I Watch Films: Ben
Ben A sequel to Willard ; as it opens the police investigating the events of Willard are attacked by rats. The detective in charge, Cliff Kirtland, orders exterminators. The big black rat Ben hears and appears to understand this, and leads the rats down into the sewers. Later Ben encounters Danny Garrison. Danny has a heart condition so doesn’t go to school, living an isolated life at home, though he has a big work/play shed where he has a puppet theatre amongst other things. Danny becomes Ben’s friend; he makes a puppet of him and writes a song about Ben (that goes on to be a big hit for Michael Jackson ). The rats meanwhile are making organised and aggressive raids for food, causing a truck to crash and destroying a store. The police set traps and poison, warning the local families, Danny passing on the warning to Ben. Danny encounters a bully; the rats attack the bully. When the police come to investigate Danny shows them puppet-Ben and they leave. The rats get more and
