SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES

Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983) was an unconditional five star horror film from Disney studios. This DVD provided two versions of the movie at 1.66:1 and 1.33:1 and was a good value except for the picture quality which was just so, so. This movie was really great and depicted an old time traveling carnival having the ability to grant your deepest wish, but then totally taking away your ability to enjoy it, and then some. This is referred to as a price, but it is far darker than a simple cost for your wish. Spoilers: 1) The once town beauty is now very old and wishes for her beauty again. She suddenly finds herself young and beautiful, but then goes blind while staring in the mirror. She then is taken by the Carnival, as are all their victims. 2) Mr. Crasetti, the town barber, wants nothing more than to see some beautiful elegant woman visit his town. The fortune teller ("Dust Witch") reads his mind and tells him that he would be "oh so happy" if he could see some elegant ladies and tells him they are waiting for him. Mr. Crasetti goes to the side show to see the harem girls dance, and winds up during his short lived session being converted into Madam Crasetti, the fat bearded lady (and from the sounds of his conversion, being castrated for good measure). 3) Ed, the town barman and amputee, wants only to be able to play football like he could when he was whole. He walks into the mirrored maze and is made a complete man only to be turned into a young boy. 4) Mr. Tetley wants nothing more than to win a game of chance which he does at one of the carnivals games. Then the Carnival gives him $1000 in winnings, free tickets for the Ferris wheel and a seat next to a very beautiful young woman who is the Dust Witch in disguise. He disappears into the bowels of the Carnival and all that is left of him is his cigar. 5) Tom Fury, the seller of lightning rods, who I believe to be a magical and powerful individual with some influence over lightning, doesn't seem to wish for anything but to supply people with his rods for their protection from a coming storm. Never missing a chance to punish a good deed, he is tortured by the carnival people with an electric chair in order to extract the time of arrival of an important storm. Only too human, his only short coming appears to be his being smitten by the beautiful Dust Witch, who he admires saying "More beautiful than Pocahontas". I never read the book to know what the novel was about, but it is clear that the basic story is from the mind of the great Ray Bradbury. I don't like his attempts at science fiction, but concerning the human condition, feel he was the master. Note; do not buy for young children as this movie was an attempt by Disney Studios to make something darker and much more serious than Bambi.

Movie was great

This is one of the first books I read written by, who was later to become one of my very favorite writers, Ray Bradbury, and what an introduction it was! Scared the hell out of me and insinuated itself into my dreams for weeks afterwards. My imagination worked at full blast, conjuring up images of all the places and people Bradburty created, and when this wonderful book finally made it to the big screen, I wasn't disappointed. The boys, Will Holloway and Jim Nightshade, are superb, as is Jason Robards as the tired old father still working late into the night at the library, guarded by the stone lions Mr. Holloway warned would prowl around the town one particularly windy night. This movie belongs, however, to Jonathan Pryce, who takes and keeps command of the entire production. He is terrifying, remorseless and wonderful in his role, and very, very elegant which serves to lend even more horror to his madness. His voice and accent are fabulous and his walk, gestures, attire all work together to make him one of the more memorable Bradbury characters. The various carnival creatures are so frightening and believable you are literally on the edge of your seat watching them...and wondering what they are capable of and what they will do next. No one, from the barber to the schoolteacher, is safe. One of my favorite scenes is the one, late at night, in the library when Pryce, AKA Mr Dark of Cooger and Dark, hunts the boys...very, very scary stuff. James Stacy is a sad figure; and very eloquent in his role as a former baseball great. All in all, a fantastic journey into the mind of one of our finest science fiction writers and brought beautifully to the big screen by Disney, and now on DVD, this will become a Halloween fixture for all to enjoy!

An exceptional telling of the tale. Watched this in ninth grade in 1980s and have loved it ever since. Not certain why it is never streamable but this means constant access (as long as I maintain a DVD player 😀)

It's exactly what I expected. It came with the DVD undamaged, arrived on time, played perfectly well. Great movie, and this is a basic DVD version of it. Good for the price, but don't expect anything extra to it.

I haven't seen Something Wicked Comes This Way in forever. I tried to find it on Prime and the Disney channel and it was no where. I found it at a great price to Buy on Amazon. It is a great film for everyone, and suspenseful.

This is a good movie to show to adults as well children over the age of eight.

Good movie

que je suis contente a l'avant veille de mon anniversaire a retrouver ce film depuis que j'ai plus mes K7 video et magnetoscope!!!! ce qui remonte a... ouch... je l'ai mis direct dans ma tour de pc pour voir si vraiment c'etait aussi en français j'avoue avoir enormment douté alors le changement de langue ne se fait pas par le menu. la souris ne marchait pas, le clavier oui, mais ça n'a pas prit avec VLC mon lecteur vidéo, on peut aussi faire clic droit, audio, piste... et cest la piste 1 qui est en français et... ça marche j'ai mis au pif qlq prt et c'etait bien dans la langue que je comprends, ouais la mienne alors maintenant j'ai autre chose à faire que vous donner mon avis vous devinez??? ouaip je vais me regaler en le visionnant direct... je reviens si y a un probleme sinon je vous le dis, si vous rechercher ce petit bijou sans pretention, vous aurez une jaquette en espagnol, mais le film en français, anglais et forcement espagnol.... merci

An excellent 80's film with the original author, Ray Bradbury, ensuring a faithful adaptation. A very un-Disney Disney film. Cast are perfect and the New England setting brings a ambience that suits what is actually a cosmic horror, except with an upbeat ending.

wonderful movie and book

かなり前にVHSでみて以来で、PCソフトでシャープネスを調整して鑑賞（かなりきれいになります）。 日本語字幕はないが英語台詞が表示できるので大丈夫でした。

Good Disney movie!!