Review of Communion (1989) by John S — 29 Aug 2008

Rather than attempt the impossible task of filming the book, 'Communion' distills the essence of the first volume, and adds elements detailed in the first follow-up book 'Transformation'.

Whitley's screenplay conveys the terror, intimacy and humour of his experiences. Walken's performance is magnificent, and he is given solid support by the rest of the cast.

Strangely, almost 20 years later, the mechanical and budgetary problems with the visitor effects (which audiences and the filmmakers had thought were the film's biggest flaw) now seem to add to it's effectiveness. The artificiality and fragility of the models and costumes actually serve to reinforce some of the themes - "Masks of G-d", fractured childhood memories, art(ifice) and reality.