Something Wicked This Way Comes: Revisiting a Dark Disney Classic

In the seventies and early eighties, Walt Disney Productions were experimenting with adult fare, and Something Wicked This Way Comes ranks as one of the darkest movies the studio ever made, at least before opening Touchstone Pictures the year after this came out. Based on the novel by Ray Bradbury, this starred Jonathan Pryce as a carnival leader named Mr. Dark, who visits a small town in Illinois during the thirties and tempts the residence. It turns out, Mr. Dark just might be the Devil himself. In this episode of Fantasizing About Fantasy Films, we dig into the making of this cult classic.
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#SomethingWickedThisWayComes #JonathanPryce #Disney

[@wstine79]

I remember watching this as a kid along with The Black Hole, Tron, and Escape from Witch Mountain.

[@sicknote1558]

Loved that film the black hole plus the island at the top of the world and tom cruise LEGEND and David bowies labyrinth don't make them as great as that anymore

[@youtubeme7195]

Kids don't have the intellectual challenge of thoughtful filmmaking that we had, and it's our fault, for not sharing it with our kids.

[@gateauxq4604]

Same. This explains a lot about me 👀

[@anadraham2995]

Every single one of those movies left an indelible impression on me soul. I can still hear the score from Black Hole haunting me dreams 🎃

[@Ultamami]

50yee!

[@ZestonN]

Jason Robards and Jonathan Pryce are amazing in this! 😃 This is actually one of my favorite roles by Jonathan Pryce, and I had no idea it was his first. He establishes the style of character he would be known for the rest of his career in this movie. 😃

[@rufus231]

Jonathan is just being himself.

[@MarkFloyd7451]

I totally agree about Jonathan Pryce and Jason Robards but I also think the two child actors, Vidal Peterson & Shawn Carson, do a really good job as well. The casting for this movie was spot on and it really is a hidden gem that deserves more accolades than it received. I agree with the late movie critic Roger Ebert who gave it a high rating and called it a horror film with elegance.

[@Talwyn22]

This is probably one of the best novel adaptations ever made. Brilliant cast, great effects and a chillingly dramatic story that stands the test of time. 5 Stars

[@trhansen3244]

I watched it a few months ago. I was shocked at the almost total lack of diversity. I contacted Disney about this and they might be able to digitally add more diverse people in the cast.

[@lifeandThings]

Did you read tho book? If so, how was it?

[@Talwyn22]

@@lifeandThings I did, years ago after I saw the film. Ray Bradbury is one of the best writers ever

[@AngryNewAger]

@@Talwyn22 me too! I am a BIG fan of Bradbury - but I believe this is probably my choice for the category “Movies that are much better than the book”

[@Talwyn22]

@@AngryNewAger I can agree on that. Something Wicked is a rare example of a story that has transcended its original form and became something more.

[@CornishCreamtea07]

It's a shame that this is not on Disney+

[@Kurtsg10]

Disney sadly seems to not put any movie that they're embarrassed of on the channel.

[@cheneethompson5756]

​​ @Kurtsg10 well, the black cauldron's on disney plus And it was a flop when it premiered And is widely known as disney's first PG film It was much darker in the screen tests

[@nicodemus369]

That’s why I purchased a BluRay of it. So I have a hard-copy of this excellent-classic. ✌️😊

[@Number4lead]

​@@Kurtsg10now they make nothing but embarrassing films.

[@karstpyrod9992]

It’s a shame you can’t find it anywhere. No streaming options even for purchase. Amazon has a dvd but shipping time is over a month so I guess it’s coming from overseas.

[@jimmyboy7817]

This along with Dragonslayer, The Watcher in the Woods and Return to Oz is where Disney really pushed the boundaries of its family live action movies by remaining "family" but being dark and scary compared to most of its films. The Black Cauldron, likewise pushed the boundaries in its animated division. They were box office disappointments at the time because they were judged as being too juvenile for adults and too adult for children. It wasn't until they created the Touchstone Pictures label that Disney could successfully produce mature adult movies beginning with Splash.

[@pablocasas5906]

Especially since after Walt's death Disney seemed to pump a lot of safe comedies like The Happiest Millionaire, The Computer wore Tennis Shoes, The Million Dollar Duck, The Love Bug, The Apple Dumpling Gang, and their animated output was pretty scarce with Robin Hood being Disney's first animated movie that wasn't produced by Walt It seemed like Disney was stuck in the past while the rest of Hollywood was making revolutionary films in the 70s like Jaws and Star Wars

[@jimmyboy7817]

@Pablo Casas Yes, they certainly were pumping out their old-fashioned family entertainment at that time. At least Kurt Russell completed his acting apprenticeship during those years!

[@Oddmanoutre]

@@pablocasas5906 Jaws and Star Wars is a funny way to spell Sorceror and Chinatown.

[@pablocasas5906]

@@jimmyboy7817 sorry for replying so late but yeah, it's interesting how Kurt started his career at Disney in movies like the Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, Now you See him, now you don't, The Strongest man in the World, Charley and the Angel and Superdad. I also think he even narrated a rare short film made by one of Disney's best animators, Ward Kimball, called "Dad... Can I Borrow the Car?" Kurt made a great transition from child to adult actor, it's kind of funny that one of his last roles in a Disney movie from the company's dark ages, as adult Copper in The Fox and the Hound, was released the same year when he played Snake Plissken in Escape from New York. He came back to Disney years later in movies such as Sky High and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 though

[@celestepalm6949]

It never registered with me that Dragonslayer was a Disney film. Such a great dark fantasy & the dragon effects were phenomenal.

[@alankelly1001]

This has always been one of my top four Disney live action films (along with "The Black Hole", "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea", and "Tron"), all of which I encountered under 10 years old, and they have stuck with me for life... to the extent that I still have a fascination with black holes, giant squid, and carnivals. And I remember Michael Eisner (before he became CEO) hosting a promotional behind-the-scenes segment on "Wonderful World of Disney" before the movie was released.

[@pablocasas5906]

I was always fascinated by the Disney era after Walt's death and before Eisner came to the company when they were still called Walt Disney Productions, it seemed like most of their movies were failures with very few exceptions like The Love Bug or The Apple Dumpling Gang, but most of the company’s profits came from their theme parks. There were experimental and big budgeted films like The Black Hole, Tron, Pete's Dragon but they weren't huge hits compared to what other studios did. It's interesting that Disney finally decided to enter the adult market by founding Touchstone Pictures. It's kind of unbelievable that before Eisner arrived Disney was almost going to be bought by other companies, now Disney owns Lucasfilm and 20th Century Fox

[@jasongarrison9918]

Great exposition. The library scene is dynamite. And when Dark questions Mr Holloway about the boys is absolute fire. He shows him the boys tattoos on his hands and squeezes blood from them, calls Holloway a liar and pathetic, and then creeps away with them while they play a funeral dirge, staring him down as he leaves.

[@dpr821]

Yes, that was cinema gold. One of my favorite scenes in the whole movie.

[@brentstantonfun]

so Ive been very privileged in my career. But the single biggest highlight for me was meeting and going to a screening of this film with the legend and my personal hero, Ray Bradbury. I grew up on many of his stories, as well as being a fan of his writing for old NBC Science fiction Radio. Ray, at the screening spoke about how dark the original film cut was. How Disney had screened it and how they contacted Ray and told him that Both the Music and film were Too Dark for Disneys standards. Ray said he would look at it. After looking at it, he admitted it was far beyond even what He wrote about. Disney had planned on pulling the plug on the project in the middle of shooting, but Ray said he could fix it. Another Director was brought in to help guild Ray, but that Ray had been on set and basically helped to direct the reshoots and the remained of the film. He said he also was crucial in the changing of the music for his lighter version. Ill never forget sitting next to Ray at the Aero Theater in Santa Monica watching this film. I lament his passing but am so grateful even today for the Charms of his life long body of work.

[@daemionluccas490]

Effing love this movie. It's one of my Halloween traditions right up there with Hocus Pocus, Nightmare Before Christmas, and The Halloween Tree (another amazing Bradbury movie). Ironically I actually dressed as Mr. Dark for Halloween last year. Nobody got it. and that made me sad.

[@theleap2946]

This whole era was pretty awesome. Tron, Escape from Witch Mountain and Return to Oz were also great additions. I wish Disney+ would stop denying this era existed and put this on their streaming platform. And Condorman…we need that back on. I will say this, Jonathan Price is amazing. Especially the scene where he first looks for the boys. Plus the carnival procession is unnerving.

[@pablocasas5906]

Disney+, at least in my region, seems to lack a lot of content. The only Touchstone Pictures movies that I could find were Splash, Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Nightmare before Christmas. It's difficult to find some of the experimental films that Disney Productions made in the 70s and early 80s

[@jenniferschillig3768]

Seeing this on cable was the first I ever saw Jonathan Pryce, though I didn't know his name at the time. A few years later, when I listened to the Miss Saigon cast album, I had no idea that The Engineer was the same guy who'd played Mr. Dark.

[@ytanonymity3585]

Don't forget Never Cry Wolf and Watcher In The woods

[@rufus231]

Jonathan isn't acting.

[@bassage13]

Screw stupid streaming. Give us the 4k discs now!

[@andychandler1737]

Man, I was in fifth grade and was (still am) enraptured by this film. It was the perfect movie at a perfect age. Jonathan Price absolutely NAILS it. Of course, he's good in everything.

[@tomowens7499]

i love this movie... I worked at Disney animation for years, and when I worked there in the early 90's the town center used in this movie was still on the backlot, and you could take your lunch there to eat... it was so cool to see. it's all gone now, replaced by big office buildings...

[@StevenAbney]

I agree about that confrontation with Dark and Halloway in the library. I think it’s one of the best cinematic Good vs Evil exchanges ever put to film. So glad you covered this one!

[@JessicaDwyer]

I saw this when I was young and it stuck with me. This was an important one for me to get out there. I truly love it and boy, seriously...I didn't realize how hard it would knock me seeing this after losing my dad. That part of the story just hits so much more home now. Bravo Bradbury.

[@teeznyarlathotep8700]

Excellent review and analysis of a truly underrated solid film. By no means amazing, _Something Wicked This Way Comes_ is a *satisfying* film, something you'll enjoy watching again every so often. I wish Jessica would have spoken more about the differences between the movie and book, but I suppose she can make another video for that. Hint, hint. ;-)

[@chasehedges6775]

👍👍👍👍👍.

[@chasehedges6775]

Something you’ll watch again every so often. As someone who watched it a lot as a kid, I enjoyed it very much

[@themysteriousdomainmoviepalace]

Jonathan Pryce was outstanding in this. Also Pam Grier. Its a great film.

[@celestepalm6949]

Jonathan Pryce is such a woefully underrated actor. He deserves so much more recognition.

[@Daisy-sc6tm]

I saw this in the 80's on Disney channel. It is my favorite scary movie. It scared the crap out of me as a kid. Its pretty freaking scary as an adult.❤

[@danielbullock1019]

This movie is an underrated gem! It scared the crap out of me as a kid.

[@wayhollobj36]

Hey Jo Blowers y'all do a great job I remember seeing this one in the early 80s and loved how spooky it was Jason Robards was awesome too Especially because his character shares my last name Slightly spelled differently Amusing coincidence that I have lived in Waukegan IL for years now And enjoy the public library daily reminder of Ray Bradbury with a statue and entire section dedicated to him

[@thebowandbullet]

I *_love_* this movie! I'm definitely overdue to watch it again.

[@chasehedges6775]

Same

[@cheneethompson5756]

It's on the free app Athena

[@alienmoosestudios]

I remember seeing this movie as a child. Always been a favorite. 🤩 Thanks for sharing this entertaining video 🤩

[@62LeftyBlues]

I bought this and rewatched it a month ago! I was one of the few that paid to see it at the theater when it came out. Great movie when Disney was Disney.

[@karstpyrod9992]

Where did you find it? I can’t find it anywhere to purchase to stream and the only one I see on Amazon has over a month shipping time so I’m not sure it’s legit

[@62LeftyBlues]

@@karstpyrod9992 Ebay! where the world shops! LOL

[@kristentaylor5359]

I loved this movie, it's so annoying that I haven't seen it on tv, cable or even Disney in forever. How do we find it again? On another note, I actually ended up with a crush on Jonathan Pryce after this role. He played this part perfectly

[@curiousworld7912]

I read the book when i was about 10, and loved it - as I did all Bradbury's stories. I was so delighted when I heard a film had been made, and I wasn't disappointed. It's a wonderful book, and a wonderful film. Thanks for covering it. :)

[@markfarris2630]

This movie is hard as hell to find. Really needs a re-release and remaster to BluRay and 4k.

[@AmosTheTalented]

I think I’m in love with you, for this review. Terrifying as it was, Something Wicked This Way Comes became a cornerstone of my childhood. Almost as much as Dragonslayer, but that’s another story. Furthermore, you are right about the library scene, as it has always been the most captivating for me. It’s a duel. Not with weapons, but words, experience, intimidation, and dare I say… faith. Also, it’s a duel that ends in a draw, where both men appear to have impressed the other. Yes, not all stories have a happy ending, as this movie deftly explains.

[@IndyCrewInNYC]

I remember it fondly from the numerous showings on HBO/Showtime back then. Price's Mr. Dark so terrified me but yet I could watch this film over and over. Years later, I was so surprised that THE Pam Grier (so gorgeous) was the Dust Witch as I didn't know who she was back then. This film has atmosphere and totally envelops you. I own both soundtracks and I agree, while I really like Horner's score, Delerue truly hits all the right marks, it's a shame it was rejected. That title tune is pure Gothic fuel.

[@shainewhite2781]

This is one of the very first dark fantasy horror movies that Disney produced. That's amazing, considering that Disney is in the toilet right now. The music score by James Horner is both haunting and beautiful. The original composer, Georges Delerue wrote a score that was immediately thrown out, and Horner was picked.

[@lunartat77]

Delerue's score is on KZbin. Horner's score is amazing but so is Delerue's.

[@frankb821]

Stellar analysis, well done! Just discovered this gem a couple of years back during my lament of the loss of good Disney movies. Thankfully, the back catalog is strong, to get us through this cringe period.

[@KarelPKerezman]

I was one of those kids. I saw this movie, alone, in the theater in the small town of Brewster Washington, way WAY too young to properly appreciate it. My main take-away was an ongoing appreciation for the superb Jason Robards. I didn't remember that Jonathan Pryce was Mister Dark at all! What an early role for a marvelous actor.

[@tommylakindasorta3068]

I feel like Jonathan Pryce deserves more accolades. He's been a working actor for over 50 years and has been in some iconic films. (Glengarry Glen Ross and Brazil, among others.) I've never seen him give a bad performance.

[@janmarchand7294]

I loved everything about this movie, being a child who loved dark tales. I remember how excited I was about the title, it sounded so deliciously scary!

[@BigBubbaloola]

I remember watching this one Halloween on the old Disney Channel (I think) back in 1985 when visiting Florida. The scene where Dark crushes Charles' hand horrified me as a kid. I do remember it was a great film though.

[@Linuxpunk81]

Yes! Disney Channel would show these "flop" movies all the time as filler and we all benefited greatly 😊Disney also was the first time I saw the hobbit animation and japanese anime of all things with unico and the island of magic!

[@charlesfcopeland9756]

This was one of my favorites when it first came out. Back then, I identified with both William and Jim through many of my developing life occurrences. However, the part of Mr Dark confronting Will's father in the library with the "book of life" has always remained in my consciousness. Now, identifying more as the Jason Robards character, it haunts me even more.

[@desiv1170]

Great movie. One of my favorites growing up... When I read Stephen King's Needful Things (which I also loved), I immediately thought of this story... I am convinced King was inspired (knowingly or not) by this...

[@johngay8416]

I remember hearing about this coming out! Bradbury was one of my favorite writers! So I rushed out and read the book right before this movie came out. And I was hugely disappointed in how different the movie was from the book. In fact I never read a book before watching a movie any more because of this. Maybe I should rewatch this now that it’s been decades since I first saw it.

[@kungfew1396]

I love this movie and that is probably one of the coolest book title names I've ever heard of.

[@loogoo]

The title is taken from a line in Shakespeare's Macbeth - "By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes" - which is said by one of the three witches in the play.

[@JasonON]

I saw this movie a lot when I was a kid as it was played fairly regularly on HBO and I don't think I've seen it since. I don't remember it being scary at all, but rather a warning of looking to the past instead of accepting the present and welcoming the future. I'll have to find it somewhere because every once in a while, usually when there is a cool breeze at the end of a hot summer day, I think about this movie and wonder how I'd perceive it as an adult.

[@FigmentForever]

Little known fact: Ray Bradbury was a huge influence & advisor on Epcot Center as well. As former member of Hollywood/Touchstone Pictures prop department & a current Disney archivist in Glendale, I wish I was able to find the cut/reshot content from this movie. Finding lost reels for 20k Leagues was the highlight of my career!

[@SaintSteven67]

I remember this one and I liked it when I was 17 when it first was released. I like is more as an adult. Something Wicked is fantastic and very deep - and it's based on my second-favorite novel by Ray Bradbury. Thanks for making this video!

[@Omar-wq9dz]

I’ve never seen this movie. I should check it out for curiosity’s sake at some point

[@Mrturtlestomps]

Thanks for sharing?

[@vhagerty]

It's great! The Ray Bradbury story is worth a read, too. 🙂

[@jtmcgee]

My paternal grandmother would put this on EVERY time all the grand-kids were over. Even though we weren't actively watching it, it was on in the background and is etched into many childhood memories.

[@bensneb360]

I’d love to see a dark more creative remake of this movie with Michael Fassbender as Mr. Dark, he’ll be perfect in the role, and I always feel like this movie had a lot of potential that it didn’t quite meet that could make for something special if it got remade… Plus more modern Ray Bradberry movies would be cool

[@GrantErickson_IT]

You have no idea how long I've searched for this childhood traumatic experience... 20+ years? Mystery solved. Thank you! UPDATE: Just rewatched and yeah.... It's really good! It was undoubtedly this movie, Killer Klowns from Outer Space and Tales from the Crypt that helped to desensitize 7 year old me, twisting me into the freaky-weirdo I am today. (Quite fond of that side of myself :)

[@Stonecutter334]

A wildly underrated film. If you haven’t seen it you absolutely should.

[@vitus.verdegast]

In the 1990s I watched this film with Ray Bradbury in attendance. The author claimed to have directed large sections of it himself because the director "didn't know what he was doing."

[@michaelapodaca-h1k]

The film still unsettles the mind like nothing out there today. And this narrator has a delightful way of speaking that captivates. Excelsior!

[@GENXPERIENCE]

What a fantastic retrospective. Thank you. This film was always one of my favorites, especially since I saw it when it first released, AND it does not get much love. My I respectfully ask you why you consider or mention ..."for a movie made for kids?" I truly want to understand where you are coming from for even as a boy I always thought PG/Parental Guidance films were supposed to be a bit more edgy than the kids G Rated Fare. Something for all of us. Just curious as to what makes this seemed target to children when I never got that feeling about PG back in the day. Thank you again for this well spoken and delivered show.

[@chinchillaka]

One of my favourite films growing up. It's an unsung classic. Thank you for bringing this excellent film to light.

[@SMtWalkerS]

What a fantastic review! I saw the movie first-run, and didn't like it, comparing it to the novel. I love Ray Bradbury and thought the movie was ok, but not that great. I have watched it once or twice a year since and have come to love it. The cast is fantastic and visually, it really evokes, fall and Halloween season to me. I love the dark quality. I had watched James Stacey in westerns before his accident and found him very crushworthy. I had no idea that the barber was played by the brother in "East of Eden"! Jason Robards, Pam Grier, Royal Dano, Johnathon Price - all are great. Your analysis is thought-provoking, and the background info is fascinating! Thanks for doing this review.

[@BuckarooBanzai84]

Couldn't agree more! I loved the book too! Also, I think you'll be happy to know it's on Disney+. That being said, I hope you do more movies from the Disney "Dark Age" (now re-branded "the Bronze Age, ugh") in future videos! It really was an underrated chapter in their filmography, and I think it deserves more attention. Please do 'Return to Oz' next!! =D

[@reikun86]

Ooh. Which region are you in? It's still not available in the US version of Disney+.

[@BuckarooBanzai84]

@@reikun86 U.S., region 1. I dunno for sure, but I'm almost certain I saw it while scrolling. I suggest using the "search" -feature and typing it in. Sorry I can't help more. =)

[@Minimuffkiller07]

I watched this movie last sunday and it threw me back in my childhood full of adventures

[@AnyoneCanSee]

Another "dark Disney" from this time is "Return to Oz". If you mentioned it I apologise. I was already a teen when that came out but it scared the shit out of me. Can we start a petition to get the Green Town series by Ray Bradbury made into a streaming epic? It would be amazing under the right people.

[@dlfendel2844]

Ray Bradbury once told me that the original plan for the opening of the film was to show the town in bright springtime with flowers blooming and as the credits unspooled it would go through summer and then go all brown and decrepit for October and Fall by the time the film began. They didn't do that, but he was very involved in the film which is why it is so good.

[@Guernicaman]

Always ❤'d this movie's tone & atmosphere. Wish 'Something Wicked...' got a 4K bluRay release, plus be featured on Disney+. Perhaps that way more of the older kids might be able to discover it.

[@TheBlindDyslexic]

One of my Go-To Movies. God, I lost track of how many times I saw it back in the 80s on HBO.

[@anthonyambrose8783]

Absolutely one of my favorite movies ever. Such a true gem that is a rare creature. Nothing like this would ever be made again, in my opinion. It packs such a punch and hands down, Jonathan Pryce just oozes malevolence. So good.

[@kri249]

I haven't seen this since I was a kid but I always found it fascinating. I know the "for the kids" phrase is to mock how a supposed kids movie has horror elements but it never phased me. I never got nightmares from it. Watching a kids movie with horror scenes only made me feel more mature.

[@catherineholden6388]

One of my favorite films of all time. Horner's score is primo. I rank it in the top 10 of movie scores, so if the Delerue score is better, I'll have to give it a listen. Beautiful photography. Pam Grier is certainly a plus and Royal Dano is always a treat.

[@ryeguy7471]

To my young mind at the time, Dragonslayer was AMAZING. Disney squandered an opportunity to appeal to older kids and adults with some serious subject matter.

[@justinreilly6619]

I watched this film years ago, decades ago actually, just the once, it was on terrestrial television. I remember, albeit very vaguely, really liking it. I've just had a quick look online and boy, is it expensive! I will see if it is on Disney Plus tomorrow. Thanks for the retrospective review. 👍😀

[@greenman6141]

Jonathan Pryce, yeesh, what an astonishingly talented person. He apparently went to RADA (which, for the non British, is the Royal Academy of the Dramatic Arts...essentially the poshest drama school in the country, and consequently often very tiresome, and can turn out some would be actors with egos the size of Jupiter, even though they haven't done anything) where his teacher told him he was so untalented that he could only hope to have tiny background parts on low budget TV. I bet Pryce likes telling that story. He appears in the oddest things, but that is because he says he likes variety, and doing things which are not obvious for him. He always did more stage...as he is a real actor, and he can sing. He was so great in Mr Wroe's Virgins, and he was bloody amazing as Lytton Strachey in Carrington. It was especially fun seeing him pop up in Wolf Hall He gave such complexity to Wolsey...endearing, incautious, and tragic. Because of the plot, one had to believe that Cromwell would love him so much he would wait 7 years to get revenge on those who participated in or hugely enjoyed Wolsey's downfall and death.

[@jbard9892]

I think Stephen King saw this movie, its basically Needful Things. Except NT has a little "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street" thrown in.

[@vanessahenry7238]

I always loved this movie - too bad it is near impossible to find! The library scene was my favourite - the banter between Dark and the hero was great - and some of us used it in theatre classes OFTEN! You are not wrong about Pam Greer; she and Angela Basset I have always thought two of the most beautiful women in that era (still are and I would often get them mixed up!) so your story about men meeting her is not surprising and funny! Johnathan Price has been a fav of mine since this movie - he can do sinister and silly just as good as Terrance Stamp (he was Ramsley in that awful Haunted Mansion). BTW I had forgotten Dragon Slayer and it too was one of my favourites! House of mouse doesn't need to do only kiddie films and I saw both of these when I wasn't even a teen. I now will look for your vid about DS!

[@floydmills8963]

I don't ever remember watching this movie. I thought I'd watched all the Disney movies until the early 2000's. I'ma have to find this!!!

[@erichartley1846]

Read the book in high school--loved it. Saw the movie in college--loved it, too. Thanks for reminding me why.

[@STho205]

It came out when I was in college, having read Bradbury and this story. It was a wonderful and artistic adaptation. I consider it one of Disney Studios best quality pictures. Ray Bradbury did not like being revised, but he wrote the screenplay to Moby Dick and seriously and poignantly rewrote Herman Melville...so fair is fair. Never be afraid of the dark, nor temped by evil bargains. The worst they can do to you if you stick to your will and morality is kill you. There are worse hells than that.

[@coryoneil5064]

This was such a great movie for it's time. I'm glad I got to experience it.

[@nehor90210]

"Everyone can see a bit of their own father in [Robards]." I certainly can, but then he's my dad's second cousin, for what that's worth.

[@andersonrearickiii6392]

I use this film in a class on fantasy and science fiction in which I made the point the fantasy can tell stories that realism cannot. The library scene, which is one of my favorites, is wonderful as a direct confrontation between dark and light. The added quotes from Shakespeare and Wordsworth add weight to the conflict. The film in general was helped, of course, by Ray Bradberry‘s fabulous text.

[@bigneon_glitter]

The shot of Jonathan Pryce breaking Jason Robards' hand has been burned into my brain fof 40 years.

[@Number4lead]

Disney went from making dark but acceptable films to being a dark evil entity themselves.

[@ingridfong-daley5899]

This and John Carpenter's original "The Fog" are the two scariest movies i ever remember seeing as a kid. Yeah, Poltergeist had skeletons in the pool, but Mr. Dark's WORDS are his evil and his magic power--the lulling and spoiling and soothing of egos, the loss of integrity/control over Self to excess indulgence... more terrifying than Carpenter's murderous ghost pirates, precisely because of how REAL the fears of each Something Wicked character feels. Loss, regret, jealousy, these are experiences children can recognise, and the movie made it clear that adults do too, so they're lifelong fears you'll never outgrow--an endless cycle of suffering. The entire cast is stellar, but Robards and Pryce are so solid their characters are permanent in my memory.

[@erichunter77]

I loved this film and it has always stuck with me. Especially the "hand splitting" scene. It was the only part that actually disturbed me.

[@FigmentForever]

Glad I joined Disney Movie Club at the right time to get this & tons of other Disney classics you can’t find anywhere. Free shipping for life & I’ll never have to worry about a streaming service having them!

[@ericnierstedt6242]

This is my favorite Bradbury story and I watch this movie at the beginning of every Halloween. It's definitely not as good as the novel (I agree, I don't think Disney quite knew what to do with a darker story), but what it gets right makes up for it. Even the score by James Horner does has great moments; I still love the opening score. Thanks for shedding some light on this hidden gem!

[@deadbeats4894]

Love the old Disney live action horror movies.

[@TheSykobanana]

Disney's best with Tron, The Black Hole and Natty Gann.

[@jiszmo6668]

I was in elementary school when this came out. It was heavily promoted by schools at the time. I know because I was in a couple of different schools, in different states, over the course of it's run. It was promoted in The Weekly Reader, a classroom newspaper, that was nationwide in schools back then. Many issues featured this movie. The newspaper also advertised various books, that kids could buy.

[@TuttleCapt]

Very good analysis! You really got the ideas and themes of this story! Obviously, I love this film...

[@blackamerican40]

That princess eating scene in Dragonslayer is still disturbing to this day over 40 years ago.

[@BinxandDan]

One of my favorite movies of all time!

[@bmiller949]

I remember watching this when I was in college. It didn't seem like a kids movie to me back then.

[@breannaperkins88]

I haven't seen this in years; I don't know why Disney won't put this on Disney+.

[@the_once-and-future_king.]

Probably coz it doesn't push The Message enough.

[@breannaperkins88]

@@the_once-and-future_king. What message?

[@the_once-and-future_king.]

@@breannaperkins88 The Message that Disney insists is foremost in all their recent content.

[@breannaperkins88]

@The Once & Future King This movie was released in the 80s. Save for the one man turning into the bearded lady, it doesn't show any message that you're referring to.

[@the_once-and-future_king.]

@@breannaperkins88 Exactly. That's why they aren't releasing it. Have you not seen that all the recent remakes have anything even slightly 'problematic' excised?

[@racheledwards2352]

I loved this movie. Except the damn spider scenes. The music was phenomenal

[@thejudgmentalcat]

"...my neighbors, who gave me my first glance into the fearful needs of the human heart" my favorite quote. I've always loved this movie ❤

[@lifeandThings]

Thanks for reviewing this. I hope it gets a blu ray (or better) release.

[@simonwoodthrillerwriter]

I haven't seen since it came out and I loved it. I have to give it a re-watch.

[@NaneelQueenOfDarknes]

Love this movie

[@honkytonkinson9787]

A must see! A terrifying horror movie that is family friendly, for the most part, with regards to gore and language. It’s pretty frightening though, especially to a 9 year old me!

[@Dave19812506]

We rented this on VHS as a kid I loved it

[@billgreen6144]

Great video! I saw this film as a teenager with my mom the week it came out. I'm a little afraid to revisit the film with a rewatch now that I'm as old (if not older) than Mr. Halloway is in the film. II'm far too away that much of the context that didn't hit home then would land pretty solidly at this age.

[@ensilguz]

I loved this film for its darkness!

[@patriciayoung3267]

Very well done piece. I have always loved Ray Bradbury's writing. Especially his "Autumn People". They come out of the dark only in the Fall in the dying days before Winter. Something Wicked This Way Comes was one of my favorites and Disney did it well, in spite of themselves.

[@mattpurcell2462]

This movie still hits all the right notes for me all these years later. Saw it as a kid with my dad, and it left an indelible mark.

[@SuperStewie83]

This movie is a classic imo. Every scene has stayed with me in my life even though I haven’t seen it in more then 20 years

[@Lance37a]

Where can we watch this movie?

[@shainewhite2781]

I read the book but haven't watched the movie yet.