THE VISITOR (Giulio Paradisi). See listings. Rating: NNN
A batshit bad seed movie of intergalactic proportions, The Visitor was originally released to withering reviews and disappointed audiences in 1979. It has since attained that dubious status known as “cult,” which sometimes becomes attached to disasters so spectacular they deserve our admiration. Or mockery. Or both.
A mysterious prophet travels from a distant planet to Atlanta to find Katy, a telekinetic girl believed to be the sole progeny of Sateen, an ancient force of evil. Potty-mouthed and empathy-impaired, Katy “accidentally” shoots her mother in the back and hurls innocent ice skaters through plates of glass. A corporate cabal urges their po-faced emissary (Lance Henriksen) to impregnate Katy’s mom so that Katy can have a brother to mate with and spread Sateen’s sinister genes. This must be stopped.
Did I mention the cast includes Hollywood legends John Huston, Glenn Ford, Shelley Winters and Sam Peckinpah? Their presence elevates The Visitor’s weirdness factor to considerable heights. As do the gory scenes of avian terror and Franco Micalizzi’s mega-portentous score, which combines elements of power funk, Bernard Herrmann’s Psycho and that disco version of Thus Spake Zarathustra.
Obviously, a must-see for the Midnight Madness set – as well as people who simply hate children.
Opens Monday (December 30) at the TIFF Bell Lightbox.
