Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)
What would you give a man who could make your deepest dream come true?
Director: Jack Clayton · Writer: Ray Bradbury
In a small American town, a diabolical circus arrives, granting wishes for the townsfolk, but twisted as only the esteemed Mr. Dark can make them. Can two young boys overcome the worst the devil himself can deal out?
Where to watch
Disney Plus
History Vault
Trailer
Director
Jack Clayton
Cast
Jason Robards
Charles Halloway 
Jonathan Pryce
Mr. Dark 
Diane Ladd
Mrs. Nightshade 
Royal Dano
Tom Fury 
Vidal Peterson
Will Halloway 
Shawn Carson
Jim Nightshade 
Mary Grace Canfield
Miss Foley 
Richard Davalos
Mr. Crosetti 
Jake Dengel
Mr. Tetley 
Jack Dodson
Dr. Douglas 
Bruce M. Fischer
Mr. Cooger 
Ellen Geer
Mrs. Halloway User Reviews (3)
By the pricking of my thumbs... Beset by production issues, Disney being horrified by the horror of the piece and etc, Something Wicked This Way Comes proved to be a most divisive picture. Yet it's actually a spooky family friendly horror yarn. Plot sees the Pandemonium Carnival roll into a small American town and mysteriously grant the residents their wishes. Of course it's a "too good to be true" set up, and after two young boys discover the carnival's secrets, they come under threat from the owner, Mr. Dark (Jonathan Pryce deliciously sinister). Directed by Jack Clayton (The Innocents) and photographed by Stephen H. Burum, pic is far darker than what Disney envisaged at the outset. Missing the crux of Bradbury's literary bent, the makers do however put forward a thoughtful and atmospheric story, one that looks and sounds terrific with its ethereal beats. It's a crafty puritan…
It might not be as great as it could've been, but I did enjoy watching 'Something Wicked This Way Comes'. Jonathan Pryce definitely carries events as Mr. Dark, who is a character that suits him very nicely. I'm a fan of Pryce from other films, so it's little surprise that I like him here. Jason Robards is good too, if a little muttered throughout. The child actors, meanwhile, are passable. The premise is filled with intrigue, it doesn't quite deliver on a grand scale and yet I still felt suitably entertained. The film is shot quite neatly, the main town in particular looks pleasant. Good, admittedly mostly thanks to Pryce.
_**Something Slow & Dull This Way Comes**_ In 1932, a mysterious carnival comes to an Illinois town where weird things start happening and people strangely go missing. Jason Robards plays a librarian while Jonathan Pryce is on hand as the shadowy head of the carnival “Something Wicked This Way Comes” (1983) is spooky fantasy written by Ray Bradbury (based on his book). The studio, Disney, wasn’t happy with director Jack Clayton’s original cut and so took it out of his hands and undertook expensive reshoots, reediting and rescoring, plus adding a narration. I was expecting to love this movie since I favor flicks set in carnivals or circuses, like “Water for Elephants” (2011), "Berserk!" (1967), "Circus of Horrors” (1960) and “Funhouse” (1981) — even films like "The Greatest Show on Earth" (1952) and "Roustabout" (1964). Unfortunately, I was let down. Eve…
