stevencarthur This movie messes with your head- in all the right ways. It'll make you guess if what you're seeing is real. This movie surprised me- for I had never even heard of it. A unique hospital/psychiatric ward type of horror movie-- with interesting characters-- and a mystery that keeps you on your toes. Recommended.

Scott LeBrun It's easy to see how a film such as "The Sender" would go on to be one of the more overlooked horror films of its time. After all, it didn't involve a psychopath chasing horny kids with a sharp weapon; slasher films were pretty much the "it" thing during this time period. No, this is something different, something that derives much of its power from surrealism and performance. It never offers easy answers, but it does get its viewers asking questions. Zeljko Ivanek, in the role that "introduced" him, is a suicidal young man who's brought to a mental hospital where a caring psychiatrist (Kathryn Harrold) tries her hardest to get through to him. The main problem is that he has a frightening power: he can send his nightmares to other people. Another problem is that a strange woman named Jerolyn (Shirley Knight), claiming to be the young mans' mother, appears and disappears throughout the story to basically say that he needs to be with her. Thanks to the efforts of genuinely talented cast and crew members, "The Sender" sizes up as an interesting and eerie film that has a way of staying with you after it's over. Making his feature length directing debut here is Roger Christian, a man renowned for his work as an art director, set decorator, and production designer; he'd been Oscar-nominated for "Alien" and won an Oscar for "Star Wars". He creates a constant feeling of creeping unease, and successfully alternates between more subtle moments and more horrific ones. The horrific highlights employ well orchestrated special effects (by Nick Allder), and include the disastrous consequences of attempted shock therapy and an attempted operation. The beautiful, scary music score is the work of Trevor Jones. Harrold has a warm presence in the lead role, and Ivanek, who over the years has emerged as one of the great character actors in the business, is touching and vulnerable as the kid unable to maintain control. Knight is excellent, as is Paul Freeman ("Raiders of the Lost Ark") in the part of Harrolds' more clinical boss. "Aliens" fans can also note the presence of Al Matthews, a.k.a. Sergeant Apone, as a Vietnam veteran, which the actor is in real life. This film begins with an incredible feeling of tension and manages to keep that tension going for as long as the movie lasts. Overall, it's very effective, and discriminating horror fans who are looking for overlooked gems should find a fair bit to enjoy with "The Sender". Eight out of 10.

Aaron1375 I got this film because I read about it from others and it sounded interesting. A horror film that I thought I had never seen! Well, I did indeed see this film as a kid. As soon as it opened I recognized it as the opening scene of the dude putting rocks in his jacket and walking into a lake sparked the memory rather quickly. Well, I kept watching as it has been forever since I had seen this film and it had some good moments, but it could of been a lot better too.The film does start with a young man trying to commit suicide. He is promptly taken to one of the worst mental health facilities I have ever seen. This is mainly due to what they do throughout the film, I mean all it is missing is that nurse from "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" to make it the the absolute number one worst facility. Well a female doctor wants to assist this man who is suffering from amnesia while another doctor wants to use every extreme method of treating patients hoping to zap the young man out of being suicidal. Well, this young man has certain powers...it seems when he dreams or has nightmares he has very powerful telepathic abilities. These abilities make the doctor trying to help him and others in the facility see horrific things. Add the man's mother who appears from time to time seeming to want to help, but her motives are not clear.The film has its moments, it really is not a hardcore horror film though. In fact, if one were to rate it now it would probably get a PG-13 rating except for one scene near the end involving the young man and another patient after the young man tries to beat up a television. Still, it keeps you wondering where it is going...I am just not entirely satisfied where it ended up. I just find it hard to believe they would have done what they did at the end to the young man as it seems pretty obvious he still needs some guidance. The gore is minimal, and you get scenes with rats and insects as well. The most disturbing scene was one involving a procedure being done on him as the cut look really good.So this film had its moments, but it was just an okay film to me. Nothing super great or anything. It just seems like it needed more of a point or something. The thing with the mother that was revealed at the end was a bit too obvious as well. Still, it is a lot better than a lot of horror films and it does feature deadly dreams before the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise launched.

moonspinner55 Fitfully effective creep-out, one that sneaked in and out of theaters but managed to find a small audience once it premiered on cable in the mid-1980s. Lovely Kathryn Harrold is very good as a dedicated doctor attempting to understand a handsome young mental patient (Zeljko Ivanek) who is both telepathic and wildly unbalanced. An odd, off-putting piece, though certainly a curious one filmed quite well on a low-budget; its predilection for smashed glass and marauding insects and rodents may turn many viewers off however, and Shirley Knight's performance as the sender's mother nearly lapses into camp (though I actually welcomed this!). ** from ****