Year: 1980
Runtime: 90 min
Language: French
Director: Giulio Paradisi
Following the disappearance of six extraterrestrial researchers studying Earth, the Empire of Four Planets dispatches two detectives to investigate. To blend in, they assume the identities of a Frenchman and a German woman, taking over their bodies at the moment of their deaths. Now inhabiting human forms, the detectives must embark on a dangerous quest to discover what happened to the missing visitors and uncover the truth behind their vanishing.
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Read the complete plot breakdown of The Visitor (1980), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
In an otherworldly, sparse landscape, Jerzy Colsowicz experiences a vision of a formidable, destructive storm sparked by a young human girl. At his side, a figure who embodies a Christ-like calm explains a centuries-spanning conflict between a dark inter-spatial force, Zatteen, and his benevolent rival, Yahweh. Zatteen fled to Earth generations ago, and though he was eventually tracked down and slain, his spirit lingers in the minds of humanity, waiting for a moment to surge back into the world. The speaker reveals that Zatteen fathered numerous children with human women, and their descendants remain among us, quietly shaping events.
Meanwhile, in Atlanta, during a professional basketball game at The Omni, the newly minted team owner Raymond Armstead sits courtside and speaks to a reporter about winning at any cost. When pressed about the source of his wealth, he cryptically asserts that it comes “from God.” He is entwined with a clandestine circle of Satanists who aim to resurrect Zatteen’s power. His ally, Dr. Walker, reminds him that his girlfriend, Barbara Collins, could act as a conduit to distill Zatteen’s power into a tangible, human form. Barbara’s eight-year-old daughter, Katy, already demonstrates startling psychokinetic abilities, and the Satanists’ plan hinges on Raymond fathering a male child with Barbara, who would then mate with his half-sister to birth the physical embodiment of Zatteen.
Katy moves through the world with a partial awareness of her gifts, testing and stretching them as she participates in small, ordinary activities that mask the danger beneath. Colsowicz, who possesses powers akin to Katy’s, is dispatched to Earth by the Christ-like figure accompanied by several followers. From a distance, he keeps watch over Katy and gradually becomes aware of Barbara’s new maid, Jane Phillips, who immediately senses the potential for evil—she had once borne a child with someone who wielded similar abilities. Katy’s abilities begin to tilt events in the Satanists’ favor, steering a string of deadly accidents against those who oppose them.
Barbara’s life is upended when she is shot and left paralyzed, relegated to a wheelchair, while a police detective, Jake Durham, who has been investigating the wave of deaths, is killed in a car accident engineered by the Satanists. Raymond’s plan to seduce Barbara falters, and the circle shifts to more violent tactics. Barbara does become pregnant, but the late-stage peril prompts her former lover, Dr. Sam Collins, Katy’s biological father, to press for an abortion. As Barbara returns home, she becomes a target again when Raymond and Katy assault her, attempting to kill her by binding a wire around her neck and rolling her down a stairs in her chairlift.
In a climactic turn, Colsowicz intervenes, summoning an army of doves to thwart Katy and to eliminate Raymond. The next day, the remaining Satanists are found dead in their round-table setup, a grim testament to Colsowicz’s enigmatic intervention. He returns to the Christ-like mentor and his apostles, bringing Katy with him. She arrives bald and seemingly cleansed of malice, and the film closes with her smiling warmly and embracing Colsowicz, who makes a final, hopeful declaration: children should not be harmed.
from God
Ultimately, the narrative threads converge on a warning about unchecked power and the vulnerability of the young, portraying a battle between light and dark that plays out through human hands, ancient prophecies, and the unpredictable force of a child’s potential. The film blends supernatural menace with personal peril, exploring how faith, fear, and parental love can collide in a collision of destinies that threatens to rend the line between myth and reality.
Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:58
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Mortal investigators confront ancient, world-threatening evils beyond human understanding.If you liked The Visitor's blend of detective work and cosmic horror, explore more movies where investigators face ancient evils. These films share a dark tone, complex mythology, and a steady build towards overwhelming supernatural threats, perfect for fans of heavy, oppressive sci-fi horror.
These narratives typically follow an investigative structure, where characters methodically uncover clues about a supernatural force or secret society. The journey escalates from skepticism to horrifying confirmation, often involving a race against time to prevent a cataclysmic event, culminating in a costly victory or pyrrhic sacrifice.
Movies are grouped here by their shared core of investigative protagonists confronting a vast, ancient evil. They unite through a dark, oppressive tone, a steady pacing that builds dread, and a high-stakes plot that explores human vulnerability against cosmic forces, resulting in a heavy emotional experience.
Stories where pure beings or children become vessels for malevolent, ancient forces.Fans of The Visitor's chilling use of a child manipulated by evil will find similar themes here. Discover movies that explore the corruption of innocence by supernatural forces, featuring dark tones, heavy emotional weight, and disturbing themes of possession and psychic power.
The narrative pattern involves an ancient evil identifying and exploiting a vulnerable, often psychically gifted, individual as a means to achieve its goal. The story revolves around the struggle for this soul, pitting protective forces against the corrupting influence, leading to a climactic confrontation where salvation comes at a great personal cost.
These films are connected by the central, harrowing theme of innocence being weaponized by evil. They share a dark tone, high intensity from the psychological horror, and a heavy emotional weight derived from the exploitation of vulnerability, resulting in a bittersweet or bleak resolution.
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Track the full timeline of The Visitor with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The Visitor. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
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