New Wicked film is reminding 'traumatised' adults of ‘terrifying’ movie nobody talks about anymore
The cinematic release of Wicked has plunged some viewers into a pool of nostalgia, with a handful claiming that the magical musical reminded them of a different, slightly more unnerving movie.
Part of the Wizard of Oz film series - despite being released almost a century later - the Cynthia Erivo/Ariana Grande hit serves a prequel to the events of Judy Garland's 1939 original, in which the late Hollywood veteran plays Dorothy Gale.
Wicked centres on misunderstood schoolgirl Elphaba and her relationship with blonde beauty Glinda, who form an unexpected friendship when bunking together in boarding school.
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Though Glinda frequently defends her friend when she is judged over the colour of her green skin, and Elphaba sees the heart behind her pal's popularity, tensions eventually reach breaking point, and the duo go on to become Glinda the Good Witch, and the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz.
The former assists Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion's, while the latter torments the foursome.
Throughout the latest star-studded production, there are several references to events that are - chronologically - to come, including Dorothy's slippers, bicycles and wheat fields.
What producers may not have expected, however, was that Wicked would also bring attention to another, largely unknown film from the series, which was released in 1985 as a sequel to the original flick.
Titled Return to Oz - and like the Judy Garland hit, was based on L. Frank Baum's early 20th century Oz novels - the dark fantasy follow-up sees a Dorothy returning to Oz from Kansas to discover the kingdom has been conquered by the evil Nome King.
With the help of some newbies - including a chicken named Billina, a walking-talking clock called Tik-Tok, a fruit-headed being known as Jack Pumpkinhead and a creature called the Gump, the group eventually restore peace in Oz.
Return to Oz took on a whole new cast - with Fairuza Balk replacing Garland as Dorothy - and it utterly bombed when it came to its critical reception, having included several sinister features to its storyline.
Dorothy begins the film being taken to an insane asylum - with the events from the first film having sent her loopy - where she receives electric shock therapy, and later, she encounters some downright eerie looking critters.
Particularly horrifying were the Wheelers, creatures covered in wires who wheeled around spooking Dorothy.
There was also Mombi, who had an unnerving habit of swapping her head for one of the dozen or so she kept alive in glass cabinets.
That said, however, many Wicked viewers now claim that the new blockbuster contains aspects that remind them of the controversial Wizard of Oz sequel.
"All this talk about Wicked reminds me of how Return to Oz scared the living hell out of me as a kid. Anyone else?" one viewer penned on social media this week.
Another explained: "Sat here rewatching the Return to Oz and I don’t think we talk enough about how terrifying this film is - Why did my mum let me watch it at such a young age?"
"This film scared me as a child, I refuse to watch it as an adult bc of how much it traumatized me, lol," a third confessed.
Another explained which elements really set them off: "A psychiatric hospital, a manic gang that are ‘the wheelers’ and a headless princess that keeps children’s heads.
"This ‘kids’ movie certainly isn’t for kids. I still find it absolutely terrifying, and I’m 29. Anyone find this film a scary ride?"
"Great horror movie," another commented. "I saw this in the theaters in 2nd grade, and loved it. I was a sucker for horror even then and it blew my young mind how dark it was."
"The gnome King who was terrified/ allergic to eggs was pretty scary," another added.
One viewer also continued: "I forget how creepy Return to Oz is, the wheelers!"
"Scares me witless but I also absolutely love it - The Wheelers especially freaked me out but I was kind of confused because my surname is Wheeler and I thought somehow that meant I was related to them," another went on.
Maybe not one to show the kids, then.
Topics: TV And Film
Rhianna Benson