Rêves sanglants

My review was written in October 1982 after a Columbus Circle screening in NY.

"The Sender" is a superbly-crafted modern horror picture, credibly using telepathic communication as its premise, for creating nightmarish situations. Boasting spectacular, realistic special physical effects by Nick Allder, the Edward S. Feldman production is certain to engross and frighten terror-film fans and stands a chance to break out into general audience acceptance, along the lines of "The Omen".

Thomas Baum's screenplay, unfolding with almost no subplots or distractions, concerns a suicidal young amnesiac (Zeljko Ivanek) picked up by the police after attempting to drown himself in a lake near the fictional town of Corinth, Georgia. Taken to a psychiatrist clinic, he establishes a telepathic link with the [psychiatrist Gail Farmer (Kathryn Harrold), causing her to experience involuntarily his violent nightmares.

The "sender" cannot control his telepathic powers, and when Dr. Denham (Paul Freeman), Farmer's superior, subjects him to shock treatment and surgical experiments, he sends telepathic images of horror which disrupt the entire hospital. Farmer, who is visited by the sender's mysterious mother Jerolyn (Shirley Knight), tries to cure him by tracing back to what caused his nightmares and telepathic outbursts, with Jerolyn the link to a solution.

Roger Christian in his debut as a feature director marshals the material into a very serious, portentous film, punctuated at irregular intervals by shocking and graphic special effects set-pieces. The basic gimmick of telepathy plays well, since on-screen it amounts to hallucinations. By stressing low-key, underplayed performances by his lead actors. Christian scrupulously avoids the potentially risible moments which have caused many major horror films to lose the audience's involvement.

One problem with "The Sender" is that its trim, no-nonsense approach is a limitation as well as an asset. Various religious angles ad =vanced in the opening are downplayed, as well as the "Shock Corridor" group of fellow patients. Even lead doctors Farmer and Fenman have no relationships or characteristics apart from their contact with the sender. This streamlined, basically "safe" approach denies the film the mythic or romantic potential present in its supernatural predecessors.

Cast is good within script limitations, as Harrold represents an attractive, sympathetic heroine and Ivanek is a mesmerizing, troubled youngster in contrast to his overt loonie debut as the hitchhiker in "Tex". Acting honors go to Knight as the mother who is not what she appears to be, creating a chilling, spooky presence with a minimum of fuss. Technical credits all support the realism established by Nick Allder's effects outbursts, which were executed on the set rather than via post-production opticals or animation. Dynamic use of sound, plus Trevor Jones's ethereal score, drives home the scares.

THE SENDER is about a man with the ability to induce nightmarish hallucinations in the minds of others. He's committed to a state mental hospital after attempting suicide. Known only as John Doe 83 (Zeljko Ivanek), all attempts to uncover his true identity are futile.

As John Doe 83 is put under increasing stress, his powers seem to affect everyone who comes into contact with him. Soon, both patients and staff alike are caught up in a series of terrifying illusions.

The climax comes when he's subjected to shock treatments. The slow-motion chaos that results from it is classic stuff indeed!

Also, watch for JD83's mother, who just might be a ghost!

Highly recommended for every paranormal-horror maniac...

A suicidal mental patient(Zelijko Ivanek)turns his horrific nightmares into reality by choosing receivers for his demented thoughts from the local hospital.Psychiatrist(Kathryn Harrold)realizes the young man's power and tries to save him."The Sender" is a very creepy horror film that has slick production values.The acting is surprisingly good and the film perfectly mixes reality with unsettling hallucinations.There is only a little bit of blood,but the atmosphere of dread and fear is easy to feel.There are some wonderful moments of pure horror like the scene where an Etc machine is switched on and an entire operating room erupts in a slow-motion explosion.The film is relatively obscure,but if you get the chance watch it.8 out of 10.Highly recommended.

The 1980s are known as the golden age of slasher movies. It's worth noting that not all horror flicks from the era of the Rubik's Cube were slashers. A really good non-slasher is Roger Christian's psychological thriller "The Sender", about a man whose dreams manifest themselves. There are some VERY intense scenes. I liked the whole sequence in the operating room.

As is often the case with horror flicks, "The Sender" features an eye-opening cast and crew. Roger Christian won an Oscar for Art Direction for "Star Wars" and received a second nod for "Alien", but later directed the infamous "Battlefield Earth". Kathryn Harrold used to be married to MSNBC host Lawrence O'Donnell. Željko Ivanek was born in Ljubljana but raised in the United States and has appeared in a number of movies and TV shows. Shirley Knight has been in movies for over fifty years. Paul Freeman played the villain in "Raiders of the Lost Ark". And then there's writer Tom Baum: he also wrote wrote the 1975 animated feature "Hugo the Hippo", one of the most WTF movies ever.

Anyway, it's a neat movie. I recommend it.

PS: "The Sender" opened the 1982 Avoriaz Film Festival.

This film was released with a glut of really bad horror films in the early '80s and got lost in the shuffle. That's a shame--it's one of the best of its type. There's no masked killer chasing down brain dead teens. It's about a young man (Zeljko Ivanek) committed to an institution because he tried to commit suicide. He believes his dreams can kill. A kind psychiatrist (Kathryn Harrold) tries to help him. Then his creepy mother (Shirley Knight) shows up insisting he be put in her care--but she keeps disappearing.

There's very little violence or blood and guts but it's very scary and suspenseful. The ending is (now) old hat but was pretty original when this film was released. Any movie that can scare you silly with a shot of a middle-aged mother walking to her son (see the movie to find out why it's scary) is one hell of a horror movie in my book! Add to that a beautiful music score and excellent performances by Knight and Ivanek (who has gone on to be a top character actor). The only debit is Harrold who's pretty terrible. Still it's well worth seeing.