The Visitor

The Visitor

Year: 1979

Runtime: 109 mins

Language: English

Director: Giulio Paradisi

Horror

They know we are here… An ancient intergalactic warrior arrives on Earth to put a stop to a demonic child’s plot to reproduce Satan’s next generation of evil.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Visitor yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – The Visitor (1979)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Visitor (1979). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

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.

🏟️ Sports arena 🌌 Otherworldly landscape

Last Updated: December 06, 2025 at 16:30

Main Characters – The Visitor (1979)

Meet the key characters of The Visitor (1979), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

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.

🧭 Visionary 💫 Prodigy 🕊️ Prophet

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.

🧭 Conduit 🤕 Victim 🛡️ Survivor

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.

🧠 Psychic 🔮 Precocious 👶 Child prodigy

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.

💰 Wealth 🕷️ Cultist 🔥 Power-hungry

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.

🧑‍⚕️ Doctor 🛡️ Protector 🧩 Moral compass

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.

🧪 Scientist 🕹️ Strategist 👁️ Opportunist

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.

👁️ Intuitive 🧭 Ally 🛡️ Protector

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.

🕵️ Detective ⚠️ Target 🛬 Victim

Jerzy's Assistant

A aide to Jerzy Colsowicz, assisting with logistics and providing supportive presence during the envoy's mission.

🧑‍💼 Assistant 🤝 Support

Last Updated: December 06, 2025 at 16:30

Major Themes – The Visitor (1979)

Explore the central themes of The Visitor (1979), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚔️ 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.

🌱 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.

🕊️ 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.

Last Updated: December 06, 2025 at 16:30

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Why These Movies?

They are united by a specific mood mix: a dark, gothic, and oppressive atmosphere paired with a narrative structure that allows for a hopeful or happy ending. This creates a unique emotional arc from deep dread to profound relief.

Unlock the Full Story of The Visitor

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Visitor in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Visitor is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Visitor Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Visitor, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Visitor Summary

The Visitor Timeline

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.

The Visitor Timeline

The Visitor Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Visitor that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

The Visitor Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Visitor

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Visitor: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Visitor

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