#benedict taylor

[niche-movies-polls]

The Watcher in the Woods (1980)

Have you seen this movie?

Yes!

I've seen parts of it

No, but it's on my watchlist

No, but I've seen gifsets of it

No, but I've heard of it

No

Voting ended onSep 10, 2025

[clemsfilmdiary]

The Watcher in the Woods (1980, John Hough, Vincent McEveety)

10/24/22

[thebabysittersguidetoexorcisms]

[abriefingwithmichael]

Barriers 1.8

A profile of three lonely people. An extraordinarily melancholic story.

Billy’s former best friend from school shows up unexpectedly, leading to arguments with Mr. Whitaker and some soul-searching for Billy.

The quest to find Billy’s parents is mentioned briefly, as is his recent trip to France. But, in common with many episodes, this is a fully self-contained incident in the life of Billy Stanyon. And one with very little plot.

All three characters are lonely, unfulfilled, lost. The visitor reveals his situation to Mr. Whitaker in his final scene, and Mr. Whitaker’s situation is implied rather than overtly stated, while quite a lot of screentime is given over to Billy (naturally) and his current unhappiness.

Nothing is resolved. For any of them. At least we assume that Billy’s story (as it progresses) will improve his state of mind, but - for now - he is more than a little lost. Unsatisfied, unfulfilled and very much alone.

It’s quite a mature script. Maybe a little self-indulgent and slow, but it is nonetheless very affecting. When Billy opens up to his mentor/guardian in the middle of a heated argument he is (of course) also opening up to us, and we hear for the first of his concrete dissatisfaction with his status quo. Even the things he has learned about his parents, so far, are weighting him down rather than giving him hope.

It is bleak, bleak stuff. There is no quick fix. No fix of any kind. For any of them. The visitor merely leaves, going to his uncertain fate, and Billy (for now) remains in his bookshop job, not really knowing what his future may be.

The final line of dialogue (”He was my best friend. Once.”) is great. Profoundly sad, it sums up the entire episode to perfection.

8/10

[thebabysittersguidetoexorcisms]

[thebabysittersguidetoexorcisms]

[abriefingwithmichael]

Barriers 1.7

Nicholas Courtney. Engrossing story about unpleasant people.

This one is an abrupt departure from anything we’ve seen in the series so far. Billy is suddenly - inexplicably - in France surrounded by characters we’ve never seen before. The story opens with a child climbing on the roof of a large country house before a crowd of onlookers. It’s all very odd. And impossible to ignore.

After that great start, we slowly learn about these people and their odd/dangerous family tradition.

We also come to understand how and why Billy came to be staying with this family.

There are many scenes that are dark and bitter and leave you with a bad taste in the mouth. Some concerning Billy’s mother and her supposed indiscretions and some concerning Billy’s judgemental views of what the family expect their 13-year-old son to do.

Clever, mature storytelling abounds.

In the end, after a few nasty exchanges, Billy leaves with a tiny bit of new information on his parents.

9/10

[whitemaleindianfemale]