The Guardian poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Jenny Seagrove, Dwier Brown, Carey Lowell, Brad Hall, Miguel Ferrer ... see more see more... , Natalia Nogulich , Iris Bath , Xander Berkeley , Pamela Brull , Josh Fischman , Jacob Gelman , Rita Gomez , Dr. Berry Herman , Craig Nemeth , Frank Noon , Willy Parsons , Theresa Randle , Ray Reinhardt , Bonnie Snyder , Gary Swanson , Jack David Walker

The Exorcist director William Friedkin made a return to the horror genre with this blend of straightforward suspense and Druid myth-inspired horror-fantasy. The idyllic lives of yuppie couple Phil and... read more read more... Kate (Dwier Brown and Carey Lowell) seem complete when they select the winsome young Camilla (Jenny Seagrove) as a live-in nanny for their newborn child, but the lovely young Camilla -- whose natural sexuality begins to work its spell on Phil -- is not what she appears to be. This becomes shockingly apparent to the audience early in the story when she is set upon by a trio of rape-minded thugs who meet with a particularly nasty fate in the woods, but it seems to take the parents much longer to come to the same conclusion. In fact, the woods are the key to the entire equation, as Camilla is revealed to be a powerful forest entity from Druid mythology who intends to sacrifice her infant charge to a hideous tree-god. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

Flixster Users

41% liked it

4,656 ratings

Critics

14% liked it

7 critics

R, 1 hr. 32 min.

Directed by: William Friedkin

Release Date: April 27, 1990

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: October 12, 1999

Stats: 142 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

The Guardian The Guardian The Guardian The Guardian The Guardian The Guardian The Guardian The Guardian The Guardian
Upload a Photo | View All The Guardian Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (142)

  • YosemiteSamFan
    December 26, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    A cool movie. I really like the trailer. Less exciting is the actual movie, which is decent enough, with a tree spirit posing as a nanny to capture babies. There are great creature attacks in the forest. Mild horror.
  • deano
    January 28, 2007
    deano
    What a shocking and horror of haunting tree and the nanny. It's hard to decide who gives the most wooden performance in this ludicrous load of poppycock, Jenny Seagrove or the tree?
  • sociallyillchick
    February 5, 2012
    sociallyillchick
    I saw this as a kid and it made me stay away from the woods for a while. Seeing it again as an adult... Well... It kind of sucked. For nostalgia's sake it was okay.
  • mpghoul1973
    June 3, 2009
    mpghoul1973
    Wow! I cant believe the man who brought us American classics like The Exorcist, The French Connection, Sorcerer, Cruising, To Live And Die In L.A. and most recently the highly underrated Bug would have anything to do with this piece of shit. This was awful. Period. The acting wa... read mores laughable. The 'baby camera' shots were totaly uninspired and dumb and the film has no substance what so ever.
    Beware!!
  • WickedStar375
    January 3, 2008
    WickedStar375
    By the director who brought you The Exorcist. This one is not known by many but should be by its thrilling and enticing storyline of a nanny who feeds on you're babys soul.

    Finally bought this movie, from AMAZON. Exteremely hard to find, but if you do get it, you will love it.
  • Sburt4
    December 21, 2007
    Sburt4
    There are two versions of the movie "The Guardian" (1990) starring
    Jenny Seagrove, Dwier Brown, Carey Lowell etc.: the theatrical
    release (the Anchor Bay release on DVD and VHS) and the TV (cable)
    version - the one i am looking for - and which has never been released
    on video... read more or dvd, but has been shown on cable.

    The TV version has new scenes, different dream sequences, a new
    scene in the hospital and a completely different ending. This cable
    version used to be played from time to time by the SCI-FI Channel and
    USA Network in the early past.

    If anyone has this version recorded from TV (from the SCI-FI
    Channel or any other programm) and is willing to make me a copy of it
    on a dvd or vhs i will be grateful!! I am willing to trade! E-mail me at sillygirl3452001@yahoo.com
  • jurbronie2050
    July 15, 2007
    jurbronie2050
    Was scary great plot just stay away from any funny looking trees in the deep woods or you might regret it lol enjoy
  • roguesblight
    May 15, 2007
    roguesblight
    Don't mistake this one for the newer Guardian with Costner and Kutcher! This one is a type of thriller.
  • boredashell619
    February 11, 2007
    boredashell619
    This movie is cheesy. But I love it that the woods comes alive. It has lots of blood of guts also. I haven't seen in a long ass time. And actually I remembered them passing it the night I had my 25th birthday. Damn that was a while ago.

View All The Guardian Reviews

Critic Reviews

Jeffrey M. Anderson
October 3, 2008
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

Admittedly, it doesn't seem like one that Friedkin put his heart and soul into, but it still has some of his touches, and it's too interesting to write off completely. Full Review

Chuck O'Leary
October 6, 2005
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily

A dumb horror film that's down there with Deal of the Century as one of Friedkin's worst efforts.

Gregory Weinkauf
August 12, 2005
Gregory Weinkauf, ÜberCiné

Friedkin here seems strangely determined to squander his talent; lots of wasted opportunities.

Ken Hanke
August 26, 2002
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Absolutely hysterical. Unfortunately, it's supposed to be scary

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Richard Harrington
January 1, 2000
Richard Harrington, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
June 19, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Jeffrey Westhoff
June 6, 2003
Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • The Guardian
    The Guardian (59%)
  • The Kiss
    The Kiss (100%)
  • The Final Goal
    The Final Goal (100%)
  • Gamera: Guardian of the Universe
    Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (50%)

More Movies like The Guardian

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

The Guardian : Watch Free on TV

The Guardian Trivia

  • In this movie a man works his butt off the become a cost guard, falls in love, and loses his best friend and co-worker  Answer »
  • In which film does Ashton Kutcher wear an orange life jacket whilst in the raging sea?  Answer »
  • In which movie does the main character, played by Kevin Cosner, dround?  Answer »
  • Which actor starred in Rumor has It and The Guardian?  Answer »
More The Guardian Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for The Guardian. Want to create one?

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add The Guardian to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?