Jack Clayton (1921–1995)

Adapted by Ray Bradbury from his own story, this is a beautifully lyrical and ominously phantastical film. It revolves around two young lads - Will Halloway (Vidal Peterson) and Jim Nightshade (Shawn Carson) - who witness, in the middle of the night, the arrival of a mysterious carnival in their small rural town. The carnival led by the black-clad Mr Dark (Jonathan Pryce) seems able to fulfil the townsfolks deepest desires and fantasies. Will and Jim discover the forbidden secrets of the carnival and along with Will's prematurely aged father Charles (Jason Robards) become the focus of Mr Dark and his minions' wrath. Although ostensibly a children's film "Something Wicked This Way Comes" is a very dark and adult effort that delves into the human condition and the hidden desires that motivate our actions. Bradbury's writing is beautiful, poetic and precise with a deep yearning and a feeling of something lost at its heart. Jack Clayton's direction is classy and full of wonderful moments that lets the narrative breathe, while capturing some great individual shots. He also manages to incorporate plenty of dark and scary moments without the use of extensive special effects or without resorting to bloodletting. Jason Robards and Jonathan Pryce are both excellent in the lead roles and are aided by an extensive undercast who underpin the films themes with their desires and lusts. There are problematic elements to the film - the two young leads are at best average and the film flags on too many occasions to be wholly satisfying - but on the whole this is an enjoyable effort that is carried along by Jack Clayton's dark directorial tome and Ray Bradbury's moody and poetic script.… (more)