As much as this movie tries to be horror, I felt it brought out more of a sense of pity than anything else. Bruce Davison plays Willard, a lonely man who is continually pecked at and picked on by all around him. After Willard's father passes away he is forced to take care of his aging mother, played by Elsa Lanchaster, who bickers and degrades him at every chance. To make matters worse his boss Al Martin, who took Willard's father's company, is a complete sleaze who loves to torture Willard at every chance he gets.

Willard's only companionship and release from life turns out to come from the swarm of rats that live in his basement. Once Willard befriends Ben, the leader of the rats, his life begins to change, although not in the right direction.

Ben and the rest of the rats begin to take out Willard's frustrations on his enemies, but Willard feels horrible about what is going on, but yet somewhat still happy about it all. Once Willard finds a brief love interest with Joan, his world collapses around him and everything comes tumbling down, and soon Willard also begins to come apart.

This movie is slow and methodical, but I really enjoyed it, more than the remake actually. Davison's Willard is fantastic, and I literally felt for the guy. There is an incredible drowning scene that made me hate Willard and pity him at the same time. Although billed as a horror revenge flick, I felt this one was more of a guy trying to just get by movie, more driven by the character of Willard than the army of rats.

6 of 10