Willard (1971)
Directed by: Daniel Mann
Premise: An isolated young man (Bruce Davison) opens his home to the rats in the backyard. He eventually amasses an army of rodents who Williard unleashes on the people tormenting him.
What Works: Willard plays as a contemporary fairy tale. Drawing some inspiration from “The Pied Piper of Hamelin,” Willard is about a man who finds companionship among rats, gathering rodents in his home and eventually weaponizing them. The film’s use of rats is interesting. Rodents have a complicated cultural meaning. Rats are often associated with pestilence but people do keep certain kinds of rodents as pets. The filmmakers use our contradictory feelings to their advantage. Allowing a character to bond with or show compassion for a furry creature is a quick way to create sympathy. Willard, played well by Bruce Davison, comes across as an awkward but affable guy. When other characters lash out violently against the rats, we’re set up to empathize with Willard and his pets. Willard has standout relationships with two rats: Socrates and Ben. These animals become the angel and the devil on Willard’s shoulder and as the story develops we get a sense of creeping doom. Willard is an interesting artifact of its day. The film suggests a tension between generations. The story is set in the early 1970s but Willard’s home is decorated at least a decade out of date, suggesting the 1950s and everything associated with that era. But there are also elements of modernity, especially in the workplace, where there are overt suggestions of sexuality. Willard is a man lost between generations and the film has implications about culture and masculinity that are interesting to unpack.
What Doesn’t: Willard is not a conventional horror picture especially in its style. The lighting and the set design do not immediately suggest horror. Much of Willard’s first half plays as a 1970s character drama and occasionally as a comedy.The film eventually gets to the horror and when it does Willard is unnerving especially for viewers who have an aversion to rodents. But horror audiences should understand that this is not a straightforward tale of terror and Willard requires some patience.
Disc extras: Commentary track, interview, still gallery, radio and television spots, and a trailer.
Bottom Line: Willard is an interesting 1970s horror film that effectively manipulates our sympathies. It’s not a conventional horror film and how viewers feel about Willard will hinge on how they feel about rats. But there is a bit more going on here underneath the surface.
Episode: #1121 (October 18, 2026)