The Guardian [Blu-ray]

Very good

Good story line

I've always liked this movie its plot line is good.

This was and still is one of my fave horror flicks. Directed by William Friedkin of the Exorcist the movie centers around a young couple who hire a nanny and she just happens to be a druid witch who sacrifices babies to the giant, monstrous tree in the forest. The movie is so strange and although it's not as complex or scary as the exorcist it's unique approach to the intriguing material really sells the concept. Jenny Seagrove is creepy as the nanny. The cinematography is appropriately fantastical as is the dread inducing score but the real sell here is the confident and inspired direction. Friedkin takes a concept that could have easily been a goofy mess and makes you take it seriously and for that alone it's worth a watch.Budget: N/ADomestic Box Office: $17mWorldwide Box Office: $17m4.25/5

A film has to be pretty bad for me to categorically say "miss this one." The Guardian is of course no exception. Go ahead, maybe you'll have a better time than I did. The premise is pretty out there but there's nothing wrong with that. The director who so expertly crafted masterpieces like The Exorcist and The French Connection should have been able to pull it off. But he doesn't deliver and it's really a shame. The plot has more holes in it than a sive. You'd think the parents of a newborn would check at least one or two references before inviting the nanny to come live with them. A killer tree? Alright I can get on board with that. But I couldn't help but wonder about the logistics of it. Does the nanny have to lug that thing around herself during her coast to coast baby stealing spree? If The Guardian was a better movie, I probably wouldn't have thought about it or even cared. The whole thing is so slapped together and this is from a director who is revered for his uncompromising "matter of fact" approach to story telling. If Billy Friedkin hadn't put his name in the credits I wouldn't have even known he was there. I can't complain too much. I did watch the whole thing and I was reasonably entertained. There is some good stuff floating around in The Guardian. Maybe there was studio meddling...who knows? The ending is really really rushed but the final shot is kind of interesting. Leave it to Friedkin to bring his expert eye for the enigmatic but only for the last shot of the film.

The package got here fairly quickly and safely considering the supply change delays in the COVID era. It was a nice post-Christmas present. I look forward to watching all the Special Features and rewatching the film. There hasn't been a really good DVD release of this 1987 film, so it's great that Shout!/Scream Factory made this and added a lot of goodies. Thanx for sending this copy to me! -G

I love this...def. creepy

I got the order ahead of time and was very pleased with the product. I would cheerfully endorse using this outlet again to anyone!MarkThank You!

I originally saw The Guardian during its cinematic release in 1990 (or so) it was and probably still is somewhat derided as to its quality but I've always really liked the quirkyness of it.The sumptuous Jenny Seagrove plays 'Camilla' a nanny come evil baby sacrificing guardian tree spirit moving from placement to placement practising her unorthodox approach to childcare whereupon she arrives at the home of a young couple with their newly born son Jake.There are some nice touches throughout the film; the idea in itself is very novel, good use is made of a particularly imposing tree out in the woods that Camilla is the guardian of; there are some good slaying scenes involving said tree as well as a pack of wolves and by horror standards it is just fundamentally a fun experience to watch.Saying that the production issues surrounding the film are evident; some of the lighting I've always thought wasn't quite right leading some woodland set scenes to look too much like a studio set. All the performances are fine and the contemporary Grimm fairy tale imagery that Friedkin was attempting to create works really well.The only extras on this special edition are 3 relatively short interviews (between 15-20 mins) with, individually, William Friedkin, Jenny Seagrove and co-writer Stephen Volk.The anecdotes provided are interesting. Friedkin relays a bad experience he had with a nanny and discusses 'The Exorcist' also as well as his aims, problems etc with the script of The Guardian. Interesting stuff.Jenny Seagrove does not appear over enamoured with the film, despite endeavouring to be diplomatic she comes across as a bit critical of it and refers to her participation as a 'mistake' although as she admits she is no horror fan anyway. She seems a bit regretful that they didn't ditch the supernatural element and go with the straightforward evil nanny approach, even contacting an exec at Universal studios to pitch this idea and later lambasting him after 'The Hand that Rocks the Cradle' came out and was a hit a few years later. This is much better Jenny and you were great. Box office success is no indicator of taste!The final interview with co-writer Stephen Volk is also very illuminating and highlights the problematic puppy that The Guardian was. During the writing process Volk did discuss with Friedkin whether they also should ditch the supernatural element and go with the psychological approach instead. Friedkin apparently agreed but Universal refused saying they wanted Friedkin of Exorcist fame to roll out another horror. Volk had to leave due to other committments and also to receive therapy whereby he discusses for months after how he had recurring nightmares of Friedkin flying over his house (in the UK) by helicopter speaking to him from a megaphone telling him to go back to Hollywood and finish the writing process!It's really nice to see it again; 5 stars is a very personal appraisal but the fact that it has stood the test of time really well suggests its a better film than many of those associated with it felt post production.

I already have the original Anchor bay release of this film from 2000which only has an audio commentary track by William friedkan as an extrabut Second sight films a U.K. DVD Distributor finally reissued this filmso I knew I had to buy itand you get all new interviews with Jenny seagrove and also interviews with William friedkanand the writer of the film aswell plus the Audio commentary by William friedkan from the Anchor bay releaseall brand new interviews are very in depth about 15mins longWilliam friedkans is longerthe picture and audio quality on this second sight films version is excellentthe audio is remixed into 5.1 surround sound better than the Anchor bay versionthe picture is really good quality Widescreen better than the Anchor bay versionany fan of this film or William friedkan's movies that have the 2000 Anchor bay version, you might aswell get rid of itcause it's definitely time to upgrade to this all new second sight films reissuebetter picture and audio quality than the Anchor bay release no doubt about it.you won't be disapointed

Jenny Seagrove at one time Michael Winner's live in lover plays a woodland nymph living in a huge oak tree sacrificing babies to the tree god.In normal situations you would not tumble to her hidden real identity as she can assume the form of a "normal" human.At one stage she is followed into the forest by three of the local thugs who try to rape her but she dispatches them efficiently.The next family from whom she tries to kidnap the baby for sacrificial purposes realise what is about to happen and discover her true identity.I won't reveal the ending as you will have to watch the movie yourself.This is one of those almost forgotten horror movies which I last watched on tape during the eighties and what a pleasant surprise to watch this again.Print and transfer quality is clear and sharp as also the sound.Highly recommended.

It's not a great film lets face it and the 'special' edition turned out to be not that special. It's worth a watch and then a scan at the three shortish interviews to see how it was supposed to turn out.If your expectations are low, then you will probably have an undemanding couple of hours entertainment- and great to see just how lovely Jenny Seagrove still is

The show is unusal and the cast bring it to life, Very entertaining and worth watching, Jenny Seagrove plays a very convincing role. A story different to watch and if you like thrillers and horrors its a must.