Year: 1972
Runtime: 94 mins
Language: English
Director: Phil Karlson
After the events of “WILLARD”, the tale follows Ben, a rat who befriends a lonely boy. Their bond is tested when Ben is revealed as the leader of a brutal pack of killer rats that stalk the town, leaving a trail of victims. The boy must confront the horror and choose where his allegiance lies.
Get a spoiler-free look at Ben (1972) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In the shadow‑streaked streets of a small town still trembling from the chaos that once erupted in the Stiles house, a new uneasy balance emerges. Ben, a sleek, intelligent rat who survived the earlier blood‑soaked showdown, slips through the sewers and re‑establishes his colony beneath the city’s humming surface. The world feels claustrophobic and gritty, a place where the ordinary—grocers, schools, quiet homes—holds a hidden, restless undercurrent that watches from the walls and pipes.
Above ground, the film follows Danny Garrison, a shy boy whose fragile heart forces him to live with a quiet intensity. He shares a cramped house with his protective sister, Eve, and his steadfast mother, Beth, each trying to shield him from the world’s harsher edges. Danny’s loneliness is palpable, and his fascination with marionettes and music creates a tender, almost magical refuge. When he first encounters Ben in the dim work‑shed, an unlikely friendship blossoms, charged with a mixture of wonder and an unspoken need for connection.
The tone oscillates between eerie suspense and bittersweet companionship, using muted lighting and a steady, low‑key soundtrack to keep the audience hovering between curiosity and unease. As the town’s everyday rhythms continue, the presence of Ben’s growing colony adds a subtle, creeping dread, suggesting that the line between friend and predator may soon blur. Both Danny and Ben find themselves caught in a fragile stalemate, each offering the other a chance at redemption while confronting the unsettling reality that loyalty can be as fragile as the walls that separate the world above from the darkness below.
Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 23:04
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Stories where a deep bond with an animal leads to terrifying consequences.If you liked the twisted bond between the boy and the rat in Ben, explore other movies where a deep connection with an animal spirals into terror. These films feature themes of loyalty tested by violence, monstrous animal companions, and protagonists caught between their heart and their survival instinct.
The narrative usually centers on a lonely or outcast protagonist who finds solace in an unexpected animal companion. This bond is tested when the animal's true, dangerous nature is revealed, often threatening a wider community. The story becomes a tense conflict where the protagonist must choose between their loyalty to their friend and the safety of others.
Movies are grouped here based on the core theme of a morally complex relationship with an animal. They share a tense tone, a focus on the protagonist's internal conflict, and the escalation of threat directly linked to the animal companion's actions.
Horror stories that end not with victory, but with a poignant, costly survival.Seeking more horror stories like Ben that conclude on a bittersweet, emotionally complex note? These films deliver the scares but end with a poignant mixture of survival and sorrow, where characters are left to grapple with the aftermath of the terror, often tending to the wounds of a costly victory.
The narrative builds through intense horror and violence, but the resolution subverts a purely happy ending. The threat may be neutralized, but at a great personal cost. The final scenes emphasize the emotional toll, the mourning of lost companions, or the fragile state of a surviving relationship, leaving the audience with a feeling of somber reflection.
These movies are united by their specific emotional cadence, particularly their endings. They balance high-intensity horror with a concluding tone that is melancholic and thoughtful, focusing on the aftermath and emotional weight carried by the survivors.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Ben in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Ben is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Read a complete plot summary of Ben, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.
Track the full timeline of Ben with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Ben. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Ben: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like Ben that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
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