Willard (2003)

Willard 2003 poster

New Line Cinema
Starring: Crispin Glover, Laura Harring
Directed by: Glen Morgan

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: In this remake of the 1971 film, reclusive and socially awkward Willard Stiles (Crispin Glover) befriends and trains an army of rats to do his twisted bidding.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): In the original film Willard’s co-worker gave him an orange tabby cat named Chloe which he ultimately dropped off with a man in a phone booth. The cat is not as lucky in this version. Co-worker Catherine (Laura Harring) shows up on Willard’s doorstep bearing the cat as a gift. “Her name is Scully,” Catherine explains.

Willard 2003 - Catherine Laura Harring brings orange tabby cat Scully to Willard Crispin Glover

Willard politely tries to decline taking the cat, who is pawing at the white rat Socrates in his pocket, but Catherine is persistant. Having to leave, Willard asks is he can simply put Scully inside the house. Catherine says it is fine, the cat is potty trained.

Willard 2003 - close up of orange tabby cat Scully

Scully is dropped inside the front door and immediately knows she’s in trouble, as she’s surrounded by countless rats.

Willard 2003 - orange tabby cat Scully surrounding by rats inside front door

The cat runs into another room and jumps up on a chair, hitting the button on a remote which starts playing an easy listening cable music channel on the television. Ironically, the song that starts playing is Ben by Michael Jackson.

Willard 2003 - orange tabby cat Scully on chair with remote

The song continues to play throughout the following scenes as Scully jumps to the top of a cabinet to escape the army of rats.

Willard 2003 - orange tabby cat Scully on top of cabinet

The rats chew away at the feet of the cabinet and finally bring it down. Scully runs away, looking for a way out of the house.

Willard 2003 - orange tabby cat Scully on top of cabinet

Darting into the basement, Scully is followed by the rats. She walks along some high piping and finally spots a small hole in a vent within jumping distance. The rats are growing in numbers below.

Willard 2003 - orange tabby cat Scully in basement being chased by rats

Willard 2003 - orange tabby cat Scully walking between pipe and ceiling

Willard 2003 - orange tabby cat Scully looking down at rats

Willard 2003 - orange tabby cat Scully looking for escape

Kitty Carnage Warning! Scully finally makes a jump at the hole but Ben is inside waiting and lunges at her. She clings to the vent for a short time as Ben bites her.

Willard 2003 - orange tabby cat Scully outside vent grating

Willard 2003 - orange tabby cat Scully hanging above rats

Willard 2003 - rat Ben looking at orange tabby cat Scully outside vent grating

Finally she drops down into the sea of rats and disappears.

Willard 2003 - orange tabby cat Scully falling into sea of rats

Missing scenes on the DVD show how Willard actually called for Scully several times after this, finally discovering her dead body in a hallway.

Willard 2003 - orange tabby cat Scully close

Reportedly three cat actors from Boone’s Animals for Hollywood worked on the film. The director explained that one of the cats had to be replaced because it kept eyeing one of the rats and they didn’t want a mishap to occur. For the most part the cat actors and rat actors were filmed in separate takes and put together via special effects in post production.

Willard 2003 - orange tabby cat Scully

It’s also been speculated that the cat was named Scully because director Glen Morgan and producer James Wong had worked on the X-Files for many years. They explained in the DVD commentary track that it wasn’t a dig at the series, they just thought that was the type of name the character Catherine would give the cat.

Willard 2003 - close up of orange tabby cat Scully