Ben (1972)
Directed by: Phil Karlson
Premise: A sequel to 1971’s Willard. Picking up where the first movie left off, Willard’s surviving pet rat Ben is taken in by a lonely boy (Lee Montgomery) Meanwhile, Ben leads a growing army of rats who violently search for food and attack anyone who might be a threat.
What Works: Willard did not suggest a sequel but the filmmakers of Ben found a unique angle by focusing on the rats. The end of Willard left a colony of rodents under the leadership of Ben, the more violent of the two lead rats from that film. This turns out to be a compelling and original idea that’s generally well executed. Ben was produced a bit differently than its predecessor. Willard had a bright and modern design, Ben alternates between a 1970s televisual look, especially in the domestic spaces, and some very dark and stylized scenes involving the rats. The filmmakers use uplighting to create mood and characterize Ben. Compared to Willard, Ben is a straightforward horror film and it has an escalating sense of danger. The animal footage is used well. Shots are selected and cut together to suggest that Ben is capable of malicious and strategic choices. Throughout the movie, Ben and his fellow rats take on larger targets, attacking shops and homes. The climax is startling. It amounts to a battle between the police and the rats and it plays like a combat sequence in a war film.
What Doesn’t: The strongest parts of Ben are the scenes focusing on the rats. Much less effective is the relationship between Ben and a young boy named Danny. The sequel comes across as though it is repeating itself, reiterating Willard’s friendship with rats, but the follow-up doesn’t do this nearly as well. Danny is not as interesting of a character and his story doesn’t have the depth or sense of corruption and betrayal that Willard did. For that matter, the rest of the human characters aren’t given much to do. The tone of Ben is all over the place. Some parts of this movie play like a 1970s children’s show and the filmmakers don’t quite reconcile the tonal shifts.
Disc extras: Commentary track, interview, still gallery, radio and television spots, and trailers.
Bottom Line: Ben is a worthy sequel to Willard. It’s uneven and hampered by the decision to repeat elements of its predecessor but Ben is generally well made, the original parts are compelling, and the ending makes up for most of the film’s flaws.
Episode: #1121 (October 18, 2026)