death scenes and a LOT of blood spattering everywhere. There's also a decent amount of nudity present, courtesy of the rather lovely Jenny Seagrove. She's not quite as effective a horror villainess as, say, Mathilda May in Lifeforce, but gets the job done. Dwier Brown and Cary Lowell are okay, a little flat during some scenes and certainly not aided by a script that makes them act like idiots, but are convincing enough as caring and concerned parents.

Surprisingly very little music is used, with Friedkin trying to use the sounds of the wind and other such natural elements to create goosebumps. It's a good attempt, and while it works during two very lengthy, suspenseful sequences, he's still no M. Night Shyamalan. Considering the rather negative critical response The Guardian received, it's easy to see why Friedkin hasn't made a genre film since. But I enjoyed almost every minute of it would recommend it to horror fans seeking a quick-paced, gory thriller.

Rating:
Summary: Silly, but quite enjoyable horror thriller.
Review: I always enjoy a good splatter flick and while I wouldn't necessarily call The Guardian a "good" film, it sure as hell is an entertaining one. The plot's pretty silly, with Jenny Seagrove as Camilla, a newly hired caretaker of a young couple's (Dwier Brown and Cary Lowell) infant son. Camilla appears to be the perfect nanny, sweet and loving, but actually, she's a Druid who needs the baby to prolong her immortal life, or something to that effect (the movie really didn't explain too much, and if you think I gave anything away by mentioning her as a Druid, the opening subtitles already state that info). She's also got a weird relationship with a big tree in the forest.

The film's got a lot of stupidity here and there, especially the young couple, who don't bother checking Camilla's references before hiring her, or the fact that this caretaker happens to be able to move around so many residences freely without too much suspicion (okay, for a while, at least). And considering the fact Camilla's a Druid, where'd she get this tree? This is set in L.A., not Europe. As I said before, not much is answered, and I guess I should be grateful because I can't imagine any answers that wouldn't delve the material into further silliness.

But I credit director William Friedkin for handling all this with a straight face. Some of this stuff (particularly the scenes with the tree) could have been played as camp, but I'm rather glad Friedkin plays this seriously and, as he did with The Exorcist, he manages to craft some truly suspenseful and frightening moments here. Still, the film does slide into scenes that simply can't be taken very seriously; you'll know what I mean when you see the chainsaw scene near the end of the movie.

Unlike The Exorcist, he shows no restraint with violence, preferring to give us several enjoyably gory death scenes and a LOT of blood spattering everywhere. There's also a decent amount of nudity present, courtesy of the rather lovely Jenny Seagrove. She's not quite as effective a horror villainess as, say, Mathilda May in Lifeforce, but gets the job done. Dwier Brown and Cary Lowell are okay, a little flat during some scenes and certainly not aided by a script that makes them act like idiots, but are convincing enough as caring and concerned parents.

Surprisingly very little music is used, with Friedkin trying to use the sounds of the wind and other such natural elements to create goosebumps. It's a good attempt, and while it works during two very lengthy, suspenseful sequences, he's still no M. Night Shyamalan. Considering the rather negative critical response The Guardian received, it's easy to see why Friedkin hasn't made a genre film since. But I enjoyed almost every minute of it would recommend it to horror fans seeking a quick-paced, gory thriller.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing Talent In This Movie
Review: I can still remember the first time I saw this movie. I was blown away by the incridible direction of William Friedkin. Never since the Exorcist has he deliverd such an outstanding piece. The movie never lets you leave the edge of your seat, with such terrorific sceans as: the black lady dying, the mysterious bouncy ball in the pool, the too the point detective that has a son, and the crazy of camillia.

I rank this movie in my top 10 list. I would like to start a webring group on this movie. If anyone is interested please e-mail me at [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: THIS MOVIE ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!
Review: I first saw the movie on the Sci-Fi Channel. It is about a beautiful, seemingly sweet, perfect woman to take care of a yuppie couple's baby son. But what they don't suspect is that the woman is a Druid witch who gives babies to a life-giving tree to insure her own immortality. The couple soon find out her secret from another couple whose own daughter diappeared in her care. The couple race against time to save their son from the witch. Articulate, cunning, perfectly timed, suspenseful-This movie ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Not as good as I expected
Review: I saw the last twenty minutes of this movie on cable last year. It had a different ending than the one shown on the DVD. How strange. Anyway, Jenny Seagrove is beautiful and stunning as the Druid who sacrifices babies to huge tree that's actually alive. The tree is actually a beautiful site with wolves roaming around protecting it. You just might actually be routing for the Guardian considering how beautiful she is.

I didn't like the ending in this one which is why I am giving this movie 4 stars instead of 5.

Rating:
Summary: Those are some scary wolves!
Review: Man this is a good movie, ignore the other reviews the scene where the tree kills the bikers is amazing, love that head chop. The Guardian takes the babies she baby-sits to the tree and oyu could say feed it? Well there is a scene in this film that is very scary. It's when the man follows the baby-sitter because he has a crush on her, he sees her going into the forest very late at night so continues to follow. WHen he sees the tree he gets very scared because he sees her with the evil tree. A pack fo evil wolves sees that he has walked on their territory then chase after him, he runs all the way to his house. He sees them running around his house, this scene is very suspensful! What happens to him your gonna have to find out on your own!