The Visitor (1979) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

The Satanists need Barbara Collins because she is the mother of Katy Collins, who inherited psychokinetic powers from Zatteen. Dr. Walker explains that Barbara serves as a crucial conduit to distill Zatteen's spiritual powers into a physical form. Through Katy, the dormant evil can be channeled and resurrected into the world, which is why the Satanists closely monitor and manipulate Barbara throughout the film.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, the Christ-like figure explains that Zatteen fathered children with human women centuries ago, establishing that descendants carry his essence.

• barbara collins
• satanists
• katy
• zatteen
• resurrection
• conduit
• psychokinetic powers

Zatteen is an evil interstellar force with immense psychic powers who escaped to Earth centuries ago. Yahweh, his benevolent arch-rival, eventually tracked him down and killed him, but Zatteen's spirit lingers in human minds, waiting for a chance to return. The Christ-like figure describes this as an ancient interstellar conflict, with Zatteen's descendants now populating Earth as carriers of his dormant evil.

Foreshadowing: The opening vision establishes this cosmic war, setting up the stakes of good versus evil that drives the entire narrative.

• zatteen
• yahweh
• cosmic conflict
• evil
• spirit
• interstellar
• descendants

Katy displays frightening psychokinetic abilities that she uses throughout the film. During basketball games at The Omni, she subtly influences the ball to help Raymond's team win. As her powers grow bolder, she triggers fatal accidents targeting the Satanists' enemies, including the deaths that Detective Durham investigates. Her powers are hereditary, passed down from her father Zatteen through the bloodline.

Foreshadowing: Jane Phillips senses the malice in Katy because she once bore a child with similar abilities, hinting at the supernatural nature of Katy's powers.

• katy collins
• psychokinetic powers
• basketball
• accidents
• supernatural abilities

Colsowicz is sent by the Christ-like figure specifically to stop Zatteen's resurgence and protect the innocent. When Raymond and Katy attempt to kill Barbara by wiring her neck and pushing her down the chairlift stairs, Colsowicz intervenes as part of his mission to prevent the Satanists from completing their ritual. He summons an army of doves to thwart Katy and strike down Raymond, preventing the evil scheme from succeeding.

Foreshadowing: Colsowicz was dispatched to Earth precisely to observe Katy and prevent the Satanists' plans, making his intervention the climax of his mission.

• colsowicz
• barbara
• rescue
• doves
• katy
• raymond
• intervention

Detective Jake Durham investigates the string of fatal accidents caused by Katy's powers. As he gets closer to uncovering the truth about the Satanists' activities, they manipulate events to kill him in a car accident. His death removes a key obstacle to their plans and demonstrates the lengths the cult will go to protect their scheme to resurrect Zatteen.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes early that the Satanists will eliminate anyone who threatens their objectives, as seen in the fatal accidents targeting their enemies.

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

Barbara becomes pregnant, and her ex-husband Dr. Sam Collins (Katy's biological father) arranges the abortion. This decision is driven by fear that another child could carry Zatteen's evil legacy. The Satanists also wanted Barbara to bear another child as part of their ritual to strengthen Zatteen's return, making the abortion a desperate attempt to prevent further involvement in their plans.

Foreshadowing: The earlier prophecy mentioned that Zatteen fathered dozens of children with human women, establishing the concern about passing down his evil bloodline.

• barbara pregnancy
• abortion
• dr sam collins
• zatteen bloodline
• descendents

Raymond Armstead, a Satanist, owns the basketball team and uses the games as a cover for his activities. During games, Katy uses her psychokinetic powers to influence the outcome, helping Raymond's team win. This serves a dual purpose: proving Katy's growing powers and providing Raymond with wins that increase his status and further the Satanists' agenda.

Foreshadowing: Raymond claims his wealth comes from God, hinting at his true allegiances and the supernatural nature of his success.

• omni
• basketball
• raymond armstead
• katy powers
• games
• satanists

At the end, Colsowicz brings Katy to the Christ-like figure, where she appears bald but cleansed of her malice. She smiles and embraces Colsowicz, and the figure emphasizes that children must not be harmed. This suggests Katy has been redeemed and freed from Zatteen's influence, though the closing narration notes that Zatteen's spirit still lingers in human minds, leaving the possibility of future threats.

Foreshadowing: The cosmic prophecy established that Zatteen's spirit waits in human minds, making Katy's cleansing a temporary victory in an ongoing battle.

• katy ending
• cleansed
• bald
• redemption
• christ-like figure
• hope
• children protected

Jane Phillips, Barbara's new maid, senses the lurking malice in Katy because she once bore a child with similar psychokinetic abilities. This personal experience gives her intuition about supernatural evil that others lack. Her awareness adds tension to the household and provides an early warning about Katy's true nature, even though she cannot fully understand or stop the events unfolding.

Foreshadowing: Jane's past experience mirrors the film's central theme of inherited supernatural abilities, connecting her character to the broader mythology of Zatteen's descendants.

• jane phillips
• intuition
• evil
• katy
• psychic abilities
• past child

After Colsowicz kills Raymond and thwarts the attempt on Barbara's life, the remaining Satanists are found dead the next day at their round table. Their deaths are attributed to Colsowicz's intervention, suggesting he eliminated the entire cult in a single operation. This collapses the conspiracy and ends the immediate threat of Zatteen's resurrection.

Foreshadowing: The round table symbolism suggests a ritualistic setting, and Colsowicz's role as a cosmic warrior sent to defeat Zatteen's followers makes his decisive action against the entire circle consistent with his mission.

• satanists dead
• round table
• cult collapsed
• raymond
• colsowicz
• eliminated

Barbara becomes paralyzed by a gunshot wound, leaving her wheelchair-bound. This injury occurs during the escalating violence surrounding the Satanists' activities. Her paralysis makes her vulnerable and dependent, which the Satanists exploit as they attempt to manipulate her for their ritual. The injury also removes Barbara as an obstacle to their plans while keeping her alive as a potential conduit.

Foreshadowing: The Satanists need Barbara alive as a conduit for Zatteen's powers, so her paralysis serves their purposes while also weakening her ability to protect Katy.

• barbara paralyzed
• gunshot
• wheelchair
• vulnerability
• satanists exploit

Jerzy Colsowicz is a figure with psychokinetic powers similar to Katy's, sent to Earth by a Christ-like figure. He arrives with a small retinue of disciples to observe Katy's powers and prevent Zatteen's resurrection. Throughout the film, he watches from a distance, interacts with Jane Phillips, and ultimately intervenes to stop the Satanists and save Katy from corruption.

Foreshadowing: The opening vision establishes Colsowicz as a key player in the cosmic conflict, sent to counter Zatteen's influence on Earth.

• jerzy colsowicz
• mission
• christ-like figure
• disciples
• katy
• 阻止邪惡