Willard
A social misfit, Willard is made fun of by his co-workers, and squeezed out of the company started by his deceased father by his boss. His only friends are a couple of rats he raised at home, Ben and Socrates. However, when one of them is killed at work, he goes on a rampage using his rats to attack those who have been tormenting him.
Why it matters
A grim character study wrapped in a unique rat-infested revenge thriller that blends social alienation with unsettling practical effects.
- Bruce Davison’s quietly haunting turn captures the misery and menace of a deeply isolated man.
- Ernest Borgnine’s sleazy corporate villainy grounds the film’s class warfare subtext.
- Practical rat effects and puppetry deliver a tactile, creepy edge rarely seen in creature features.
- A slow burn with dark humor, perfect for fans of atmospheric character-driven horror from the early ’70s.
Director
Cast
Horror DNA
Gore
14
Slow Burn
33
Psychological
57
Supernatural
0
Creature
36
Disturbing
33
Fun Factor
50
Cerebral
57
Survival
33
Revenge
