🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Philippe Mora
- Genre: Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Biography
- Release year: 1989
- Runtime (length): 1h 49min
- IMDb rating: 5.5/10 (18k votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 29%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A writer keeps getting visited by weirdos and decides to write a book about it, so he can afford more wolf hats.
🍿 Communion: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Nightmare Beginnings
The film opens with author Whitley Strieber experiencing increasingly disturbing nightmares and erratic behavior following a family vacation. Plagued by intense headaches and a feeling of unease, Strieber’s life begins to unravel as he grapples with unexplained events.

Hypnotic Regression and Alien Encounters
Seeking answers, Strieber undergoes hypnotic regression therapy, uncovering repressed memories of potential alien encounters. The sessions reveal disturbing images and experiences, blurring the lines between reality and hallucination. The film vividly depicts these encounters with beings he identifies as ‘Greys’ and ‘Blue Doctors’.

Confronting the Unknown
Driven by a need for clarity, Strieber attends a support group for alleged alien abductees, further complicating his understanding of the situation. He eventually returns to the site of his initial experiences, seeking to confront the unknown and understand the nature of his encounters.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Whitley Strieber (Christopher Walken): A New York-based author who experiences increasingly disturbing encounters with alien beings, leading him to question his sanity and reality.
- Anne Strieber (Lindsay Crouse): Whitley’s wife who struggles to understand and cope with her husband’s increasingly bizarre experiences and visions.
- Dr. Janet Duffy (Frances Sternhagen): The psychiatrist who uses hypnotic regression therapy to help Whitley uncover the truth behind his experiences.
- Andrew Strieber (Joel Carlson): Whitley’s son, who is disturbed by his father’s visions and behavior, potentially inheriting similar experiences.
- Alex (Andreas Katsulas): A friend of the family who is also present at the cabin during the initial strange events.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Whitley Strieber: “I am you. And you are me. And we are here. I am the dreamer and you are the dream.” – Spoken during a surreal scene, reflecting the blurred lines between reality and hallucination.
- Anne Strieber: “It’s just God, masks of God.” – Said during an exchange between Strieber and his wife in a museum conveying this point perfectly.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $5,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $1,919,653
- Worldwide Gross: $1,919,653
💥 Communion Reviews
Personal Review
As a kid, this movie freaked me out! Those big-eyed aliens lurking in the shadows were the stuff of nightmares. Rewatching it now, it’s still unsettling, but also strangely fascinating. Walken’s performance is so bizarre and over-the-top. The therapy scene where he describes the rectal probe is burned into my memory forever. It’s hard to tell if it’s a genuine story or a descent into madness, but I’m still kinda scared of the dark after watching it again.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of Christopher Walken”
- “Those interested in alien abduction stories”
- “Viewers who enjoy ambiguous and thought-provoking films”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Disturbing imagery”
- “Suggestive themes”
- “Brief language”
- “Mild violence”
Professional Reviews
- Bloody-Disgusting.com: “Communion walks a tightrope between surreal psychological drama and campy sci-fi, never fully committing to either. Walken’s performance is undeniably captivating, even if the special effects haven’t aged well. It’s an interesting, if flawed, exploration of a controversial topic.
- Film Critic: “Communion tries hard to be a thought provoking movie, but ends up just being weird. Walken makes a meal of his role, the aliens are strange, and whether it’s all true or not, is up to you. The film feels diluted and without chemistry, but thought-provoking.
Audience Reactions
Christopher Walken’s unhinged performance elevated a strange film to cult status.: Walken’s portrayal of Whitley Strieber is the most talked-about aspect of the film.
The eerie atmosphere created a chilling, unforgettable experience.: Many viewers found the film disturbing and unsettling.
Overall Consensus: A divisive film that owes its cult status to Christopher Walken’s performance. The movie is either disturbing and thought-provoking or laughably bad, depending on your tolerance for bizarre subject matter and cheesy special effects.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “Author Whitley Strieber was actively involved in the film’s production, writing the screenplay himself based on his autobiographical book.”
- “Christopher Walken’s portrayal of Whitley Strieber was a point of contention, with Strieber initially feeling Walken played him “too crazy.””
- “The special effects, particularly the aliens’ appearance, were criticized for being low-budget and unintentionally comical, contrasting with the film’s serious tone.”
🖥️ How to Watch Communion?
As of [Current Date], ‘Communion’ is available for purchase on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies. Availability may vary by region, so please check your local listings. DVD and Blu-ray copies are also available for purchase through online retailers.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed Communion, you might like these similar films:
- Fire in the Sky (1993): Shares the alien abduction theme, but with a darker, more terrifying portrayal of the abduction experience.
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977): Explores themes of contact with extraterrestrial beings and the profound impact it has on individuals.
- The Fourth Kind (2009): A more modern take on the alien abduction narrative, presented as a psychological thriller.
🛒 Communion Related Products
- Communion: A True Story: The original New York Times Best Seller book by Whitley Strieber. Delve deeper into the true story behind the movie, and uncover the original account of Strieber’s alien abduction experiences.
- Alien Mask: Realistic and terrifying alien mask. Based on the aliens in the movie, this mask allows you to recreate the eerie moments or simply scare your friends.
- I Want to Believe Poster: A stylish, high quality poster with the popular “I Want To Believe” saying. This poster is sure to spice up any UFO enthusiast’s room.
- UFO Detector: This UFO detector is great for finding unexplained aircraft. Enjoy a thrilling hunt for the strange and unusual, while having a sense of comfort that an aircraft is nearby.
🎧 Soundtrack
Communion features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
- “Theme from Communion” – performed by Eric Clapton
- “Puttin’ on the Ritz” – performed by Irving Berlin
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
‘Communion’ is based on the book of the same name by Whitley Strieber, which details his alleged experiences with alien abduction. While Strieber maintains the events are factual, the film is a fictionalized adaptation and its veracity remains highly debated.
The ‘Greys’ and ‘Blue Doctors’ are the alien entities that Strieber claims to have encountered. The ‘Greys’ are depicted as small, grey-skinned beings with large black eyes, while the ‘Blue Doctors’ are smaller, blue-skinned figures. They represent the different types of beings Strieber describes in his accounts.
‘Communion’ was primarily filmed in Big Bear Lake, Big Bear Valley, and Running Springs, California, USA.
🔥 Bonus Content
Christopher Walken sees an Alien.
Ever wondered what it’s like for Christopher Walken to see an alien? This clip from Communion shows his, shall we say, *unique* reaction. Seriously, you gotta see Walken’s nonchalant handling of this close encounter – it’s priceless!
Walken With Aliens
Want a quick laugh? This short clip hilariously captures the essence of Christopher Walken interacting with aliens. Honestly, it’s the perfect dose of weird humor to brighten your day!
Communion (1989) Review – Alien Abduction Horror
Curious about the movie Communion and its weirdness? This review dives deep into the film, its themes, and Christopher Walken’s iconic performance. It’s actually pretty insightful, so give it a watch!
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