Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

Communion Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 20, 2022

“Communion” was a 1987 book written by Whitley Strieber, with the author detailing his experiences with alien abduction, working with hypnosis to make sense of his blurred mind, helping to identify what happened to him. The book was marketed as “A true story,” but there were many doubters when it came to Strieber’s experiences, but that didn’t stop the title from becoming a major best-seller, attracting those curious about the “grays” and their experimental interests in humans. A film adaptation was quickly assembled, with Strieber taking on the role of screenwriter, transforming the novel into an accessible mystery with a slight horror atmosphere, making sure to emphasize the journey of a man encountering alien activity and all the psychological problems that followed. Director Philippe Mora (“Howling II: Your Sister is a Werewolf,” “Pterodactyl Women from Beverly Hills”) is in an unenviable position to turn the nightmares and therapy into a workable movie, which is a task he fails. “Communion” deals with a dubious subject matter and it turns it all into ridiculousness, relying on Walken to use his thespian jazz to make the drab production magically interesting, but the actor deliberately pushes the effort into campiness, joined by Mora, who transforms alien interests into a terrible puppet show.

Whitley (Christopher Walken) is a writer struggling with inspiration, going a little crazy as he tries to put together a new book. He’s a loving father to young Andrew (Joel Carson) and a dutiful husband to Anne (Lindsay Crouse), proposing a trip to upstate New York to help clear his mind, joined by friends Alex (Andreas Katsulas) and Sarah (Terri Hanauer). During the stay, Whitley is haunted by powerful visions of an alien visitation he doesn’t immediately understand. His confusion causes great problems for his family as his behavior deteriorates, eventually sent to Dr. Duffy (Frances Sternhagen), an expert hypnotist who uses her techniques to go deeper into Whitley’s memory, exposing his horrors connected to alien experimentation, including a rectal probing. Losing his grip on reality, Whitley tries to confront his issues head-on, hoping to reconnect with his abductors and understand his use to them, with his obsession threatening to destroy his domestic life.

Perhaps Strieber’s book detailed the experiences of a normal man confronted with the unreal. As a movie, “Communion” is already unreal due to the casting of Walken, who doesn’t seem to be under any noticeable direction in the feature, riffing his way through the production. As a writer, Walken’s Whitley is a man prone to dressing up in costumes to get his daily pages in, offering theatrical displays of frustration as his computer crashes on him. Whitley does improv games with his son and paws at his wife, who’s a nothing presence in the picture, merely here to act concerned about her husband without contributing anything meaningful to the journey. Walken goes full Walken in the film, which is meant to spice up the drab tale, but Mora has no control over it, keeping his camera trained on the star while he follows every whim imaginable. It’s absurd, but for some, it might be the only reason to remain with “Communion” for the full run time.

Aliens are present in the story, as Whitley gets closer to his vision, which he can’t explain. He’s hit with this life-changing event at his secured cabin, and it follows him the rest of the story, spotting alien-like creatures in the city, which torment him to a point of gun violence, which changes the tone of his agony, motivating him to find medical help. The tale tracks Whitley’s experiences with hypnosis, hoping to understand why he has a mark on his head and strange feelings of violation, but Mora is more eager to explore the alien experience as the tormented man considers his time with “the visitors.” “Communion” can’t get past its low budget, offering crude alien creations, with many of them simple puppets. This is meant to terrify viewers, but it has the opposite effect, especially when Walken has to interact with these ludicrous creations, turning the picture into an extended acting exercise that finds Whitley kissing the grays and dancing with them. Mora’s command of surreal events is decidedly underwhelming, but he manages to create one of the great unintentional comedies of the 1980s with “Communion,” which is prime fodder for those who enjoy poorly executed big ideas.

Communion Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.36:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Communion" appears to be sourced from an older master of the film. Detail is on the soft side, but skin particulars are appreciable on human characters and alien visions, which retain their rubbery appearance. Household interiors are open for examination, along with misty, metallic ship visits. Colors are slightly muted, but the cooler palette for "Communion" remains intact, tracking evening experiences and dimly lit encounters. Holiday hues add some primary power, with Halloween and Christmas favored, and costuming is varied. Skintones are natural, and the greenish, blackish appearance of the aliens is distinct. Delineation is satisfactory. Source is in decent condition. Mild banding is brief.

Communion Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix delivers decent dialogue exchanges, tracking Walken's strange performance as he switches moods and sometimes accents, with nothing lost along the way. The bluesy score is clear, with clean instrumentation as a squealy guitar from Eric Clapton is matched to a deeper synth sound. Atmospherics are appreciable, with a louder sense of alien action and steamy environments.

Communion Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features director Philippe Mora and UFO Magazine publisher William J. Birnes.

• Commentary #2 features director Philippe Mora.

• Outtakes (14:22, SD) are offered with commentary by director Philippe Mora. Clips offer additional time with alien activity, watching star Christopher Walken improv with masks and puppets. Some deleted shots are included as well, including a brief glimpse of Whitley made up as his wife.

• Behind-the-Scenes Footage (5:48, SD) offers interviews with Christopher Walken, author Whitley Strieber, and director Philippe Mora. Production moments are included, including an extended take of the hypnosis sequence, and some weird on-set activity is covered as well, including a photo shoot of Strieber and his family, with everyone wearing "Communion" t-shirts.

• And Trailer #1 (1:00, SD) and Trailer #2 (:57, SD) are included.

Communion Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Strieber's personal account of alien events has been subjected to challenges over the decades, and for good reason. The screenplay is deadly serious, trying to turn Whitley into a tragic figure, pushed and pulled by unknown forces, which drives him to the brink of sanity. But there's also a suggestion, perhaps an accidental one, that identifies Whitley as a blocked writer trying to use this experience to boost his career. That explanation seems more likely. Either way, "Communion" doesn't sell the mental unrest with any creative authority, making it difficult to remain with Whitley as he's hit with unexplained visions and memories. Mora can't get an engrossing mystery going with the material, which leaves Walken and his borderline feral performance the main attraction of the picture. He's crazy here, and if one goes by the acting to best understand Whitley Strieber, then it's clear the author was nuts.