Director:
Constantine S. GochisWriter:
William VernickProducer:
Sheldon TrombergCinematographer:
John Michael BeymerEditor:
Jack FosterProduction Designer:
John AlleeProduction Company:
MLTD ProductionsThe following statement appears at the beginning and end of the film: “From out of the darkness the hand of the Redeemer shall appear to punish those who have lived in sin…and return to the watery depths of hell.”
Principal photography for The Redeemer was slated to begin 11 Apr 1977 according to a 1 Apr 1977 HR news item. As stated in a 21 Jul 1977 HR news item, the project had wrapped.
...
The following statement appears at the beginning and end of the film: “From out of the darkness the hand of the Redeemer shall appear to punish those who have lived in sin…and return to the watery depths of hell.”
Principal photography for The Redeemer was slated to begin 11 Apr 1977 according to a 1 Apr 1977 HR news item. As stated in a 21 Jul 1977 HR news item, the project had wrapped.
The Redeemer... Son of Satan!
A strange boy named Christopher rises from the depths of a river and visits a sleeping priest, casting a spell over the man. Later that day at church, Christopher sits with the choir as the priest delivers a sermon about sinners and the wrath of God. Meanwhile, at an abandoned high school, a janitor lets in a stranger who claims to be an insurance inspector, but who shoots the janitor dead, drags the body into a classroom, and prepares a plaster cast of the man’s head. Later, the stranger pulls out a yearbook for the Class of 1967 and opens it to the “Most Likely To Succeed” page that features six students, three boys and three girls, and cuts out each photograph. Among those pictured in the yearbook is John Sinclair, a dodgy lawyer who only represents wealthy clients, even if they are criminals; Terry Day, a gluttonous travelling businessman who cheats on his wife; Jane, a wealthy trophy wife in a loveless marriage who “skeet shoots” live pigeons; Roger, a vain and ornery actor who causes endless difficulties on the set; Kirsten, a closeted lesbian who is ashamed of her life; and Cindy Pilson, a promiscuous woman, twice married and divorced. Some days later, the six arrive at their former high school for their ten-year reunion. Roger notes that the school doors are locked, and assumes they must be early. They knock, and the stranger, posing as the janitor, lets them in. The group enters the cafeteria where a feast awaits. They enjoy the food, although Cindy wonders why no other classmates have yet arrived. John offers to ...
A strange boy named Christopher rises from the depths of a river and visits a sleeping priest, casting a spell over the man. Later that day at church, Christopher sits with the choir as the priest delivers a sermon about sinners and the wrath of God. Meanwhile, at an abandoned high school, a janitor lets in a stranger who claims to be an insurance inspector, but who shoots the janitor dead, drags the body into a classroom, and prepares a plaster cast of the man’s head. Later, the stranger pulls out a yearbook for the Class of 1967 and opens it to the “Most Likely To Succeed” page that features six students, three boys and three girls, and cuts out each photograph. Among those pictured in the yearbook is John Sinclair, a dodgy lawyer who only represents wealthy clients, even if they are criminals; Terry Day, a gluttonous travelling businessman who cheats on his wife; Jane, a wealthy trophy wife in a loveless marriage who “skeet shoots” live pigeons; Roger, a vain and ornery actor who causes endless difficulties on the set; Kirsten, a closeted lesbian who is ashamed of her life; and Cindy Pilson, a promiscuous woman, twice married and divorced. Some days later, the six arrive at their former high school for their ten-year reunion. Roger notes that the school doors are locked, and assumes they must be early. They knock, and the stranger, posing as the janitor, lets them in. The group enters the cafeteria where a feast awaits. They enjoy the food, although Cindy wonders why no other classmates have yet arrived. John offers to call a former classmate who still lives in the area and Jane joins his search for a payphone. Back in the cafeteria, Cindy remembers that another classmate lives within walking distance and leaves to find her. As John and Jane realize the phone lines are dead, Cindy notices all of the exits are locked. She searches for the janitor, but finds a dead, maggot-covered body. As the group gathers around the janitor’s body, they realize he has been dead for several days and that the man who greeted them earlier was not the janitor. As they separate and check the windows and doors, George notes that all of the windows have bars. In another part of the school, Kristen yells through one of the locked gates when she spots a stranger in the distance. Realizing it is a masked man swinging a scythe, she runs away screaming. John and Terry notice music coming from the public address system. As they enter the audio/visual room, they notice a man sitting in a chair with his back turned to them. When they swing the chair around, they see a dummy holding a live blowtorch, which sets Terry on fire and burns him alive. Later, the five remaining alums wonder if they are victims of a revenge plot but they are unable to think of a reason. John notes that the school is isolated and that no one is around to see or hear them, so Kirsten suggests they start a fire to draw the attention of the fire and police department. As they separate to gather material to burn, Jane returns to the cafeteria for tablecloths and hears a door opening. She runs outside for help and comes across a hunter carrying a shotgun. She pleads with him to take her to the nearest phone, but as they walk, Jane realizes the “hunter” is the stranger and he has led her back to the school where he chases her down before shooting her. Later, the four survivors find Jane’s dead body laid out on the cafeteria table. Back in the stairwell, they plan what to do next but follow sounds coming from the auditorium, where a strange show is in progress. The stranger, dressed in a cape and a mask, recites a Shakespearean speech as a sword-bearing puppet dances. Entranced, Roger moves toward the stage as a dagger falls from the ceiling, impaling him in the head. Terrified, John runs away leaving Kirsten and Cindy alone. He runs into the empty library and finds their old yearbook with their pictures cut out. Meanwhile, Kirsten and Cindy go to the bathroom, but when Kirsten steps outside, the stranger, now dressed as a clown, locks the door behind him, trapping Cindy and taunting her before drowning her in the bathroom sink. Later, the stranger, now disguised in a business suit and mustache, confronts John in the library. As the stranger holds him at gunpoint, John demands to know why he wants them dead and the stranger proclaims that they are sinners and he is their redeemer. John lunges and they struggle over the gun, but John manages to shoot the stranger while they both have their hands on the weapon. Refusing to let go, the stranger turns the gun on John and shoots him in the head. Hearing the commotion, Kirsten runs toward the library and comes face to face with the stranger, then runs, screaming as he chases her to the auditorium. Bleeding and stumbling from his injury, the stranger drops the gun. As she scrambles and picks up the gun, the puppet swings its sword at her head. Back at church, the priest finishes his fiery sermon. As he says goodbye to his parishioners, Christopher joins him, saying that everything will be all right now and leaves. The priest goes to his room and undresses, revealing a bandaged gunshot wound to his waist. As Christopher walks back to the river, the priest touches his wound but finds it miraculously healed. The boy returns to the depths of the river.
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