[Nerdspresso] Something Wicked This Way...Dumb?

Sometimes the wanting is better than the getting. In 1983, Disney released Something Wicked This Way Comes, a movie adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s classic novel about a mysterious carnival that tempts the residents of a small midwestern town. It quickly faded from theaters but developed a devoted following through viewings on VHS and cable.

This flick was relatively forgotten until interest surged again because the movie was noticeably absent when Disney+ launched in 2019. Fans wondered if Something Wicked This Way Comes was just too intense for the streamer’s core audience. Or maybe it was just lost in the shuffle of that initial rollout. Devotees pushed for its return each time another round of old films dropped into rotation. Its legend grew with each passing year until this fall, when Disney finally relented. 

Something Wicked This Way Comes premiered on Disney+ in October. I was one of the legion who cheered its arrival. I couldn’t wait to watch it again and relive fond memories. Jonathan Pryce’s performance as the enigmatic Mr. Dark resonated in the dark corners of my brain. Jason Robards’ recitation of that iconic line from Macbeth, which inspired the title, still does laps in my memory. I was eager to savor the gentle wisps of nostalgia this flick would offer me.

I love the novel, and Bradbury wrote the screenplay for this adaptation. I had rediscovered it in recent years, reading it to my son at bedtime. It’s now one of his favorite books. The author’s poetic prose still lingers in my psyche. Now that it was available, I was ready to compare the two versions of this story with a mature perspective. Having only seen the film on pay cable 40 years ago, I was looking forward to a return viewing. 

The timing couldn’t have been better in these days leading up to Halloween. The movie fit the mood, beginning cryptically with a train pulling into town in the dead of night. I settled in, ready to be transported by the period setting and memories from my own treasured past. Something Wicked This Way Comes slowly revealed its story. Two young boys are tempted as their town is seduced by dark forces. My expectations were high. And they were not met. 

This movie has not aged well. I should have left it to dance in my memory. How many times have you revisited a beloved film from childhood only to discover that it just doesn’t hold up? Some might say that’s a harsh judgment to place on youthful entertainment, but I would argue that there are a lot of movies made for kids that stand the test of time. Some flicks can be enjoyed by all ages, no matter the approach or subject matter. 

Look at E.T. or The Wizard of Oz. They are both timeless, engrossing entertainment for all ages. Some movies are just classics, no matter the intended audience. They retain a warm spot in our hearts that blinds us to their shortcomings. Then there are those misfires with sloppy storytelling that a child might overlook but grown-ups find hard to ignore. Something Wicked This Way Comes is a tough re-watch. The flaws are hard to ignore. 

This movie should have been a classic. Disney partnering with Ray Bradbury? What an excellent pedigree! The book is golden. While the main characters of this story are children, I never perceived it as a children’s story. Bradbury’s lyrical tale weaves wistful remembrances with supernatural elements. It should have translated gracefully to the screen, but his prose that dances off the page lands with a thud in the movie.

Jason Robards (All the President’s Men) and Jonathan Pryce (Brazil) are magnetic as the dueling influences for the boys at the center of this story. Every other character disappears in their wake. Vidal Peterson and Shawn Carson as our youthful protagonists, Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade (their names are the most colorful aspect of their characters), are ill-equipped for this material. They both sound like they’re reciting lines rather than portraying roles.

That’s not to say young actors can’t command horror movies. Look at the cast of Stranger Things on Netflix or the kids driving the action in Stephen King’s It (check it out now on HBO Max). They prove that you can effectively face paranormal peril before you’re old enough to drive. Peterson and Carson just aren’t up to the task, but their deficiencies are shared by most of the cast. Director Jack Clayton has left them all stranded. 

Something Wicked This Way Comes is a wilderness of half-baked ideas. The townspeople are all tempted by Mr. Dark and his beguiling sideshow. He offers them their deepest desires, but  achieving their dreams comes with a terrible cost. But this idea is never fully explored in the film. Characters are introduced and then fade into the background. Their juicy motivations and rich back stories are forgotten as they become merely set dressing. This movie has an intriguing premise, but it never goes far enough. Its tone is indecisive. 

Something Wicked This Way Comes vs. Needful Things: Who did it better? Tell us in the comments!

There are inspired horror elements that poke through the fabric of this film, but nothing really resonates. You cringe rather than gasp. It never fully embraces its gothic aspirations. The movie is like an unfinished painting. There are glimpses of greatness, but that’s all. Scenes flitter around mature themes but restrain themselves. There is no big payoff. We are left asking the filmmakers if they wanted to make a spooky yarn for kids or a macabre fable for adults?

The power of Bradbury’s novel is lost in the translation. His prose just comes off as heavy-handed when the actors speak the words. The drama just dissipates. It’s as if Bradbury and Clayton were being told to pull their punches by the Disney brass. This film came out at a time when the Mouse House was trying to make a name for itself with edgier fare. But could the hesitation to fully embrace these horror elements be cold feet on the studio’s part?

The late ‘70s and early ‘80s saw the studio release a handful of films with darker themes like The Watcher in the Woods, The Black Hole, Tron, and Dragonslayer. But Something Wicked This Way Comes and its cinematic siblings were all victims of mixed expectations. Disney wanted to age up its content while trying to hold onto their core audience. Families found the flicks too scary for little kids, while older crowds thought they played it too safe.  

As a result, these films all struggled to find an audience. Some fared better than others and eventually achieved cult status. In the end, however, they all bear the mark of a studio lacking a confident vision. Something Wicked This Way Comes probably suffered the most. One wonders what would have happened if the studio had just trusted the material? Let their legendary screenwriter unleash his imagination in collaboration with a bold director? Watching Something Wicked This Way Comes now, the scariest thing about it is all the wasted potential.

Want More Overcaffeinated Chatter?
Join Jeff Stanford and Wes Platt for episodes of Nerdspresso Phase II!

Nerd Out with Jeff and Wes!

Get Connected

• Send email to ⁠⁠⁠your neighborhood news guy: wes.platt@southpointaccess.news
• Follow on ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠
• Join ⁠⁠⁠our Discord community⁠⁠⁠
• Join the Southpoint Access subreddit!

🤝 Support Our Sponsors

Local journalism in South Durham survives thanks to the generous businesses and organizations that make this work possible. 🧭

By supporting these sponsors, you’re helping Southpoint Access continue to deliver trusted, hyperlocal news and resources for our community - from school updates to neighborhood stories that keep SoDu connected.

💛 Shop local. Hire local. Support those who support Southpoint Access.