Olive Films Blu-Ray: The Sender
Company Product: Olive Films
Starring: Kathryn Harrold, Zeljko Ivanek, Shirley Knight,
Paul Freeman
Plot: Product Description: In this psychological horror
film, Zeljko Ivanek stars as John Doe #83, a patient admitted to a psychiatric
hospital after a suicide attempt. When Dr. Gail Farmer, the psychiatrist
assigned to his case, begins experiencing vivid hallucinations, she suspects
that she may be telepathically connected to her new patient, envisioning what
he is experiencing in real time.
My Review and Thoughts:
First off I've always felt that this was an underappreciated
and often overlooked little supernatural thriller that leaves a lasting
impression upon you. I was truly excited to learn that Olive Films was finally
giving this a new outlet on a wonderful Blu-ray format.
A mysterious man try's to kill himself by drowning. He is
admitted to a mental hospital. Dr. Gail a psychiatrist try's to figure out what
is the reality taking place. Soon the spiraling, twisted web of nightmarish
horror over shadows every waking moment.
This will always be one of my favorite films due to the fact
it is the introduction to the wonderful actor, Zeljko Ivanek. A true star, very
definition of actor. He is so young in this part as the mysterious Sender. This
was his first feature film. But in reality the Introducing title is not correct.
He had acted in 2 others films in the same year as The Sender came out. These
two films, 82's The Soldier & 82's Tex, came out months earlier. Although
The Sender is his first major starring role, the other 2 films where just small
insignificant parts. He did a truly fantastic job in The Sender, very creepy,
very twisted, and very unique.
This also stars the beautiful and wonderful Kathryn Harrold
as the main female, Dr. Gail. Always a treat to see. This also stars one of my
favorite actresses Shirley Knight as The Senders mother. Knight is one of the
most gifted actresses to ever grace cinema both big and small. She played in
one of my favorite films 1980's Playing for Time, which might I add, can also
be bought on Blu-Ray by Olive Films.
I think what I like about this movie the most is the very
weird, odd and strange reality. It almost plays out like a nightmare. A
darkened fever dream of illusion.
This was directed by Roger Christian. This was his first
feature length film. Christian has had pretty much all misses in his film
making. The Sender is about his only real stand out film. Roger Christian
directed one of the worst films in cinema history, 2000's god awful Battlefield
Earth. The Sender is his crowning achievement in his career. It does have its
flaws, and some mistakes on screen, but The Sender is what I consider above and
beyond a lot of the telepathic horror films of the 80’s. I think The Sender is
more unique in the mystery of the truth, and also in its capturing of a living
nightmare.
Another reality that makes this film stand out is the sound
effects, visual effects, noises, and music, truly create a haunting experience
throughout this nightmarish like film.
Audio/ Video:
Screen: 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio
Olive Films did an amazing job in sound quality. The audio
is ear candy. Crisp, loud and stunningly
brilliant. The imagery also has never looked any better. Compared to the VHS or past DVD copies, this Blu-Ray is dynamic.
Overall:
Olive Films brought out another fantastic film on a great
Blu-ray to experience. The Sender is strange, different, and an odd little film
that has its own little world. Olive Films did a fantastic job in picking this
film for one of their releases. Awesome audio, never has sounded any better. For
being its first time on Blu-ray it looks beautiful. A great trippy telepathic
supernatural horror thriller, to experience in a whole new light.
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