Image Credit: Disney
Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
Watership Down still leaves behind childhood trauma for horror fans
Image: Nepenthe Films

A quaint animation that hoodwinked and horrified a generation is still causing nightmares

How could a movie about cute fluffy rabbits end up like this?

If you were tasked with making the inoffensive and adorably cute animated movie of all time and needed an animal to lead it, you’d be going straight to rabbits. However, the façade of rabbits can be led to unimaginable horrors, as horror fans have an intervention to discuss Watership Down‘s traumatic effects.

Recommended Videos

The beautiful-looking hand-drawn animated film became a staple of an entire generation of Britain’s youth following its 1978 release. With some serious star power thanks to John Hurt, Nigel Hawthorne, and Roy Kinnear, it was one of the most popular films of the year it was released.

Unfortunately, it’s a mess of blood, guts, gore, and plenty of Lepus-related casualties. Those who grew up with the film are still in utter shock with the final product.

If you’re a parent, it looks like the complete package from the outside. Rabbits, animation, something about an all-powerful rabbit god, the full English breakfast of cinema.

A particular “highlight” is the ridiculously gratuitous death of a rabbit involving a throat being ripped out. Again, this was a film marketed towards young children who think rabbits are cute and expected a goofy little adventure. What a twist, something M. Night Shyamalan couldn’t even dream of.

There’s a lot of talk about kids being too soft these days, but there’s no way society should bring this back to the mainstream. Let the horrors die out, and let children see rabbits as cute and not creatures capable of war crimes and immense brutality.

For those who want a real hit of horror for Halloween, Watership Down is available to stream on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. A remake was in the works as of 2016 with John Boyega and Gemma Chan, but never came to see the light of day.


We Got This Covered is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Jamie Dunkin
Jamie Dunkin
Writer for We Got This Covered, and other sites in the GAMURS Group. Football fan, LEGO enthusiast, and beer enjoyer. @jamie_dunkin on Twitter