The Survivor (1981)

A plane crashes just after takeoff and the only survivor, the pilot walks out of the wreckage. He doesn't remember the explosion or the crash, but 300 passengers & crew are dead. As the investigation goes on people are wanting answers.

Director:

David Hemmings

Writers:

David Ambrose (screenplay), James Herbert (novel)

Stars:

Robert Powell, Jenny Agutter, Joseph Cotten

2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Powell	...	Keller
Jenny Agutter	...	Hobbs
Joseph Cotten	...	Priest
Angela Punch McGregor	...	Beth (as Angela Punch-McGregor)
Peter Sumner	...	Tewson
Lorna Lesley	...	Susan
Ralph Cotterill	...	Slater
Adrian Wright	...	Goodwin
Tyler Coppin	...	Boy
Kirk Alexander	...	Dr. Martindale
Jon Nicholls	...	Jackson
Roger Cardwell	...	Flight Engineer
Jenufa Scott-Roberts	...	Stewardess
John Edmund	...	Goswell
Denzil Howson	...	Rogan

Storyline

A plane crashes just after takeoff and the only survivor, the pilot walks out of the wreckage. He doesn't remember the explosion or the crash, but 300 passengers & crew are dead. As the investigation goes on people are wanting answers.

---

Plot Keywords:

ghost | survivor | jumbo jet | airplane crash | sole survivor | 

---

Taglines:

Pilot Error...Or Supernatural Terror? Only One Man Can Tell!

---

Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

---

Details

Official Sites:

Scorpion Releasing [us]

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 July 1981 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Aterrorizante Confronto Final

Filming Locations:

Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

AUD 1,300,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Crystal Films, Pact Productions, Tuesday Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min 99 min (original release)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie was made and released about five years after its source novel 'The Survivor' by James Herbert was first published in 1976.

---

Goofs

The pilot is seen switching off the "No Smoking" and "Fasten Seat Belt" signs almost immediately the plane is airborne, yet just a few seconds later it can be seen that the wheels have not been retracted. The signs would have been kept lit until the plane was well into the air, which would be some time after the wheels had been retracted.

---

Connections

Remade as Sole Survivor (1983)

User Reviews

Not as good as the book

This is a pretty cool film, and I have been surprised at how much it has been ignored over the years. Halliwell's Film Guide doesn't list it at all. It's a chilling, atmospheric horror story that plays on the audience's deepest fears about what lies in the dark. That said, the book is still better and alot more unsettling and disturbing. All the James Herbert novels I've read are very graphic and go into a great detail about sex and death, although I wouldn't say they make good bedtime reading.