Return to Oz (1985)

 

Remember the whimsical classic musical with songs for the ages and Judy Garland as Dorothy? How colourful and magical it all seemed? 

Are you ready for a sequel forty years later that will terrorize the everloving crap out of you, yet still be awesome? 

Then you have come to the right film.

'Return to Oz' actually follows the books by L Frank Baum way more closely and in doing so becomes quite a bit more disturbing than what the original brought to the table. Yes, there the flying monkeys were pretty yikes, but all in all it was a wholesome sort of adventure. Here, they pull no punches in several scenes. This one might feel less magical in parts, but it actually is far better than one would think. It only garnered some positive reaction after years of television showings because in theatres it didn't perform so well. People were expecting more of the same, I guess.

It's been six months since the tornado and Dorothy isn't doing well. She hardly sleeps and Aunt Em and Uncle Henry are at wits' end as she never stops talking about Oz. Of course they don't believe her, because why should they? They read about a new therapy and decide to give it a go, and head into town. This therapy concerns electric current to the brain. 

If you guessed the doctor is planning to give Dorothy electroshocks, then give yourself a screenwriter's credit. Also: this is pretty hardcore as you're planning to do that to a 10-year-old. 

Dorothy is saved by another young girl and they escape, only to end up in a river during a fierce storm, where the other girl disappears, apparently drowning. Dorothy manages to crawl aboard a crate and when she wakes up, she finds herself back in Oz, together with one of her chickens named Billina. 

Sorry, no Toto this time. 

She also discovers the Yellow Brick Road is in shambles and even the Emerald City is in ruins, its inhabitants all turned to stone. She is chased by horrid creatures known as Wheelers and only escapes after finding TikTok, a mechanized being and official Army of Oz. They head over to Princess Mombi's abode to learn what has happened, but Mombi is evil and locks Dorothy up in the attic. There, she meets up with a scarecrow-like figure called Jack Pumpkinhead and they eventually escape with a cobbled together creature called the Gump. They are heading towards the Nome King's mountain, as it appears he is the one behind all the misfortune that befell the land of Oz. 

And then there's a confrontation which is also pretty traumatizing, especially for very young viewers.

This is what makes this film rock: it takes risks and pulls no punches. The story is close to the books and the adventure does fly by, but several scenes will make your hair stand out. Discovering Mombi actually doesn't haver a real head and instead uses the decapitated heads of girls from the Emerald City is pretty horrid, but the final confrontation with the Nome King and his Nomes that stop motion themselves out of the walls and look like deformed imps and demons is the stuff of nightmares.

It is glorious.

Is it suitable for the youngest? Heck no. But this is one of those films that came from the time when PG dared to take risks and didn't shy away from pretty dark material. 

A young Fairuza Balk does a decent job as Dorothy, but as always it's the supporting characters that shine. Jean Marsh and Nicol Williamson are great as the bad guys, and the new troop that helps Dorothy is memorable and adorable. 

Should you see this one if you get the chance? Absolutely.