Something Wicked This Way Comes

There was a time in cinematic history where making a perceived "kids" film had one core question at heart. Do we want to entertain the kids or do we want to traumatize the kids? I kid you not, this era existed in the late 70s and the early to mid 80s. Filmmakers still made kid friendly films which we see today, but they also wanted to fill kids with a sense of existential dread. Ironically, the studio that started this was Disney.

Ray Bradbury was still something of a household name in the 70s and 80s, so having him adapt a screenplay of his own work was a no brainer. However, that popularity was largely on its last legs in 1983, but he at least made one last mark with Something Wicked This Way Comes. It's starts innocently enough, as the small sleepy town of Green Town, Illinois (a frequently used town in Bradbury's oeuvre) begins yet another day. However, that quiet is brought to an end when Mr. Dark's Pandemonium Carnival hits town. It looks fairly innocuous, but there is a dark and sinister force controlling and manipulating this carnival.

Jonathan Price is by no means scary or intimidating, and this is why his turn as Mr. Dark (or G. M. Dark for us Bradbury fans) is so damn chilling. His slight accent, his all knowing knowledge of people's hidden desires and the outright disregard for the very bargains he makes. His Faustian turn as the leader of The Autumn People makes him one of the most bone chilling antagonists of the 80s. I will gladly fight anyone for that statement. His first run-in with Charles Halloway is the stuff of nightmares.

And speaking of nightmares, this film intentionally played on the many assorted nightmares of children. While Return to Oz would be the primer for scaring and traumatizing kids, this one was pretty close. The worst aspect it did bring up was two fold...the death of a parent and disappointment in yourself and your children's eyes. I would venture to say this film would slightly agitate a decent swath of viewers.

In spite of all the implied danger and darkness, this film does have its weaknesses. The special effects just weren't good enough to match the event of the story at the time and the two boys were rather wooden in acting. But on the other hand, the rest of the movie is so beautiful to look at you just kinda wish Disney would finally remake this film (along with Condorman!). However, I don't know if they could replace Jonathan Price and Jason Robards. The scenes they had together are show stoppers, and the simple body effects and implied horror would be replaced with boring CGI.

I won't pretend this is an amazing movie. It has flaws for sure, but it kinda makes you long for more of this kind of output from Disney rather than the never ending stream of comic books and endless franchises.

In Green Town, Illinois, the twelve year-old boys Will Halloway (Vidal Peterson) and Jim Nightshade (Shawn Carson) are neighbors and best friends. Will's father Charles Halloway (Jason Robards) is an old man and the local librarian while Jim and his mother wait for the return of their father and husband that will never occur. The boys know everyone in town, including their school teacher Miss Foley (Mary Grace Canfield) that misses her beauty and youth; the lonely barber Mr. Crosetti (Richard Davalos) that has no girlfriend or wife; the greedy owner of a cigar store Mr. Tetley (Jake Dengel) that is obsessed with money; and the bartender Ed (James Stacy) that has severed arm and leg and dreams on being a football hero. One day of Autumn, Jim buys a lightning rod from the salesman Tom Fury (Royal Dano) that tels that a storm is coming. During the night, the boys overhear a mysterious train and they run through the woods to see the arrival but they do not see a living soul. However, they find the Mr. Dark's Pandemonium Carnival ready to be enjoyed and they snoop around. Soon they realize that frustrated and greedy people are vanishing in town and the evil Mr. Dark (Jonathan Pryce) and the Dust Witch (Pam Grier) from the carnival make their dreams come true. In return, Mr. Dark seizes their souls. Now Mr. Dark is seeking the boys out but Charles Halloway has a journal from his father about the autumn carnival that might be their last chance to defeat the evil.

"Something Wicked This Way Comes" is an impressive movie with many layers with a story by Ray Bradbury. It is amazing how a story about greedy, vanity and shattered dreams can be seen and understood in different levels, depending on your age and life experience. The dialogs and lines are mature, but children will have a different understanding. Unfortunately this little gem is underrated and not well- known. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): Not available on VHS, DVD or Blu-Ray

While this production is strictly fantasy, it lacks all of the bells and whistles of modern day films of this genre. Ray Bradbury, like Spielberg, has an affinity for telling stories from a child's point of view. Without CGI technology, this movie still is compelling in its own right. Pam Grier puts in a good performance as the truly menacing temptress, a little creepy but alluring at the same time. The film is about regrets and unreliazed dreams. It also manages to work in several of the Seven Deadly Sins-greed, vanity, lust, and anger. The character most burdened by events from his past is the Jason Robards part. He regrets being held back by his upbringing from acting during a crisis, something not learned during childhood that most normnal children take for granted. This film would be a nice change of pace during Halloween, a little dated, but still worth a couple hours.

This film is well made in all regards; the cast is top-notch, the cinematography and direction drive the tone of the movie, the effects inventive and wonderful (even by late-90's standards) and best of all, the storyline superb.

That said, this is arguably the best film made from any of Ray Bradbury's works. I first read the book years ago as a 13-year-old and remember the images the tale concocted, and the questions about myself that the storyline propose ring as true today from the film as they did then from the page.

Owing much to the casting of the film, the director marvelously weaves the story around the principal leads by allowing a score of tertiary characters to guide the plot's tone, mood and motion. Each person, whether major or minor, is an intriguing part of the tale with their own tale to tell. With great efficiency we understand what drives each of the townspeople, and grow more curious and suspicious as to the background of the carnival folk.

Sympathy -- or contempt -- for each of the characters is developed throughout, and best the film's two supporting actors, Jason Robards and Jonathan Pryce. While neither is exactly cast against type here, both provide a driving stability for the film. The two boys that serve as the film's protagonists do an admirable job in portraying both the fear and delight that is part of youth, and inherent to coming of age.

This movie is a fine example of how an effective thriller can be made without resorting to language, blood, sex, or violence. While I am not all opposed to films that use any or all of those conventions, it is a refreshing change from what is otherwise the norm.

One of the greatest benefits is that the resulting film is one that you can watch with your children, a film that will provide them a healthy scare and stimulate their mind as well. As the film does contain some dark and frightening imagery, it could certainly serve as a source of nightmares for younger children.

In the collection of 80's sci-fi/fantasy films that garner much recognition, no one ever seems to mention "Something Wicked This Way Comes". But they should. The film is a very well done film, from a technical aspect, blending moody cinematography with good f/x (for 1983,anyways) to make some truly memorable moments. Clayton's directing focuses on grand imagery and atmosphere, and it creates a very fine tone for the film. Bradbury's writing adds a lot to the story, his expertly sculpted dialogue bringing life to some good characters. He, and the film, do struggle with the coming of age stuff between the two boys, as it is mostly run of the mill material, but still effective in places. The father-son talks are also not too amazing. But, the were some great moments, most notably the library scene with Mr. Dark and Mr. Halloway. Great writing and directing accented by Jonathan Pryce's pitch-perfect performance. A few of the "scary" scenes were rather hokey, but for the most part provided decent enough suspense. The cast was very good, the two young boys definitely worked well with each other. Jason Robards kind of walked through his role, but Robards can do that and still make it look good. And of course, as mentioned before, Jonathan Pryce is just uber-creepy as the bad guy, Mr. Dark. It's a shame Hollywood never really caught on to him.

All in all, the film provides some tense (for a kid's film) moments with a lot of visual flair, but also provides some more heavier (once again, for a kid's film) material about father & sons and what's it's like to grow up.

7/10

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