The Sender *** (1982, Kathryn Harrold, Zeljko Ivanek, Shirley Knight, Paul Freeman) – Classic Movie Review 10,507

‘He has the power to make you live his nightmares… And he’s dreaming about you.’

Director Roger Christian’s 1982 telekinesis/ mind control movie The Sender stars Kathryn Harrold as dedicated Doctor Gail Farmer who searches desperately for a way to save a suicidal young man with telepathic powers, The Sender (Zeljko Ivanek), who is transmitting his nightmares to her and making mayhem in the psychiatric hospital.

This excellent British horror film, made at Shepperton Studios, Surrey, England, and on location in Georgia, US, features some very scary Grand Guignol effects like bleeding mirrors, marauding insects and rats coming out of people’s mouths. But it is an unusually thoughtful and intelligent thriller, well written by Thomas Baum and particularly well acted by the stars and by Paul Freeman as a doctor called Dr Denman and Shirley Knight as The Sender’s creepy mother called Jerolyn.

It is the feature film directorial début of Christian, joint winner of the Oscar for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration for Star Wars (1977) and a 1981 BAFTA Film Award nominee for Best Short Film for The Dollar Bottom, which won its producer the 1981 Oscar for Best Short Film, Live Action. Unfortunately he is also the 2001 Razzie Award winner for Worst Director for Battlefield Earth (2000).

Also in the cast are Sean Hewitt, Harry Ditson, Olivier Pierre, Tracy Harper, Al Matthews, Marsha A Hunt, Angus MacInnes, Jana Shelden, Manning Redwood, Monica Buford and John Stephen Hill.

The Sender is directed by Roger Christian, runs 91 minutes, is made by Kingsmere Productions, is released by Paramount, is written by Thomas Baum, is shot by Roger Pratt, is produced by Edward S Feldman and is scored by Trevor Jones.

RIP John Sessions (1953–2020), who makes his film debut here, as Patient.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,507

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