Main Cast: Kathryn Harrold, Zeljko Ivanek, Shirley Knight, Paul Freeman, Sean Hewitt
Release Year: 1982
Country: UK
Run Time: 91 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
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. ~ All Movie Guide
Review
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. ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide
Harry Ditson - Dr. Hirsch; Olivier Pierre - Dr. Erskine; Tracy Harper - Young Girl; Marsha Hunt - Nurse Jo; Angus MacInnes - Sheriff Prouty; Colin Bruce - Computer Technician; Darcy Flynn - TV Anchorwoman; Jerry Harte - Security Guard; Al Matthews - Vietnam Veteran; Manning Redwood; Jana Shelden - Nurse Reimbold
Credit
Charles Bishop - Art Director, Steve Spence - Art Director, Shari Feldman - Costume Designer, Ian Hickenbotham - Costume Designer, Roger Simons - First Assistant Director, Roger Christian - Director, Robert Bralver - Second Unit Director, Alan Strachan - Editor, Trevor Jones - Composer (Music Score), Sarah Monzani - Makeup, James Pergola - Camera Operator, Malcolm Middleton - Production Designer, James Spencer - Production Designer, Roger Pratt - Cinematographer, Ed Feldman - Producer, Roy Stannard - Set Designer, Nick Allder - Special Effects, Allan Bryce - Special Effects, Tony Dawe - Sound/Sound Designer, Colin Skeaping - Stunts, Colin Skeaping - Stunts Coordinator, Thomas Baum - Screenwriter
A young man has just been admitted to a mental hospital after attempting suicide at a public beach. Unable to remember even his own name, the doctors call him John Doe #83. Soon after his arrival, the doctor assigned to him begins seeing and hearing things around her that have no explanation. Soon she begins to make the terrifying connection between the things she's seeing and her new patient.
