The Sender [Blu-ray]

Director: Roger Christian

Overview

A suicidal patient is placed in a mental hospital for observation. A psychiatrist realizes that the fellow contains telepathic powers with which he's capable of transferring his own fear-filled nightmares into the minds of others. When he directs his ephemeral madness into the minds of the doctors and patients around him, the hospital turns into a nightmarish melee.

Product Details

Release Date:	08/25/2015
UPC:	0887090105804
Original Release:	1982
Rating:	R
Language:	English
Time:	1:32:00
Sales rank:	17,067

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Kathryn Harrold	Dr. Gail Farmer
?eljko Ivanek	John Doe #83
Shirley Knight	Jerolyn
Paul Freeman	Dr. Joseph Denman
Sean Hewitt	The Messiah
Harry Ditson	Dr. Hirsch
Olivier Pierre	Dr. Erskine
Tracy Harper	Young Girl
Al Matthews	Vietnam Veteran
Marsha Hunt	Nurse Jo
Angus MacInnes	Sheriff Prouty
Jana Shelden	Nurse Reimbold
Monica Buferd	Dr. Warren
Colin Bruce	Computer Technician
Jerry Harte	Security Guard
Darcy Flynn	TV Anchorwoman
Manning Redwood	Actor

Technical Credits

Nick Allder	Special Effects
Allan Bryce	Special Effects
Edward S. Feldman	Producer
Colin Skeaping	Stunts

Editorial Reviews

This sadly overlooked effort from 1982 is one of the most thoughtful and unique horror films that was released during that time. The Sender is an appealing film because it never panders to the audience or treats them like children. Thomas Baum's imaginative and subtle script artfully controls the mystery at the heart of its narrative, carefully doling out just enough information at the right time to twist the viewer's expectations and keep them hooked. Baum also did a fine job creating textured characterizations: the psychiatrist heroine is caring without being naïve or dismissive of her duties while the title character is sympathetic yet mysterious enough to inspire fear at the right moments. These characters are brought to life with equal skill by a gifted cast: Kathryn Harrold brings a depth of emotion to her psychologist character without overdoing it, Zeljko Ivanek conveys the fear and confusion of his troubled character without lapsing into hysteria and Shirley Knight is creepy in a low-key, eerie manner as the hero's mother. Finally -- and most importantly -- The Sender works because of Roger Christian's thoughtful direction. He never overplays the supernatural dimensions of the story but when it comes time to deliver a jolt, he does so with style and forcefulness: highlights include a spooky car chase through deserted nocturnal streets and a show-stopping scene where John Doe 'sends' a vision of the fear he feels into everyone in the hospital. In short, The Sender is a thinking man's horror film and worthy of being rediscovered by genre fans.