Willard Soundtrack (1971)

Synopsis

Willard Stiles (Bruce Davison) is a pleasant but lonely young man who is unable to relate well to other people, particularly to his aging mother, Henrietta Stiles (Elsa Lanchaster) with whom he lives in a run-down mansion, and to his boss, Mr. Al Martin (Ernest Borgnine), who stole the business from Willard's father several years before.

At the office Willard is constantly belittled by Martin, finding understanding from his slightly older female co-worker, Joan Simms (Sondra Locke).

At home there is the celebration of his birthday, Charlotte Stassen (Jody Gilbert) and the rest of his mom's friends nag him about being more aggressive and going for an executive job, although Henrietta thinks that he wouldn't have been able to take charge of the business.

He is nagged by his mother, particularly to kill some rats she has seen in their backyard. In the process of exterminating the rats, Willard saves them and finds as he feeds and plays with them that he can train the animals, by feeding them, and setting himself in their instincts as a rescuer.

The mother rat, whose life Willard saved, brings one of her off-spring to him. Willard learns that through Socrates, as he has named his pet, he can order the others in the pack to do his bidding, except for the mischievous Ben, who occasionally disobeys.

When Willard's mother dies, leaving him with the heavily mortgaged house, he uses the rats to help him steal money from one of his company's customers.

That night Willard returns with Ben and an army of rats and confronts Martin who is attacked and murdered by the animals.

Willard goes out with Joan, saying that there are two people who changed his life: his friend Socrates and her. Willard wants to begin over.

While Willard is having dinner with Joan, the angry Ben suddenly appears. Willard rushes the woman from the house and then faces Ben for the startling climax of the film.

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