An interesting novelty. This is more famous than its predecessor Willard but unseat of the sinister atmosphere it is replaced by cuteness like a cartoon. A lonely boy befriends a genius rat with homicidal tendencies. Having already eaten his previous owner the rat confines its nibbling to the boys bullies. Ther is an intended message about accpetanceÑ just because its a rat it doesn't mean it hasn't feelings or virtuous, the importance of friendship and stopping aggression and persecution whether its bullying or exterminating rats who only want a home and live peacefully. All that is undermined by the fact that it is a story about a rat! It contains 1970s deliberate bad lighting to convey a gritty realism which was popular among art directors of the time. There's also Michael Jackson's effecting song, as long as you forget its about a rat. The film is fun but could do with a lighter touch, the story of a boy dealing with bullies and finding friendship is uncomfortable for a horror film and it ends up being a cult oddity