Rewind: ‘Return to Oz’ Review
Stars: Fairuza Balk, Nicol Williamson, Jean Marsh, Piper Laurie, Matt Clark, Michael Sundin, Tim Rose, Mak Wilson, Stephen Norrington, Justin Case, John Alexander, Deep Roy, Emma Ridley | Written by Walter Murch, Gill Dennis, L. Frank Baum | Directed by Walter Murch
According to Roger Ebert, Walter Murch is “the most respected film editor and sound designer in the modern cinema.” Across a career spanning over 50-years, including multiple Academy Award wins from nine nominations, he has only two directorial credits to his name. The second is a fourth-season episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which was preceded over 25 years before by the only feature he directed; Return to Oz.
After her adventures in the Land of Oz, Dorothy Gale (Fairuza Balk) remains obsessed with the locale that she previously visited. Out of a fear that their niece is experiencing delusions, Dorothy’s aunt and uncle take her away to a sanitorium. Dorothy is rescued by a mysterious girl before returning to Oz, where she sees the once beautiful land has been ruined by the Nome King (Nicol Williamson).
For those who watched this feature as a child, it is known as the source of much trauma, and that is understandable for an adult who watched this for the first time. This unofficial sequel to The Wizard of Oz feels worlds away from the 1939 film, announcing itself as the stuff pre-teen nightmares are made of from when Dorothy is threatened with electroshock therapy. What’s astounding is how things only get more downbeat from here on, as the compelling gothic fairytale shows how Oz has declined since the original adventure ended.
From talking chicken Billina, to the lovable Jack Pumpkinhead, the new characters each feel distinct and are easy to root for. Aiding these new additions are the terrific effects bringing them alive, which especially impresses with the practical suit for Tik-Tok, and the stop-motion effects used for the villainous Nome King. From the disparate plot to the darker tone, Return to Oz should not work, yet this curious feature somehow does.
