Watcher in the Woods, The
Date: 1980
Director: John Hough
Production Company: Walt Disney Productions
Stars: Bette Davis, Carroll Baker, David McCallum, Lynn Holly-Johnson, Kyle Richards, Benedict Taylor, Richard Pascoe, Georgina Hale
Location(s): Buckinghamshire, Warwickshire
Region(s): Midlands, South East R-Z
Storyline:
An American family moves into an English countryside manor where the teenage daughter begins experiencing eerie visions and supernatural events connected to a decades-old disappearance of a girl during a secret ritual in the nearby woods.
Additional Information:
Page compiled by Steve Randall
Can you help:
If you have any information regarding this production, the locations or, even better, some comparison shots please contact us. Images submitted must be in Landscape orientation, as would be seen on the cinema screen, not Portrait.
We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.
- Capture 1
- 'Now' required
The Curtis family from America drive through the gates of an English mansion looking for somewhere to stay.
- Capture 2
- 'Now' required
They find a suitable property. St. Hubert's House, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire. This has appeared in many films including 'The Durant Affair','The League of Gentlemen', 'Saturday Night Out', 'Island of Terror','Just My Luck','Devils of Darkness' and 'The March Hare'.
- Capture 3
- 'Now' required
The agent Mrs Thayer (Eleanor Summerfield) arranges the stay with Helen Curtis (Carroll Baker) and her husband Paul (David McCallum). They stand in front of the guest house which is occupied by the owner of the main residence, a building that can also be seen in 'The March Hare'.
- Capture 4
- 'Now' required
Mrs. Aylwood (Bette Davis), comes to the door and stares at Jan, who resembles her long-lost daughter.
- Capture 5
- 'Now' required
After the family has settled in the children visit a nearby farm, currently unidentified.
- Capture 6
- 'Now' required
Jan (Lynn-Holly Johnson) looks at Ellie (Kyle Richards) as she holds the puppy she has bought from Mike (Benedict Taylor), who lives with his mother on the farm.
- Capture 7
- 'Now' required
Ellie shows the puppy to Helen.
- Capture 8
- 19 Dec 2025
In flashback we see a young Mrs. Aylward (Georgina Hale) searching for her daughter Karen, who has run off. Ettington Park in Warwickshire.
Roland Hall provides the comparison.
- Capture 9
- 'Now' required
The family take a trip to see Mike motorbike scrambling. Ellie screams for Jan to leave her standing position just before a flying bike crashes into it. Unidentified location.
- Capture 10
- 'Now' required
Mike drives his bike home in a truck.
- Capture 11
- 19 Dec 2025
The girls go riding with Mike. The horses bolt and Jan is unseated near an abandoned chapel. Ettington Park, Warwickshire.
Roland Hill visited the chapel to take this comparison.
- Capture 12
- 'Now' required
As Jan explores the chapel she comes across Tom Colley (Richard Pasco), a local hermit, who runs away as the others approach. A reverse pov from the previous capture. Ettington Park
- Capture 13
- 19 Dec 2025
In the dark and stormy night that follows, Tom informs John Keller of Jan's activities. Ettington Park.
Roland Hill angled his camera upward.
- Capture 14
- 19 Dec 2025
Jan calls on John at his large house to find out what happened to Karen, but is told to clear off. Ettington Park, which also features in 1963's 'The Haunting'.
Roland Hill captures Ettington Park as it is today.
- Capture 15
- 'Now' required
As Jan cycles past the guest house she informs Mrs. Aylwood that she has a plan to bring Karen back. But does she succeed? You'll need to watch the film to find out as we have no more locations to show you.