The 1980s Sci-Fi Horror Thriller You’ve Never Seen Is One of Quentin Tarantino’s Favorites
By Scylar Gibby-Brown | Published
Quentin Tarantino has covered many genres throughout his filmmaking career, but he has never tackled a horror film. That doesn’t mean he’s not a fan, though. In fact, the Kill Bill the director is looking for a 1982 horror thriller Sender his favorite.
Tarantino shared that Sender was his favorite horror film when he teamed up with Edgar Wright, writer and director of Hot fuzzfor exclusive commentary on the DVD release of the comedy. During the special feature, the two said nothing Hot fuzzinstead they discuss the movies that have had the most influence on their entire careers. They’ve compiled over 190 different features, most of which you’ve probably never heard of, including this forgotten sci-fi horror game.
It Breaks the Boundaries of Reality
Sender is a 1982 British psychological horror film directed by Roger Christian and written by Thomas Baum. The film is a fascinating exploration of trauma, psychic reading, and the blurred lines between reality and hallucination. The script is brought to life by a talented cast you may have seen before, including Kathryn Harrold (A Raw Deal), Željko Ivanek (Seven Psychopaths), Shirley Knight (As Good As It Gets) and Paul Freeman (Hot fuzz).
Sender it happens with the discovery of a young man (Ivanek), confused and amnesiac, trying to settle on the shore of a lake. Labeled as “John Doe #83,” he is admitted to a mental hospital under the care of psychiatrist Dr. Gail Farmer (Kathryn Harrold). As John’s unusual behavior becomes apparent, including the appearance of his dreams in others, Dr. Farmer uncovers a web of repressed memories and psychic abilities.
Between visions of a pregnant woman and her pursuit of death, John’s telepathic powers spiral out of control. The efforts of Dr. Farmer’s attempt to understand and help him is met with skepticism from his colleagues, which ends in a dangerous therapy session with a shock machine. However, as the truth of John’s past begins to emerge, the lines between reality and illusion blur, leading the audience to a climactic showdown at the end Sender.
Trauma Assessment
In his mind, Sender deals with the theme of trauma and its lasting effects on the human psyche, as shown in John’s journey. Baum loosely based the screenplay on her upbringing, inspired by her experience growing up with an agoraphobic and overprotective mother.
The concept of telepathy, which appears as a central theme in Senderit is probably not based on real experience. Using telepathy, John reveals his dreams to other characters in the film, creating a metaphor for the communication of human consciousness and showing the blurred lines between the self and the other.
Because the film covers deep abstract concepts, director Roger Christain decided to bring a different visual style. Sendercombines elements of surrealism and psychological dissonance to create an eerie atmosphere of unrelenting dread. Tarantino wasn’t the only audience member who sat on the edge of their seat as they watched the film play out between haunting images of John’s visions going to the vivid, interior of a mental hospital clinic.
Now, Sender it is the forgotten joy of days gone by. But thanks to Quentin Tarantino, and horror writer Wes Craven, many cinephiles discovered this film. It’s hard to find this movie on streaming, but you can always rent or buy it on demand through YouTube, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, and Fandango.
