As audiences eagerly await the sparkling spectacle of Wicked: For Good, a far darker chapter from Oz's cinematic history has resurfaced to unsettle a new generation. The 1985 film, Return to Oz, presents a chilling and starkly different vision of the magical land, a sequel that continues to leave viewers profoundly disturbed decades after its release.
A Descent into a Broken Oz
Picking up directly after the events of the beloved 1939 classic, Return to Oz finds a young Dorothy back in Kansas, struggling to convince her weary aunt and uncle that her adventures were real. Her desperate tales are met with such concern that she is committed to a psychiatric hospital for electroshock treatment, a harrowing opening that sets the tone for the entire film.
After a dramatic escape, Dorothy is miraculously transported back to Oz, but the vibrant, technicolour paradise she remembers is gone. The Emerald City lies in ruins, its citizens turned to stone, and the Yellow Brick Road is shattered. This is a realm under the tyrannical rule of the Nome King and his sinister accomplice, Princess Mombi. Dorothy's quest to save Oz leads her to new companions, including a talking chicken named Billina and the endearing Jack Pumpkinhead, as she searches for her old friends who have vanished.
Viewers Scarred and Intrigued by Dark Themes
The film's bleak atmosphere and unsettling imagery, featuring the terrifying Wheelers and Princess Mombi's collection of interchangeable heads, left an indelible mark on its audience. On platforms like Rotten Tomatoes, viewers have not forgotten the experience. One fan noted its closer alignment to the darker tone of L. Frank Baum's original source material, stating it "gave it a damn good go" at eclipsing the classic musical.
Surprisingly, some embraced the film's sinister charm during childhood. One review reads, "This was my favourite movie as a child, with so many dark underlying themes, amazing performances and enchanting imagery - a mix of enchanting and decrepit." Another viewer described it as a "real creepypasta Oz film," expressing astonishment that such a "dark, twisted take" was produced by Disney.
A Lasting Cinematic Legacy
Directed by Walter Murch, the film featured a standout performance from child star Fairuza Balk as Dorothy. Fans have praised her portrayal as "charming, sincere and even adorable," defending her age as more accurate to the books than Judy Garland's interpretation. The film's score and cinematography have also been lauded for their unique, dreamlike, and nightmarish quality.
For those with the courage to revisit—or discover—this haunting chapter, the iconic and disturbing 1985 dark fantasy film Return to Oz is available to stream on Disney+ now. It remains a bizarre and compelling footnote in the legacy of Oz, proving that some fairy tales are best told in the dark.
