27-year-old Willard Stiles (Bruce Davison) works in the offices of a business that he should have, by rights, inherited from his late father, but his boss, friend of the family Mr Martin (Ernest Borgnine), stole it away from him and now treats him like a slave around the building, hectoring him and ordering him about.
At home, things aren’t much better, as Willard’s mother (Elsa Lanchester) has him at her beck and call, as she’s not getting any younger and relies on him to look after her.
Willard turns the tables on his tormentors by training his two pet rats – Socrates (the white one who is loyal and friendly) and Ben (who does what he is told but has a rebellious streak) – and their sewer pals to attack on command. But when he neglects them after falling in love with Joan (Sondra Locke), hell hath no fury like rodents scorned.
Solid direction by Daniel Mann and Davison’s creepily introverted performance turned this horror revenge tale into a huge box-office hit.
Everybody cheers when bullying boss Mr Martin (Ernest Borgnine) gets it, although the movie’s overall success depends on one’s squeamishness towards the creatures themselves. The sequel Ben(1972) followed.
A 2003 ‘reinterpretation’ starred Crispin Glover and R Lee Ermey.
Willard Stiles
Bruce Davison Al Martin
Ernest Borgnine Henrietta Stiles
Elsa Lanchester Joan
Sondra Locke Brandt
Michael Dante Charlotte Stassen
Jody Gilbert
Director
Daniel Mann
Video
Related Posts
Diamonds Are Forever (1971) Sean Connery returned for the seventh movie in the Bond series with James matching wits with his nemesis, Blofeld, here…
Ben (1972) Just your typical "8-year-old-boy-with-heart-condition meets highly-intelligent-killer-rat and wreaks havoc on a small California town" story. This sequel to Willard (1971) is…
Murder by Death (1976) "You are cordially invited to dinner and a murder" - so read the invitation sent to five world-famous detectives by…
Man Who Loved Cat Dancing, The (1973) When Catherine Crocker (Sarah Miles) leaves the mining executive husband she married for money (George Hamilton) and rides off into…
Terror in the Wax Museum (1973) This very standard but serviceable film features a lot of old actors going over a lot of old ground. John…
Female Trouble (1974) Along with Pink Flamingos (1972), this is the film that gained cult director John Waters his trophy for spectacularly redefining melodrama.…
Frogs (1972) Jason Crockett (Ray Milland) is an ageing, grumpy, physically disabled millionaire who invites his family to his private island estate…
Wall, The (1982) Directed by Alan Parker and starring Bob Geldof from The Boomtown Rats, this movie version of the 1979 Pink Floyd album was described…
At home, things aren’t much better, as Willard’s mother (Elsa Lanchester) has him at her beck and call, as she’s not getting any younger and relies on him to look after her.
Willard Stiles
