The Black Cauldron Review

MPAA Rating: PG
Released: 1985

Perhaps best known as Disney's first PG-rated animated film, The Black Cauldron is an atmospheric sword-and-sorcery film about a young pig herder that dreams of being a dashing hero. When a chain of events involving an enchanted pig start escalating beyond his control, he soon gets a chance to live his dream… and discover that sometimes dreams should never become reality.

Taran (Grant Bardsley) is a young pig herder who spends his days both caring for a pig named Hen Wen and dreaming of a better life – one full of adventure and fame. Alas, his caretaker named Dallben (Freddie Jones) discourages such silly daydreams and encourages him to embrace his stable and safe life.

That is… until he discovers some minions of the Horned King (John Hurt) are hunting for his pig. When he learns of the plot against his pig, he takes Taran aside and shares the mysterious secret surrounding Hen Wen: the pig has the gift of clairvoyance. It seems the Horned King wishes to use the pig's visions to discover the location of a powerful black cauldron imbedded with the spirit of an evil demon, and should the ruthless tyrant discover this cauldron he can use its power to raise an invincible army of undead soldiers and conquer the world.

Taran is charged with escorting the pig to safety, but along the way two of the Horned King's dragons kidnap it and bring it back to the King's lair. Although Taran mounts a daring rescue attempt, he soon finds himself captured and thrown in a dank prison. But thankfully with the help of a young woman named Eilonwy (Susan Sheridan), a bard named Fflewddur Fflam (Nigel Hawthorne) and a warm-hearted roguish critter named Gurgi (John Byner), Taran escapes.

Now with the assistance of his new companions, he must rescue Hen Wen and put a stop to the Horned King's nefarious plot. The dangerous journey will expose him to many amazing items and events, such as magic swords, volatile witches, undead skeletons and more.

The Black Cauldron was one of the last Disney animated films that actually catered to adults as much as it did to children. Unlike modern Disney animated movies, you won't find juvenile bathroom humor, constant interruptions as characters break into song, or even talking animals! Yes, while Hen Wen can bring forth images, the pig doesn't once say a word – it snorts, just as a pig should.

I found the lack of singing, forced humor and cutesy characters refreshing. Although The Black Cauldron does contain some lighthearted "cute" elements, for the most part this is an atmospheric tale that actually contains some scenes that might be a bit too dark or emotionally intense for very young children. The movie doesn't contain any offensive material, mind you – it's just more potent than your standard Disney fare.

If you fondly recall the days when cartoons and animated movies catered to folks of all ages and didn't automatically equate to silly children's programming, Disney's fantasy adventure The Black Cauldron may be right up your alley.

Movie rating: 8 stars

If you enjoyed The Black Cauldron you may also find the following films to be of interest:

• The Care Bears Movie
• The Last Unicorn
• The Secret of NIMH

Enjoy the Black Cauldron experience in the comfort of your own home with these products!

DVD

Other Resources:

• The Black Cauldron IMDb Page

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