The Visitor (1980) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

The Satanists want to use Katy because she already displays powerful psychokinetic abilities. Their plan is for Raymond to father a male child with Barbara, then have that child mate with his half-sister Katy to birth the physical embodiment of Zatteen, the ancient dark force they aim to resurrect.

Foreshadowing: Katy's abilities first surface when her powers help Raymond's basketball team win, revealing her unwitting role in the Satanists' plans.

• katy
• psychokinetic abilities
• satanists
• resurrection
• zatteen

Zatteen is a dark inter-spatial force that has been in conflict with a benevolent entity called Yahweh for centuries. It fled to Earth long ago and was eventually tracked down and slain, but its spirit lingers in human minds, waiting for an opportunity to return. Zatteen fathered numerous children with human women, and their descendants remain among humanity.

Foreshadowing: The opening vision establishes Zatteen as an ancient evil that could reemerge through its bloodline.

• zatteen
• ancient evil
• cosmic conflict
• yahweh
• inter-spatial force

Raymond wants to father a child with Barbara because Dr. Walker explains that Barbara can act as a conduit to distill Zatteen's power into a tangible human form. The Satanists need a male child conceived between Raymond and Barbara, who would then mate with his half-sister Katy to create the physical vessel for Zatteen's resurrection.

Foreshadowing: Early scenes establish Barbara as a key figure in the Satanists' ritualistic plans.

• raymond
• barbara
• conduit
• resurrection
• satanists ritual

Colsowicz intervenes during Raymond and Katy's attack on Barbara by summoning an army of doves that thwart Katy and kill Raymond. The next day, the remaining Satanists are found dead at their round table, presumably eliminated by Colsowicz's mysterious powers or his orders.

Foreshadowing: Colsowicz has been monitoring Katy throughout the film, demonstrating powers equal to her own.

• colsowicz
• doves
• satanists defeated
• supernatural intervention

Barbara becomes pregnant, but the pregnancy is late-stage and dangerous. Her former lover Dr. Sam Collins, who is Katy's biological father, presses for an abortion due to the peril involved. The film shows the abortion being performed, ending that particular threat to the Satanists' plan.

Foreshadowing: The Satanists' shift to violent tactics after Raymond's seduction plan falters leads to Barbara's shooting and subsequent pregnancy.

• barbara pregnancy
• dr sam collins
• abortion
• satanists plan

Jerzy Colsowicz is an alien investigator dispatched by a Christ-like figure and his followers. He possesses powers similar to Katy's psychokinetic abilities. He is sent to Earth to monitor Katy's powers and prevent the Satanists from completing their plan to resurrect Zatteen through her.

Foreshadowing: The opening vision establishes Colsowicz receiving his mission from the Christ-like figure who describes the threat of Zatteen's descendants.

• jerzy colsowicz
• alien investigator
• monitor katy
• christ-like figure

Katy demonstrates startling psychokinetic abilities throughout the film. She can move objects with her mind, influence events, and her powers are so potent that they cause deadly accidents for those who oppose the Satanists. She is largely unaware of the full extent of her abilities and how they are being weaponized.

Foreshadowing: Katy's powers first manifest during a basketball game, helping Raymond's team win through seemingly impossible plays.

• katy powers
• psychokinesis
• child abilities
• accidents manipulation

At the end, Colsowicz saves Katy from the Satanists and brings her to the Christ-like figure and his apostles. She appears bald and seemingly cleansed of all malice. The film closes with her smiling warmly and embracing Colsowicz, who makes a final statement that children should not be harmed.

Foreshadowing: Colsowicz's intervention prevents Katy from completing the Satanists' ritual, allowing her to be redeemed.

• katy saved
• cleansed
• colsowicz
• ending redemption

The basketball game at The Omni serves as the setting where Raymond Armstead, the new team owner, reveals his wealth comes from God and establishes his connection to the Satanist circle. It is also where Katy's powers first manifest publicly, helping the team win and demonstrating her value to the Satanists' plans.

Foreshadowing: This scene introduces Raymond and establishes the physical setting where Katy's abilities begin to surface.

• omni arena
• basketball game
• raymond armstead
• katy powers debut

Barbara Collins is shot and left paralyzed, confined to a wheelchair, as part of the Satanists' escalating tactics when their initial plan to seduce her fails. This violent act is one of several attempts to control her and use her as a vessel for their ritual to resurrect Zatteen.

Foreshadowing: The shift to violent tactics follows Detective Jake Durham's investigation threatening the conspiracy.

• barbara collins
• paralysis
• shot
• satanists violence

Jane Phillips is Barbara's new maid who immediately senses the potential for evil surrounding Katy. She had previously borne a child with someone who wielded similar psychokinetic abilities, giving her unique insight into the danger Katy represents. Her warnings about Katy's danger help establish the stakes.

Foreshadowing: Jane's past experience with a similar child gives her instant recognition of the evil in Katy.

• jane phillips
• maid
• danger sense
• psychic child history

Detective Jake Durham is investigating the wave of deaths connected to the Satanists. He is killed in a car accident engineered by the Satanists' manipulation of events, eliminating the law enforcement threat to their conspiracy.

Foreshadowing: Throughout the investigation, Durham gets dangerously close to exposing the Satanist network.

• detective jake durham
• investigation
• car accident
• satanists elimination