The Visitor 1979
Directed by
Sam Peckinpah
Made by
Brouwersgracht Investments
The Visitor Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for The Visitor (1979). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
In an enigmatic, alien landscape, Jerzy Colsowicz, John Huston experiences a vision of a powerful, destructive storm born from a young human girl, delivered by Jesus Christ, Franco Nero, who speaks to his disciples about an ancient, interstellar conflict between Zatteen and his benevolent arch-rival Yahweh. Zatteen, an evil force with immense psychic powers, escaped to Earth centuries ago; though Yahweh eventually tracked him down and killed him, his spirit lingers in the minds of humanity, waiting for a chance to reemerge. The figure explains that Zatteen fathered dozens of children with human women, and that these descendants still populate the world.
Back on Earth, the drama centers on a professional basketball game at The Omni in Atlanta. Raymond Armstead, Lance Henriksen the new owner whose wealth remains shrouded, sits courtside and pledges victory at any cost, hinting that his money comes “from God.” He is part of a secret circle of Satanists who want Zatteen’s resurgence. His associate Dr. Walker, Mel Ferrer, reminds him that Barbara Collins is a crucial conduit to distill Zatteen’s powers into a corporeal form. Barbara Collins, Joanne Nail, is a central figure in the plan, and her 8-year-old daughter Katy Collins, Paige Conner, already displays frightening psychokinetic abilities, a trait the Satanists seek to weaponize. Katy’s powers begin to influence events, helping Raymond’s team clinch victories on the court.
Colsowicz, a figure with powers akin to Katy’s, is dispatched to Earth by the Christ-like guide, accompanied by a small retinue of apostles. He observes Katy from a distance and soon becomes acquainted with Barbara’s new maid, Jane Phillips, Shelley Winters, who senses the lurking malice in Katy—an intuition born from having once borne a child with similar abilities. As Katy grows bolder, she uses her gifts to advance the Satanists’ goals, triggering a string of fatal accidents that target their enemies. Barbara is accidentally paralyzed by a gunshot wound, leaving her wheelchair-bound and vulnerable.
Detective Jake Durham, Glenn Ford, investigates the spate of deaths, but his pursuit is cut short when he is killed in a car accident engineered by the Satanists. The situation escalates: Raymond cannot seduce Barbara, so the circle escalates to more violent methods. Barbara becomes pregnant again, but her ex, Dr. Sam Collins, Sam Peckinpah, intervenes and arranges an abortion. When Barbara returns home, she is assaulted by Raymond and Katy, who attempt to finish her off by tying a wire around her neck and pushing her down the stairs in her chairlift. At the crucial moment, Colsowicz intervenes and calls forth an army of doves to thwart Katy and strike down Raymond. The next day, the remaining Satanists are found dead at their round table, a grim aftermath attributed to Colsowicz’s intervention.
Colsowicz returns to the Christ-like figure and presents Katy, who is now bald and seemingly cleansed of her malice. The film closes on a quiet, hopeful note, with Katy smiling and embracing the envoy, who reinforces the message that children are not to be harmed.
The Visitor Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of The Visitor (1979) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Prophecy of Zatteen and the cosmic feud
In an enigmatic alien landscape, Jerzy Colsowicz experiences a vision of a powerful and destructive storm. A Christ-like figure explains a centuries-long cosmic conflict between Zatteen and Yahweh. Zatteen escaped to Earth centuries ago, and although he was killed by Yahweh, his spirit lives on in the minds of humanity, waiting to reemerge. The figure notes that Zatteen fathered dozens of children with human women, whose descendants populate Earth.
Colsowicz arrives on Earth to study Katy
Colsowicz is sent to Earth with several disciples to observe Katy's powers. Katy, Barbara Collins's eight-year-old daughter, displays psychokinetic abilities. He becomes acquainted with Barbara's new maid Jane Phillips, who senses the potential evil in Katy.
The Omni game: Raymond's vow and the Satanists' plan
During a professional basketball game at The Omni in Atlanta, Raymond Armstead sits courtside and vows the team will win at all costs. When pressed about the source of his wealth, he claims it comes from God. Raymond is allied with a secret group of Satanists who want Zatteen resurrected, and Dr. Walker reminds him that Barbara could be used to distill Zatteen's powers.
Katy's powers aid the team
Katy begins to experiment with her powers, subtly aiding the team to victory. Colsowicz watches from a distance with his disciples, monitoring the situation. The atmosphere tightens as the team experiences a sudden, inexplicable boost during play.
Barbara's paralysis and the investigation begins
Barbara is inadvertently paralyzed by a gunshot wound, leaving her wheelchair-bound. This injury deepens the Satanists' interference and draws the attention of authorities. A police detective, Jake Durham, begins investigating the deaths, sensing a dark pattern.
Jake Durham's fate
As the investigation unfolds, Jake Durham is killed in a car accident manipulated by the Satanists. His death removes a key obstacle to the cult's plans. The sinister influence tightens its grip on the unfolding events.
Barbara's pregnancy and abortion decision
Barbara does become pregnant after the intervention, but she fears having another child. Her ex, Dr. Sam Collins (Katy's biological father), arranges an abortion. The personal crisis intensifies the stakes for everyone involved.
The failed seduction and the attempted murder
Raymond and Katy decide to eliminate Barbara by tying a wire around her neck and sending her down the stairs in her chair lift. Colsowicz intervenes, summoning an army of doves that thwart Katy and kill Raymond. The immediate threat to Barbara is averted, but the danger remains.
The circle of Satanists collapses
The remaining Satanists are found dead the next day at their round table, presumably killed by Colsowicz's intervention. The ritual circle that supported the malevolent plans is broken. The sense of imminent threat begins to lift as the cosmic conflict shifts toward resolution.
Colsowicz brings Katy back to the Christ-like figure
Colsowicz returns to the Christ-like figure and his apostles, revealing that he has brought Katy with him. She is now bald and cleansed of her malice, and the figure emphasizes that children are not to be harmed. The moment marks a turning point in the battle between light and dark.
Final reconciliation and closure
Katy embraces Colsowicz, signaling reconciliation and a hopeful note for the future. The film closes on a moral reminder that violence against children is unacceptable. The characters regroup under the guidance of the Christ-like figure as the immediate menace recedes.
Zatteen's lingering legacy remains
The closing beats echo the larger idea that Zatteen's spirit persists in human minds, waiting for another opportunity to reemerge. The balance between benevolence and malice is reset, hinting at future threats should humanity forget the warning. The narrative ends with a cautious optimism rooted in the renewed vow to protect innocence.
The Visitor Characters
Explore all characters from The Visitor (1979). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Jerzy Colsowicz (John Huston)
A mysterious envoy with powers similar to Katy's, dispatched to Earth by a Christ-like mentor. He watches Katy from a distance and soon befriends Barbara’s new maid, Jane Phillips, sensing the lurking malice. Accompanied by a small retinue of apostles, he intervenes at key moments, steering events toward mercy rather than bloodshed. His final act calls forth an army of doves to end the threat and restore hope.
Barbara Collins
A central figure who becomes a conduit for Zatteen's powers. She is accidentally paralyzed by a gunshot, leaving her wheelchair-bound and vulnerable. As the Satanists seek to siphon her influence, she endures fear and resilience, later facing pregnancy and a brutal assault. Her experiences anchor the film's moral stakes and personal stakes in the battle between good and evil.
Katy Collins
An 8-year-old with frightening psychokinetic abilities that begin to influence events, aiding Raymond's team. Her powers draw attention from both friends and foes, and she escalates to deadly acts that threaten others. As the story unfolds, she becomes bald and appears to undergo a cleansing, signaling a dramatic turn in her character arc.
Raymond Armstead
A wealthy new owner and central Satanist figure behind the plan to resurrect Zatteen. He wields money and influence as a weapon, attempting to seduce Barbara and orchestrate a path to power through Katy's gifts. His schemes escalate the violence until his downfall is brought about by the intervention of higher powers.
Dr. Sam Collins
Barbara's ex-husband and physician who acts as a moral counterforce within the story. He intervenes to arrange an abortion to prevent the potential misuse of Katy's power, reflecting his commitment to protecting Barbara and the broader safety of those involved. His actions contribute to steering the conflict away from further catastrophe.
Dr. Walker
A physician-scientist aligned with Raymond, reminding the circle that power often comes with a price. He helps coordinate the plan and lends a cool, calculating edge to the Satanists' operations. His presence highlights the film's critique of wealth-based manipulation and cold rationality used for harm.
Jane Phillips
Barbara's new maid who senses the malice behind Katy's powers. She forms a wary alliance with Jerzy Colsowicz and becomes an ally in countering the threat. Jane's intuition helps expose danger and protect Barbara during the crisis.
Detective Jake Durham
The detective investigating the spate of deaths surrounding the case, who tries to connect the pieces before catastrophe. He brings a grounded, human perspective to the extraordinary events. He becomes a target as the cult escalates its plot and is killed in a car crash engineered by the Satanists.
Jerzy's Assistant
A aide to Jerzy Colsowicz, assisting with logistics and providing supportive presence during the envoy's mission.
The Visitor Settings
Learn where and when The Visitor (1979) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.
Location
Atlanta, The Omni arena, Enigmatic alien landscape
Most of the earthly action unfolds at The Omni arena in Atlanta, a bustling sports venue where a professional basketball game anchors the plot. The arena's bright lights and crowded stands contrast with the darker conspiracy simmering behind the scenes. The film also introduces an enigmatic alien landscape, invoked in Jerzy Colsowicz's visions, where the cosmos quietly reshapes the human drama. This juxtaposition of a real-world arena and an otherworldly realm frames the film’s central clash between human sport and supernatural threat.
The Visitor Themes
Discover the main themes in The Visitor (1979). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
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Good vs Evil
The Visitor frames a battle between benevolent forces and a malevolent Zatteen, a conflict that unfolds across both a mortal world and the cosmos. The Christ-like guide and his apostles symbolize mercy, while Zatteen embodies domination and psychic power. The film uses this struggle to test characters' loyalties, courage, and mercy under pressure. In the end, mercy and faith prevail, reversing the tide of destruction.
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Child Power
Katy Collins and Barbara Collins demonstrate dangerous, precocious powers that magnetize both protection and peril. The Satanist circle seeks to weaponize Katy's abilities, showing how innocence can be exploited by those who crave control. The narrative explores responsibility toward children with extraordinary gifts, and the ethical costs of their exploitation. The climactic interventions reaffirm that harm against children is a threshold not to be crossed.
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Faith and Intervention
Jerzy Colsowicz acts as a Christ-like envoy guided by a higher power, signaling a realm where mercy overrides violence. His arrival triggers a dove army that disrupts the villains and averts catastrophe. The film suggests that faith and protection can manifest as concrete acts, even amid a brutal power struggle. The closing scene emphasizes hope and the protection of innocence.
The Visitor Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of The Visitor (1979). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In a realm where ancient star‑warriors once clashed beyond human sight, a solitary guardian returns to Earth, summoned by a timeless warning that a dark rebirth is gathering momentum. The film opens with a stark, alien vista that hints at a conflict older than mythology, then shifts to the familiar streets of modern America, where the lingering echo of that cosmic struggle can be felt in the ordinary world. The tone is a blend of stark sci‑fi mystery and brooding supernatural dread, setting a stage where the heavens seem to watch, and the ground trembles with unseen forces.
The story grounds this celestial threat in the pulse of an Atlanta basketball arena, where the glitter of sport masks a deeper, clandestine pursuit. Raymond Armstead, a charismatic new owner with an unsettling certainty, moves among a circle whose ambitions stretch far beyond the court. He is linked to a family at the heart of the unseen drama: Barbara Collins, a woman caught between ordinary life and a destiny she cannot control, and her eight‑year‑old daughter, Katy Collins, whose quiet demeanor hints at extraordinary, unsettling abilities. Their interactions are charged with an uneasy mix of protective love and the pressure of forces that seek to shape their fate.
Enter the intergalactic warrior, Jerzy Colsowicz, whose presence brings an air of ancient gravitas. His quiet observation of the city and its inhabitants introduces a perspective that is simultaneously outsider and savior, aware of a lineage of darkness that threads through human history. Alongside him, Detective Jake Durham represents the earthly quest for truth, probing the strange coincidences that ripple through the community. Their converging paths suggest a tapestry of motives and mysteries that will test belief, power, and the innocence of youth.
The atmosphere remains taut, balancing moments of soaring visual awe with intimate, character‑driven tension. As the celestial and the mundane intertwine, the film invites viewers to wonder what lies hidden behind everyday rituals, and whether a single brave figure can tip the balance before an ancient evil resurfaces.
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