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The Survivor (1980)

Director: David Hemmings

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2 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

An airliner crashes, killing everyone on board except the pilot (Powell), who walks out of the carnage in a daze. Eye witness Agutter makes contact and tries to help him find out what happened. It turns out there's a lot more going on than the aircrash investigators are ever likely to discover, because Ambrose's script is based on a supernatural novel by English schlockmeister James Herbert. Hemmings handles the set-pieces well enough, wisely filming the crash scene at night and using darkness as his ally. We build up a complete picture from brief, panicky impressions. He also delivers on the shocks front - notably when a dead little girl's hand takes hold of Powell's in a soft-focus cemetery scene. Brian May's creepy soundtrack cranks up the tension, but despite the (non-specific) Australian setting, the atmosphere remains chilly. May, Powell, producer Ginnane and Hemmings (as actor rather than director) worked around the same time on Harlequin, another internationally package that didn't gel quite so effectively.

Author: NRo 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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User reviews of this film

  • Lorna said...
    Posted on Aug 19 2009 11:34 dark and slow. actually watching as writing so haven't seen all. cemetary scene with film developer scary.
    Report as inappropriate
  • Chris said...
    Posted on Apr 13 2009 17:29 The worst film i have ever seen
    Report as inappropriate

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Cast & crew

Director: David Hemmings

Producer: Antony I Ginnane

Cast: Robert Powell, Jenny Agutter, Angela Punch-McGregor, Peter Sumner, Joseph Cotten full cast

Duration: 93 mins


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