Film Review: Communion (1989)

It is not uncommon for horror films to be based on real or allegedly real events, and some of them even can start successful franchises like Amityville Horror or The Conjuring. This didn’t happen with Communion, 1989 film produced and directed by Philippe Mora and based on the book by Whitley Streiber.

Streiber, who wrote the screenplay and was an executive producer of the film, is a protagonist and his character is played by Christopher Walken. The plot begins in October 1985 with Streiber living in Manhattan with his wife Anne (played by Lindsay Crouse) and young son Andrew (played by Joel Carlson). He suffers from writer’s block and thinks it would be good idea to spend some time in cottage outside the city together with family and friends. They travel there and on the first night house is illuminated by strange lights in a way so unusual and frightening that Whitley’s friend Alex (played by Andreas Katsulas) decides to leave. Whitley has also noticed some strange things but didn’t think much of it. Upon return to the city, he begins to feel recurring nightmares and starts to act erratically. That would escalate during Christmas vacation when he experiences strange lights and almost shoots his wife thinking that the aliens invaded his home. Anne convinces him to seek therapy and the psychiatrist Dr. Janet Duffy (played by Frances Sternhagen) hypnotises him and discovers suppressed memories about alien abduction.

Before events depicted in the film, Streiber enjoyed reputation of successful science fiction and horror author, with some of his novels, like Wolfen and The Hunger being adapted into feature films. His book, in which he described alleged real experiences, was published in 1987 and became major bestseller. The adaptation is directed by Streiber’s old friend, French-Australian film maker Philippe Mora. He did good job on strictly technical level, creating some interesting images and few truly disturbing scenes. There are moments when it looks like this film could have been some strange and effective combination of Close Encounters of the Third Kind and The Shining. Unfortunately, Streiber’s script is too messy, not allowing audience to know whether the author’s experiences are real or result of nervous breakdown. Things become even more problematic in the second half, partly because of Streiber’s misguided attempts to give himself and audience some kind of closure. While Communion fails as conventional science fiction or horror film, it works as some sort of quirky drama about creative process. What ultimately makes this film watchable and, at times even entertaining, is Christopher Walken. Despite playing unusual “normal” role of real life author and family man, his performance is one of the most unhinged during his entire career. Mora apparently didn’t control his main actor, allowing him to improvise and make film almost look like overlong acting rehearsal. Another unusual detail is Eric Clapton’s musical theme which sounds out of place in this kind of film. Although frustrating lack of proper ending and too long running time might deter many viewers, Commuion represents a cinema curiosity that might satisfy some cinephiles as well as Walken’s fans.

RATING: 5/10 (++)

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