In light of the fact that the 1971 film "Willard" was such a box office smash, bringing in almost $10 million (pretty big money in those days), I suppose it was practically inevitable that a sequel was soon put into production. And sure enough, in June '72, almost a year to the day after "Willard" had had its premiere, that sequel, "Ben," did indeed arrive. Featuring all new characters, with the exception of its titular rodent star, the film yet picks up mere moments after the conclusion of the first, and indeed, the sequel's opening credits are scrawled over the final moments of that first film, to remind viewers of where things had left off.In that first film's conclusion, young oddball Willard Stiles (well played by Bruce Davison), after having killed his hateful boss with the assistance of his well-trained rat army, led by the almost supernaturally intelligent black rat Ben, had decided to do away with the hundreds of rodents living in his Los Angeles home, and a battle royale had ensued, in which Ben and his cohorts had done Willard to his death. As the sequel begins, cops and reporters swarm over the Stiles abode, trying to figure out what has happened, while gawky neighbors look on, aghast. One of those neighbors is the Garrison family, consisting of a single mother (played by Rosemary Murphy), her teenage daughter Eve (Meredith Baxter), and Danny (Lee Harcourt Montgomery), a young kid with a heart condition. Danny, like Willard, is something of a loner, but a talented one: He plays piano, writes songs, and is something of an amateur puppeteer. While Ben and his army terrorize the neighborhood--killing cops, causing traffic accidents, breaking into and trashing a supermarket, invading a candy factory and causing a near riot in a women's health spa--Danny befriends the intelligent superrodent. To the viewer's astonishment, Danny even kisses the furry critter, taking it to bed with him and telling it "You're the best friend I ever had." And sadly enough, I suppose that, for poor Danny, that statement is indeed true...especially when Ben instructs a few of his henchmen to assist Danny when he is being pushed around by a brattish bully. But real trouble looms when the authorities finally get wind of where Ben and his crew of thousands are holing up (and perhaps I should add here that the hundreds of rats in "Willard" seem to have enjoyed a dramatic population growth in this second film)--namely, in the catacombs of the sewer system--and another battle royale begins, as the cops and local engineers gear up with flamethrowers, high-powered rifles, water hoses and jackhammers to wipe out this pestilential scourge once and for all...."Ben" maintains a light tone for the most part, and indeed, many of the film's rat attack scenes--especially the one in the health spa--are played largely for laughs. The picture only gets serious toward its final 20 minutes, when Eve chases Danny through that sewer system, while a truly ferocious battle swirls around them. I'm not sure if "no animals were harmed in the making of this picture," as many films proclaim (not this one, it should be noted), but if that IS indeed the case, some truly outstanding special effects were brought to the fore here, as it really does look as if hundreds of rodents are scampering before the onslaught of those flamethrowers while at the same time being roasted alive. What I cannot understand is the "Maltin Movie Guide"'s assertion that the film boasts "gory visuals"; while there are any number of scenes in which a person is covered with rodents here, I did not see a single drop of the red stuff once. Actually, this is a film that might make perfect fare for watching with your favorite 8-year-old, as Montgomery is as cute and appealing as can be. The song that he composes on the piano for his buddy, "Ben," is one that you may well recall as having been sung by Michael Jackson, heard here during the picture's end credits; the song was Oscar nominated, losing to "The Morning After" from "The Poseidon Adventure." As compared to the first film, the sequel is certainly a lesser affair, perhaps because it lacks the fine supporting contributions of Ernest Borgnine, Sondra Locke and Elsa Lanchester from that first outing. Still, here, the late Joseph Campanella (as the head cop on the case), Arthur O'Connell (as a wisecracking reporter) and Kenneth Tobey (as the No. 1 engineer) do get to add some welcome gravitas to the shenanigans. Surprisingly, director Phil Karlson, who had previously been responsible for such marvelous noir films as "Kansas City Confidential," "5 Against the House" and "The Phenix City Story," and who, in '73, would go on to helm the highly popular "Walking Tall," offers up some fairly pedestrian work here; "Ben" surely could have benefited from a bit more style and suspense. Still, the film, uh, squeaks by as a moderately acceptable entertainment. "You sure have a big family, Ben," Danny tells his buddy as he visits its home, deep in the L.A. sewer system, and I suppose that "Ben" the movie might be a good choice to watch with yours....

After the events of the original movie "Willard" and after Willard's demise by Ben and his horde of killer rats, they have escaped from his house and Detective Cliff Kirtland (Joseph Campenella) is investigating the murders. A lonely disabled with a weak heart condition boy named A Danny Garrison (Lee Montgomery) befriends Ben and keeps it as a pet. Yet sometimes the rat would go out to lead it's friends to attack people in the city as it's up to the detective to stop the rats.A fairly decent sequel to the 1971 shocker Willard which was a surprise box-office hit which made Bing Crosby Productions and Cinerama greenlite a sequel. The film co-stars Tobey Kenneth and Meredith Baxter Birney, it's a story of a boy and his rat with some gritty dark edge thrown into it and the theme song by Michael Jackson which was nominated for best song of 1972 at the academy awards. The film is a twist on man vs rats with the Lassie style boy and his pet rat kind of thing with some shocks and all as the boy in the movie even uses the rats to attack some bullies who pick on him.

An even weirder sequel to the original. One of the main rats of the first film, Ben, befriends a lonely boy, who like Bruce Davidson's adult social misfit character, Willard, did in the first film, uses his rat friends to take care of his enemies and also to keep the him in good spirits regarding his health condition. Things get difficult for the boy and Ben when the police get involved and try to stop to Ben and his underground colony of rat friends. Directed by journeyman director Phil Karlson ("Walking Tall" "Kansas City Confidential"), Ben is competently made, but the story is just ridiculous, though it is definitely enjoyable on a camp level. The film's memorable theme song sung by Michael Jackson over then end credits is the perfect coda to this weirdo movie. Ben, the two of us need look no moreWe both found what we were looking forWith a friend to call my ownI'll never be alone, and you, my friend, will seeYou've got a friend in meBen, you're always running here and thereYou feel you're not wanted anywhereIf you ever look behind and don't like what you findThere's something you should know, you've got a place to goI used to say I and me, now it's us, now it's weI used to say I and me, now it's us, now it's weBen most people would turn you awayI don't listen to a word they sayThey don't see you as I doI wish they would try to'I'm sure they'd think again if they had a friend like BenA friend like BenAnd do yourself a favor and watch Crispin Glover's surreal music video cover version he directed for the "Willard" remake/reimagining. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4HmRhnoa38

Ben is, apparently, the sequel to Daniel Mann's Willard, from the previous year.It picks up where the previous story left of.With a young boy, named Daniel- stricken to his home from illness- having befriended Ben, the leader of the pack of rats- trained by Willard Stiles in the previous film.The rats are running havoc through town- having already killed 3 people.And the police and city workers are having no luck tracking the pests down...they are just too intelligent.Seems they have taken to the sewers, to get around the city more efficiently.So the authorities pull out all the stops...flamethrowers and all...to rid the city of this menace, once and for all.Unless Daniel has any say in the matter, that is...While among the better films that qualify for the animal attack canon. It's still only moderately entertaining. And is probably most notable for it's theme song. Sung by Daniel (J. Lee Montgomery) in the film. But recorded by Michael Jackson for the credits- and released on his album of the same name the same year- for which it received a Golden Globe and Academy Awards Nomination.The acting from the kid was pretty good though...and it really makes you wonder where the hell they got all those rats from?! Cause there are loads!!! Worth a watch if you are into rats...or hate them and like to be scared...otherwise, it's passable.5 out of 10.