Ever wonder what happened to Dorothy Gale and the world of Oz? Writer Frank L. Baum provided an answer in Ozma of Oz (on which this film was almost totally based save for some situations and characters from The Marvelous Land of Oz), but so did Walt Disney in the 1985 film Return To Oz.

It has been six whole months, and the world is on the eve of a new century. The twisted that hit Dorothy’s home in Kansas is long gone. But her memories of her journey over the rainbow have not departed. She’s had a great deal of trouble readjusting to her monotonous life on the farm. So much so in fact that Aunt Em and Uncle Henry scraped together their pennies to send Dorothy (played by a young Fairuza Balk) to a veritable asylum for “treatment” in the form of the newly invented electro-shock therapy.

Clearly, Return To Oz is a much darker film than the classic musical and Judy Garland vehicle. And in that, it is also much more reflective of the two books on which it is based. The lighting is dark, the imagery is haunting; this is by no means the Oz we have grown to know and love.

And as strange as it sounds, I am much more a fan of this film than the shiny-happy first live action outing. Dorothy’s friends in Oz have plans for her. She sees their signs, tries to express her feelings but is wholly ignored. Of course, once again Dorothy ends up on a magical but incredibly strange trip back to the land of Oz.

From here on out, Return To Oz sees Dorothy with a new cast of characters and a new sidekick in the form of an often animatonic Billina (a chicken). But the land Dorothy ends up in is nothing like the Oz she loved. It a dark place, filled with monsters and strangeness. In this land she doesn't have her old friends for comfort and instead must rely on the guidance of Tik-Tok, Jack Pumpkinhead, and Gump. Director Walter Murch (with other illustrious editing credits to his name including Talented Mr. Ripley, Godfather: Part III, and Apocalypse Now) with the help of a good script and a slew of artists managed to piece together a sophisticated not-quite-children’s film.

Dorothy is sent back to Oz in an attempt to save it from the evilest of adversaries. The cruel people she encountered in her earlier experiences at the hospital are reflected in the antagonists throughout Return To Oz. Dr. Worley is the Nome King (Nicol Williamson) and Nurse Wilson (Jean Marsh) is the dastardly Princess Mombi, but the story weaves in a load of basic and intricate symbolism throughout. The thing that gets me most is that Oz seems to have gone from a pure place to something that is ridden with technology and electricity. Was this the downfall to the land? I like to think that Baum had this in mind, and from Dorothy’s early encounters with Worley’s electricity machine through her encounters with the Wheelers this all seems to be rather fitting.

As with many other darker films of the era, Return To Oz uses a number of special effects to get the job done. By today’s standards they border at times on hokey (the claymation is certainly good, but can do only so much), but the darkness and fantasy of the film far outweigh the dated nature of some of the effects. Return To Oz was a personal favorite as a child. I enjoyed the characters, the imagery, and the fantasy then. Now, as an adult, I can pick up on the symbolism and exceptionally dark nature of the flick. Young kids will certainly be scared of some of the fantastic violence, but kids over six or seven years old will definitely appreciate the movie.

Young Balk was a perfect casting choice. Piper Laurie (as Aunt Em) brings a new level of detachment and unease to the story. But the real stars of the film are the effects. I’m really, truly still impressed. Fortunately for fans of the film, it has been released on both VHS and DVD. The DVD, which I am a proud owner of, was a long time coming. I’m sure that the dark nature of the film (as compared especially to the original) made it a less-than-desirable release for Disney. The new DVD transfer looks pretty good save for a few glitches in the film that could have been taken care of with a little effort. I wish there was more to the disc. There’s a lengthy interview with Balk, but aside from that little “extra” is included. A trailer would have been much appreciated.

In all, Return To Oz brings back memories of childhood trips to the movie theatre. This film, along with equally dark and strange offerings like Legend, Labyrinth, and Dark Crystal helped to make me an incredibly precocious youngster. It is an excellent, though not perfect film, perfectly suited for strange kids and adults alike.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD