Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)

One question that I’ve always wanted answered…what makes a film a classic?

Is it the age, the actors, the quality of the script, the special effects, the score, or the overall feel of the movie?
Over the years…I’ve learned that it’s all of the above & in the end…it’s what you take home from the film as the credits begin to roll.

For me, “Something Wicked This Way Comes” is one of only a handful of films that actually takes me back to a time in my childhood that I sorely miss…a time of wonder, mystery, amazement, & actually a bit of true fear. I usually revisit that time least once a year with films such as the Exorcist, the Shining, the Omen, & this one. Now I realize that we’re all a bit desensitized to horror now due to the bloodbath slasher-flicks & horror porn garbage that’s out…but I miss the days of a well plotted trip down scare-street.
The greatest thing about “Something Wicked This Way Comes” is that I can now share this little trip down memory lane & scare-street with my daughter by popping it in the player, turning out the lights, grabbing a blanket, hitting the couch, & letting it roll.

Granted…I’m twice the age I was when this first premiered…so the shock & horror aspect’s been dulled a bit. I’m a little bit wiser, a whole lot less intimidated by spiders & things that go bump in the night, so now I’m a prepared for what’s to come midway through the film…but it’s great to see the effect it has on my 5 year old…so if you’re an adult/grown up…don’t expect this mid 80’s Disney fair to deliver the terror that it advertises…unless your ten years or under.
That being said…if you’re fond of the writings of Ray Bradbury, as am I, you should truly enjoy this film, even though Disney took some liberties with the original novel.

Bradbury is largely considered to be one of the greatest American writers of the twentieth century & anyone that’s read this book (Fahrenheit 451 & The Martian Chronicles) can attest to that.

The movie, like the novel, is a blend of horror, fantasy, & a coming of age yarn spun around two 13 year old boys paired as friends for life. Jim Nightshade & Will Halloway wrestle with issues stemming from absentee fathers, growing up in a small town, wants & needs, & the arrival of a mysterious carnival.

This carnival (Dark's Pandemonium Carnival) blows into town one night on an even more mysterious train that seemingly has no conductor & no passengers. Even stranger…the carnival basically sets itself up in mere seconds…apparently by itself…just as it blew into town. The carnival's ringmaster is the nefarious "Mr. Dark" (enthusiastically embodied by Jonathan Pryce), who lures in the majority of the town’s population by offering the answer to their every desire & need. Through a few twists & turns of events the two boys, Jim & Will, learn of Mr. Dark's true nature& that the carnival itself is basically trying to enslave the souls of the towns folk & it’s up to the boys & Will's father, Charles Halloway (gloriously played by Jason Robards), who is himself enslaved by temptation to regain his youth.

While "Something Wicked This Way Comes" is lumped into the horror genre…it’s hard to pigeon hole it as simply that. As with most of Bradbury’s novels…things are not always as simple as they may seem. Quite often Bradbury's scope see’s all sides & while terror is a selling point here…this one also veers into traditional fantasy. There are unsung heroes, evil nemesis, trials & tribulations, & also shades of redemption for the main characters. When the boys & Charles are finally able to over throw Dark & the Autumn People, freeing the souls of the enslaved towns folk, the cause, effects, & consequences end up being a pretty sweet spectacle.

The best part of this film is that it actually harnesses most of the novel’s mood, style, & tone blending them all together for an experience that truly equates to literary celluloid satisfaction. At the end of the day this is one of the oldies but goodies & if you’ve not seen it…there’s no shame in dropping the cash or swiping the card to purchase or rent this one as a family outing.

You won’t be disappointed.

As far as a rating goes…I’d definently rate this one as Fresh…& on a scale of 1 to 10…I’d give it an 8.

I just like it that much.