Critic's Grade: B

So there I was, sitting in my easy chair, the rain pouring outside my window, thunder rolling in the sky, and "Willard" playing on my television set. Having seen the previews prior to its theatrical run in early 2003, I wasn't very impressed with what I saw; apparently, audiences weren't too pleased either, as the film opened with meager box office returns and fell into obscurity. Entering into the world of a man whose only source of companionship is a colony of rats, I expected very little. Much to my surprise, what I got in return was an experience that, like this relationship between man and mouse, is almost inexplicable. I laughed, I chuckled, and hey, I even jumped a few times in all those pre-calculated places where the soundtrack hits an aggressive chord. What I didn't expect to feel was intrigued.

The story is based on a 1971 film of the same name, and stars Crispin Glover as the titular character. The film may not have met the expectations of its producers, but the central role is tailor-made for Glover, whose outward appearance, when combined with his chilling internal fervor, could give Anthony Perkins' Norman Bates a run for his money. He conveys Willard's loneliness and isolation from those around him in such a way that we not only feel for his character, but by extension lessen our own inhibitions about the turn of events that comes with the introduction of the vermin characters. Because we care for Willard as a person (or should I say, we understand his plight), we accept the story for what it is: a simple tale of one man's revenge against his oppressors, all brought about by his friendship with God's lesser creatures. And hey, who doesn't love to watch those rats knaw away at his tyrannical boss's new tires? I won't even tell you the chain of events that sets in motion.

Some have denounced "Willard" as all atmosphere and no scares. True, there isn't a single scary moment in the film that is hard-earned or honest, but when was the last time a movie like this was composed of anything less than cheap thrills? It's all in how you use them, and in this case, they're advantageous to keeping one's interest. The production design reeks of sinister intentions, and while the rats themselves are simple CGI here and there, the use of actual rodents is sure to have the squeamish squirming in their seats. But through it all, there's this sort of weirdly intoxicating fascination about the main character that remains potent right up until the film's disappointing finale. Sure to become something of a cult classic, "Willard" delivers some unexpected goods.

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