Willard

Willard is currently streaming in the US on Kanopy, and its case-by-case structure never gets in the way of the bigger story. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. With 375 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Watch Crispin Glover work — the performance is a masterclass in restraint. Put it on tonight on Kanopy and see for yourself.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Willard earns its spot. The plotting gives Willard its backbone, but it is the characters you come back for. Desperate for companionship, the repressed Willard befriends a group of rats that inhabit his late father's deteriorating mansion. In these furry creatures, Willard finds temporary refuge from daily abuse at the hands of his bedridden mother and his father's old partner, Frank. Soon it becomes clear that the brood of rodents is ready and willing to exact a vicious, deadly revenge on anyone who dares to bully their sensitive new master. Crispin Glover and R. Lee Ermey lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2003. Willard is at its best in the quiet scenes between the plot beats, where the character work actually happens. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

If you cannot walk away from a good mystery, Willard will keep you hooked. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Crispin Glover's performance is the kind that shows up on best-of lists years later. If you have been looking for something to fill the gap left by a recently finished story, this is a reliable answer.