The Returning

The Returning
Film poster
Directed by	John Day
Written by	Arthur Baysting John Day
Based on	an original idea by Simon Willisson and John Day
Produced by	Trisha Downie
Starring	Phillip Gordon Alison Routledge
Cinematography	Kevin Haywood
Edited by	Simon Clothier
Music by	Clive Cockburn
Production companies	Echo Pictures New Zealand Film Commission
Release date	February 16, 1991 (1991-02-16)
Running time	91 min
Countries	Australia New Zealand
Language	English

The Returning is a 1991 Australia-New Zealand horror film directed by John Day. It had it's premiere in Gore, New Zealand on 16 February. Day was nominated for Best Director the 1992 New Zealand Film Awards.

The film, which Day calls "a powerful love story with all the elements of a psychological thriller", was inspired by a dream. Filming began in February 1990 with Phillip Gordon and Alison Routledge in the lead roles.

Cast

• Phillip Gordon as Alan Steadman
• Alison Routledge as Jessica Scott
• Max Cullen as Donohue
• Jim Moriarty as George
• John Ewart as Steadman Senior
• Grant Tilly as Dr Pitts
• Jenny Ryken as Charlotte Heatherington

Reception

John Parker in Onfilm called it an "excellent erotic/psychological/supernatural thriller". Richard Scheib of Moria gave it 1 star and said "Doing an old-fashioned weepie ghost story in this day and age either takes a dedicated romanticism or a great foolhardiness to pull off. Sadly, this New Zealand-made effort, which never seems to have been seen by the wider world, has neither and emerges as a film of astounding silliness. " Jim Murphy in the Age's Green Guide said it "is heavy with Gothic trappings and intriguing enough if you for that sort of thing."

References

External links

• The Returning at IMDb
• The Returning at NZ Film Archive
• The Returning at NZ Film