[7]

A mysterious carnival rolls into town, granting wishes at a sinister cost in Disney’s adaptation of the Ray Bradbury story. I wish the film were more strongly from the perspective of the two leading boys and that their parts were better written. But this is still a pretty entertaining fable that achieves some genuinely spooky moments. Jonathan Pryce steals the show as the carnival’s leader, Mr. Dark. Pryces’ scenes with Jason Robards, including one where he offers Robards restored youth, are the movie’s finest. An exciting climax and a brooding, romantic James Horner score help swing the film over the goal line. With Pam Grier and Diane Ladd.