The Watcher in the Woods.

Name: The Watcher in the Woods
Genre: Family, Horror, Mystery
Released: 1980-04-16
Duration: 84 min
Cast: Bette Davis, Lynn-Holly Johnson, Carroll Baker, David McCallum, Kyle Richards

Something in the woods remembers.

Two American sisters move into an English country house and encounter disturbing signs of an earlier girl's disappearance. The older sister investigates the connection between their landlady, the nearby woods and an unexplained force.

52%Tomatometer25 critics · Rotten Tomatoes

Checked Oct 24, 2026. About these scores

Why it’s a little special

A moody mystery and Bette Davis's unsettling presence make this a striking choice for confident viewers of ghost stories.

BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY

Know the story.
Know your little people.

Parental guidance suggested

US film rating

Strong suspense, threatening visions, a séance, a near-drowning and a missing-child mystery can be very frightening. The PG rating should not be read as a promise of gentle scares.

Our notes are a starting point, not an age recommendation. G and PG films can still include intense moments. You know your family best.

BEHIND THE SCENES

The little details.

Directed by: John Hough
Starring: Bette Davis, Lynn-Holly Johnson, Carroll Baker, David McCallum, Kyle Richards, Ian Bannen, Richard Pasco, Frances Cuka, Benedict Taylor, Eleanor Summerfield, Georgina Hale, Katherine Levy
Written by: Brian Clemens, Harry Spalding, Rosemary Anne Sisson
Produced by: Ron Miller
Release date: April 16, 1980
Runtime: 84 minutes
Genre: Family, Horror, Mystery
Studio: Walt Disney Productions
Language: English

YOUR SOFA. YOUR CINEMA.

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