“Willard” is a remake of the 1971 film, which was a surprise hit at the box office. My explanation at the time: People had been waiting a long time to see Ernest Borgnine eaten by rats and weren’t about to miss the opportunity.

A few of the rats pop out: Socrates, Willard’s choice for leader, and Ben, who is Ben’s choice for leader. Ben is a very big rat (played, according to ominous information I found on the Web, “by an animal that is not a rat”).

Ebert was less than enthusiastic about the film. However, as Keith Phipps points out:

…anyone who feels that the sight of Glover maniacally instructing a herd of rats to “Tear! Tear!” is reason enough to show up won’t be disappointed. (Everyone else probably knows well enough to stay away.)