Something Wicked This Way Comes

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Something Wicked This Way Comes

PG

1983

1h 34m

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

61%

Tomatometer

33 Reviews

64%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Mr. Dark (Jonathan Pryce) brings his traveling carnival to a small Midwestern town and grants wishes, for a price.

Critics Consensus

True terror and typical Disney wholesomeness clash uncomfortably in Something Wicked This Way Comes.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Possibilities for a dark, child's view fantasy set in rural America of yore are visible throughout the $20 million production but various elements have not entirely congealed into a unified achievement.

Mar 10, 2009

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

The plot concerns a mysterious carnival outside a small town in the early 1900s that grants the wishes of the town's citizens, with dark consequences.

Mar 10, 2009

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John Preston

Time Out

Ultimately, though, it's an uneasy blend of horror and whimsy, with the allegory being hammered a little too hard for comfort. It's also marred by some dreadfully tacky special effects and set designs.

Jun 24, 2006

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Peter Sobczynski

The Spool

[D]espite the hiccups and poor reputation, Something Wicked This Way Comes remains a surprisingly potent work of dark fantasy.

Jun 14, 2023

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Richard Holliss

Starburst

Something Wicked never really amounts to anything... its not until its viewed for a second time that it begins to make any kind of impact.

Aug 1, 2022

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

...offering up horror tropes but grounded in small-town Americana, this is about the most wholesome horror film ever made...

Rated: 4/5

Mar 22, 2021

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Audience Member

I’m biased, as this was a movie I watched many times as a kid. So sentimental nostalgia here. Tacky special effects and production problems aside, I still love this one.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/15/24

Full Review

Bob L

Great childhood horror movie. I make my kids watch it with me each Father's Day (My kids might view that as a true horror film)

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/16/24

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Thom G

Something Wicked This Way Comes is a family-friendly horror story presented in a Disney-like adventure style.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/05/24

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Alec B

Many images remain burned in my brain and while it certainly isn't as good as I remember from my childhood viewing (clearly Disney diminished Clayton's original cut) it does have a memorable staying power.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/28/24

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Robert C

Killer mid American small town setting. Not sure if that type of place exists anymore but I grew up there. Super Bradbury!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/28/23

Full Review

Musuko S

This is a really fun period piece, well acted, especially Shawn Carson Stands re watching every year in October ....Where is Shawn now

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/07/23

Full Review

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Jack Clayton

Director

Jason Robards

Charles Halloway

Jonathan Pryce

Mr. Dark

Diane Ladd

Mrs. Nightshade

Pam Grier

Dust Witch

Royal Dano

Tom Fury

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Synopsis

Mr. Dark (Jonathan Pryce) brings his traveling carnival to a small Midwestern town and grants wishes, for a price.

Director: Jack Clayton
Producer: Peter Douglas
Screenwriter: Ray Bradbury
Production Co: Walt Disney Productions, Bryna Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Aug 3, 2004
Runtime: 1h 34m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Surround