THE SURVIVOR

Peter Sumner and Robert Powell

THE SURVIVOR (1981). Director: David Hemmings.  

A pilot named Keller (Robert Powell of Asylum) is the only survivor of a devastating airline disaster that kills over 300 people. As Keller tries to find out what the investigators know about what caused the tragedy, he is contacted by a lady psychic named Hobbs (Jenny Agutter of Child's Play 2), who claims he is the only one who can help the souls of the dead passengers find peace. Keller also asks for the help of a priest (Joseph Cotten). Meanwhile there are odd incidents in the town near the airfield where the remains of the plane are scattered. Eventually Keller will have a confrontation with the man responsible for the crash and the deaths of so many innocent people.

Powell with Jenny Agutter

The Survivor is based on an excellent, pulpy horror novel by prolific British author James Herbert. David Ambrose's screenplay throws out most of the book aside from the basic premise. In the novel Keller was the co-pilot, his girlfriend was a stewardess on the plane, and he had a one-night-stand with the pilot's wife, which he fears might have led to something bad happening on the plane before the crash. There is a lot of suspense worked up over who might have destroyed the plane, suspense that is entirely lacking in the film adaptation. Hobbs is not a young female in the novel but a middle-aged man. Most of the horrifying incidents that Herbert describes so well in the book are completely scrapped in the screenplay. The neo-Nazi who was on the plane in the novel and influences some of the passengers to do evil is abandoned. Even director Hemmings -- one of the actor's few directorial assignments -- felt it was a mistake to go for subtle tension instead of the out and out horror of Herbert's book. Reportedly Herbert claimed the film put him to sleep.

Powell with Joseph Cotten

No wonder. Because The Survivor is confusing and slow, and poorly directed with few exceptions. There is a disquieting scene on railroad tracks where a photographer who made a killing taking photos of the accident encounters the ghost of a dead little girl, and there is a well-staged finale where the perpetrator is revealed. But otherwise, The Survivor is a major disappointment. Powell acts throughout the film as if he's merely perturbed, Agutter seems confused, and the audience gets bored long before the conclusion. Joseph Cotten is completely wasted.

Verdict: Read the book instead. **.