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The Return

  • 19801980
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
3.6/10
608
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Cybill Shepherd and Jan-Michael Vincent in The Return (1980)
  • Mystery
  • Sci-Fi
  • Thriller
In New Mexico, an alien spacecraft abducts two young children and an old man. 25 years later, the children are returned as adults to the same town now beset by strange cattle mutilations.In New Mexico, an alien spacecraft abducts two young children and an old man. 25 years later, the children are returned as adults to the same town now beset by strange cattle mutilations.In New Mexico, an alien spacecraft abducts two young children and an old man. 25 years later, the children are returned as adults to the same town now beset by strange cattle mutilations.
IMDb RATING
3.6/10
608
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Greydon Clark
  • Writers
    • Ken Wheat
    • Jim Wheat
    • Curtis Burch
  • Stars
    • Jan-Michael Vincent
    • Cybill Shepherd
    • Martin Landau
Top credits
  • Director
    • Greydon Clark
  • Writers
    • Ken Wheat
    • Jim Wheat
    • Curtis Burch
  • Stars
    • Jan-Michael Vincent
    • Cybill Shepherd
    • Martin Landau
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 19User reviews
    • 18Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos22

    Cybill Shepherd and Jan-Michael Vincent in The Return (1980)
    The Return (1980)
    The Return (1980)
    Raymond Burr in The Return (1980)
    Martin Landau and Vincent Schiavelli in The Return (1980)
    Martin Landau in The Return (1980)
    Martin Landau in The Return (1980)
    The Return (1980)
    The Return (1980)
    Cybill Shepherd in The Return (1980)
    Martin Landau and Cybill Shepherd in The Return (1980)
    Martin Landau in The Return (1980)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jan-Michael Vincent
    Jan-Michael Vincent
    • Wayneas Wayne
    Cybill Shepherd
    Cybill Shepherd
    • Jenniferas Jennifer
    Martin Landau
    Martin Landau
    • Niles Buchananas Niles Buchanan
    Raymond Burr
    Raymond Burr
    • Dr. Krameras Dr. Kramer
    Neville Brand
    Neville Brand
    • Waltas Walt
    Brad Rearden
    Brad Rearden
    • Eddieas Eddie
    Vincent Schiavelli
    Vincent Schiavelli
    • Prospectoras Prospector
    Ernest Anderson
    • Dr. Mortorffas Dr. Mortorff
    Darby Hinton
    Darby Hinton
    • Darrenas Darren
    Steven Hirsch
    • Dr. Parkfieldas Dr. Parkfield
    Susan Kiger
    Susan Kiger
    • Joyceas Joyce
    Ken Minyard
    • Federal Agent #1as Federal Agent #1
    Roger Hampton
    • Homeras Homer
    Hilary Farr
    Hilary Farr
    • Lee Annas Lee Ann
    • (as Hilary Labow)
    Candy Castillo
    Candy Castillo
    • Federal Agent #2as Federal Agent #2
    Dorothy Constantine
    Dorothy Constantine
    • Motel Manageras Motel Manager
    Michael R. Starita
    • Grandfatheras Grandfather
    Robert Magnus
    • Town Drunkas Town Drunk
    • (as Robert M. Magnus)
    • Director
      • Greydon Clark
    • Writers
      • Ken Wheat
      • Jim Wheat
      • Curtis Burch
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Two young children and an adult in a small town have an encounter with an alien spaceship. 25 years later the children, one of whom is now the local sheriff, are reunited as adults in the same town which is now beset by strange cattle mutilations. Matters become worse when the cattle mutilations are joined by human murders and mutilations. —Patrick D. Rockwell <prockwell@thegrid.net>
    • bare chested male
    • unbuttoned jeans
    • one night stand
    • implied sex
    • viscious dog
    • 38 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Mystery
      • Sci-Fi
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Cybill Shepherd recalled in her autobiography "Cybill Disobedience" (2000) that it was "not quite the worst movie ever made but close" and that the cast were "a rather sad group of actors, all trying to resurrect our diminished careers. [Raymond Burr] read his lines off a TelePrompter."
    • Connections
      Featured in Katarina's Nightmare Theater: The Return (2013)

    User reviews19

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Weird but passable little movie.
    "The Return" has to rank as one of the lesser efforts of veteran cult director Greydon Clark. It's not that it's all THAT incompetent, but a weak script, co-written by brothers Ken and Jim Wheat ("The Silent Scream", "Pitch Black") prevents it from working all that well. The audience is going to end up scratching their heads while they try to make some sense out of the strange goings-on. As for the rest, it's all just silly and cheesy enough to rate as acceptable B movie entertainment. This reviewer knows that he throws out the word "amusing" an awful lot, but there's really no other way to describe this thing. And it's that amusement factor that manages to keep this watchable.

    The actors are remarkably sincere. Jan-Michael Vincent and Cybill Shepherd star as Wayne and Jennifer, a deputy in a small New Mexico town and hottie scientist respectively, who as children had had a close encounter. Also witness to the aliens' arrival was a prospector (the late, great character actor Vincent Schiavelli, one of those people who you always recognize but whose name you may never remember). The kids grow up, of course, but Schiavelli remains the same age. Shepherds' character gets wind of strange fog activity in this small town and soon after she gets there cattle begin to be mutilated. Then, people get mutilated as well.

    Things take a pretty goofy turn when a character is seen to carry around a lightsaber type weapon, except it's held in the middle. Add to this a light show that is actually fairly impressive as well as some decent makeup effects and solid rural atmosphere, and the viewer gets what amounts to a mild hoot of a movie. Also in the cast are Martin Landau, who's wasted as Vincents' comedy-relief sheriff, Raymond Burr as Shepherds' father, who looks like he's reading his lines at times (and indeed he was), Neville Brand as a hostile rancher, Brad Rearden (who'd acted in "The Silent Scream") as Brands' bratty son, and Clark regular Darby Hinton ("Malibu Express") as one of Reardens' trouble making pals. Undeniable assets are cinematography by Daniel Pearl ("The Texas Chain Saw Massacre") and nice music by Dan Wyman.

    Clark also did the well regarded "Without Warning" that was released the same year as this, and that one is recommended more than "The Return", which even B movie enthusiasts might find underwhelming.

    Clark appears on screen as a city slicker victim.

    Six out of 10.
    helpful•8
    1
    • Hey_Sweden
    • Dec 20, 2013

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 16, 1982 (Sweden)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Earthright
    • Filming locations
      • Piru, California, USA
    • Production company
      • World Amusement Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $750,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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