[4]

An American family moves into a British mansion with an old woman (Bette Davis) whose young daughter disappeared over thirty years ago. When the American family’s two daughters begin hearing and seeing things, it quickly becomes obvious that Davis’ daughter is trying to communicate with them through supernatural means. The mystery is so paper thin here, you’ll be ahead of the movie the whole time. Despite some neat locations, including the mansion, some misty woods, and an old abandoned church, The Watcher in the Woods doesn’t come close to cashing in on its atmospheric potential — possibly because Walt Disney Pictures was still playing it pretty safe in 1980. The music score is a big lost opportunity, and of the entire cast, only Davis registers any screen presence. The movie might be marginally better if its original ending had been left intact. It’s a bit out of left field, but it features a nifty-looking alien and a much more emotionally satisfying resolution for Davis’ character.

A creature deleted from the final film, only seen in the alternate endings available on DVD.