A not-insignificant number of children were scarred for life by the horrifying 1978 animated adaptation of Richard Adams' allegorical 1972 novel Watership Down — and many of those wounds were reopened today, with news that Netflix is partnering with the BBC for a brand-new version.
The four-part CG-animated miniseries, which will be directed by Noam Murro (300: Rise of an Empire) and feature the voice talents of John Boyega, James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult, Gemma Arterton and Ben Kingsley, will reportedly “tone down the levels of on-screen violence to make it more appropriate for children.” Which of course does nothing for those already irrevocably traumatized by Martin Rosen's nightmare-inducing take on the material.
For those not familiar with the film (or who perhaps saw it before blocking it out), Watership Down centers on a group of eight rabbits who embark on a grim journey to establish a new home after their original warren is violently overrun by human developers. Fun for the whole family!
I can't overstate this. Rosen's film was the source of untold anguish for an entire generation of now-maladjusted adults, who still wake up screaming thanks to the filmmakers' sadistic quest to subject millions of children to bloody bunny carnage. Want proof? Here's what happened on Twitter following today's announcement:
Before Watership Down
“Mommy! Mommy! Play the bunny movie!”After Watership Down
“Mommy! Mommy! I have PTSD!” https://t.co/40sbmtaAoI– The Kincannon Show (@kincannon_show) April 28, 2016
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I AM VERY DISTRESSED, WATERSHIP DOWN SHOULD NOT BE WATCHED WHEN YOU'RE UNDER 10 OR YOU WILL DIE!
– MAREEN™ (@appIejxck) April 27, 2016
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I love all who's attached to it but idk if I could watch. Watership Down was a very dark part of my childhood
– fassbae (@chanandlerelven) April 28, 2016
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haha oh boy, netflix and the bbc are teaming up to make a new watership down cartoon to scar kids with
– back off warchild (@jacketlizard) April 28, 2016
If it ain't broke don't fix it … This was a terrifying rite of passage as a child for me #watershipdown https://t.co/tRH3AuxbFV
– Claire Guckian (@ClaireLGuckian) April 27, 2016
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@toddjt92 I loved Watership Down. It almost scarred me when I was a kid. I hope they keep it as dark and unflinching as the original.
– Paul Haydon (@PaulHaydon) April 27, 2016
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@mundanematt @THR I still sometimes wake screaming in the night from the trauma inflicted on me by watching Watership Down.
– Erik Boielle (@Erik_Boielle) April 27, 2016
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Will my love for James McAvoy outweigh the sheer horror that is Watership Down https://t.co/zEBlUn6eFZ
– Sian (@SianTilly_) April 27, 2016
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All I can think with Watership Down is how every parent was thinking “Oh this looks like a nice family friendly film”
How wrong they were
– Widow's Wrath (@RedRoomWriter) April 28, 2016
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Watership down *shudders* pic.twitter.com/YQ3iLglYKA
– Claire-Bear (@WriteMeATragedy) April 28, 2016
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Fucking KILL ME we do not need MORE WATERSHIP DOWN good god WATERSHIP down fucked me up as a kid
– tom (@Z00STATI0N) April 28, 2016
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@seIinameyer watership down is so fucked up oh no
– raven king tori (@lairofdreams) April 28, 2016
@Trinity6215 Yes, TKJ will be rated R. Watership Down left me crying, alone, and desolate at nine years old. Scarred forever.
– Wicked Annie (@fangirlsmash) April 28, 2016
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Oh man I can't wait for long buried watership down related childhood traumas to resurface upon watching this new adaptation!!!!!!
– abysswalker (@hostofembers) April 28, 2016
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wait isn't watership down that really really fucked up movie or w/e abt the rabbits killing eachother
– an abomination (@buttmunchdotnet) April 28, 2016
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FUCKGIN WATERSHIP DOWN ARE U SERIOSU
– chubby buddy ? (@windwaker) April 28, 2016
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kind of excited for netflix watership down. kind of want to cry, over. remembering watership down exists
– Cade (@6URN0U7) April 28, 2016
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(via Deadline)