Everyone has that one movie they watched as a childthat features a severely traumatizing image. Maybe it was when Artax drowned inThe NeverEnding Story, or maybe it was the “Night on Bald Mountain” sequence inFantasia. But one nightmare-fuel-ridden film that time has forgotten isThe Pagemaster.The PagemasterstarsMacaulay Culkin— four years afterHome Alone— as Richard Tyler, a boy who would rather bury his nose in statistics books than dare to get himself into any danger. When his father attempts to build a treehouse for him, Richard rattles off a statistic about how 9 in 10 people die from falling off a tree.
Finally, fed up with his doom and gloom, Richard’s father sends him to buy some nails for the treehouse, but a rainstorm sends him into the halls of a library. Richard eventually slips and hits his head…which somehow transports him into a fantasy world ruled by the Pagemaster (Christopher Lloyd). Richard starts seeking the exit, which leads him to encounter characters from famous books,and a heaping dose of nightmare fuel to boot.
‘The Pagemaster’ Seems Hellbent on Traumatizing Its Audience
It’s very clear from its premise thatThe Pagemasterwas geared toward trying to encourage its younger viewers to read. However, it might have left them with a lifetime worth of nightmaresas nearly every book Richard finds himself in ends with a dangerous situation. He picks upThe Hound of the Baskervillesand is chased by a giant, angry hound. He entersThe Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mister Hyde, and has to escape the wrath of Mister Hyde. Picking upMoby Dicklands him in the middle of Captain Ahab’s final battle with the titular whale, who is depicted as a massive beast with burning red eyes and a razor sharp horn. (It’s enough to put the whale fromPinocchioto shame.)
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The live action sequences aren’t much better,especially when it comes to librarian Mr. Dewey(also played by Lloyd.) Despite Richard insisting that he just wants to use a phone, Dewey keeps pressuring him to pick up a library book — even grabbing him by the shoulders and insisting that he looks like a horror reader. This segment is not only a far cry from the warmly eccentric persona Lloyd had as Doc Brown in theBack to the Futuretrilogy,but it also probably ensured none of the younger viewers would ever set foot in a library.
‘The Pagemaster’ Was Riddled With Production Problems
The Pagemastermight have put Richard through a literary gauntlet,but its production turned out to be just as nightmarish. ProducerDavid Kirschnerattempted to claim sole credit for the screenplay and story, butDavid Cascitook offense as he had writtenThe Pagemasterunder contract with the Writers' Guild of America. Things were further confused whena novelization ofThe Pagemasterwas released. Kirschner is credited, but the novelization uses Casci’s script. (Both have screenplay credit in the final credits.) Things only got crazier whenThe Pagemasterwound up being part of a lawsuit involvingSteven Spielberg. PlantiffJay L. Rappaportclaimed thatone of Spielberg’s associates stole a visual effecthe had pioneered forThe Pagemaster.Despite this turmoil,The Pagemastermade it to theaters…and wound upbombing at the box office, with mixed reviews.The Washington Post’sRita Kempleyloved it, butRoger Ebertcalled it “a sad and dreary film.”
Despite its misfortunes at the box office,The Pagemasterdid manage to assemblea collection of talented actors for its voice cast. In his travels through the Pagemaster’s world, Richard befriends a trio of anthropomorphic books: Fantasy (Whoopi Goldberg), Adventure (Patrick Stewart) and Horror (Frank Welker).Leonard Nimoylent his voice to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, further strengtheningThe Pagemaster’s connections to Star Trek. This prestige also extends to the live action sections, which were directed byJoe Johnston. Johnston slowly builds up dread throughout the events leading up to Richard’s descent into animation; when he’s riding to the store, trees snap and fall in his way, and the dark corners of the library are often penetrated by flashes of lightning. (Those same instincts would serve Johnston well in his remake ofThe Wolfman.)The Pagemastermight not be as beloved as its fellow ’90s-era children’s movies, but it takes the cake when it comes to the nightmare fuel. If you love books, you might second guess that love after a viewing of thisfantasy adventure.
The Pagemasteris available to rent on Prime Video in the U.S.
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The Pagemaster
