The Return (1980 film)

The Return is a 1980 American horror film directed by Greydon Clark and starring Raymond Burr, Cybill Shepherd, and Martin Landau. The film follows a group of people who experience strange phenomena linked to a UFO sighting in a small town.

The plot centers on Jennifer (Cybill Shepherd), a young woman who returns to her hometown after experiencing recurring nightmares and visions. Upon her arrival, she encounters increasingly bizarre occurrences that connect to a mass sighting of a UFO years prior. A local scientist, Dr. Kramer (Raymond Burr), investigates the events alongside Jennifer, uncovering a conspiracy and the potential for alien intervention. Martin Landau plays a character involved in the cover-up.

The Return is noted for its low budget special effects, unconventional narrative structure, and its blending of science fiction and horror elements. Although not a critical success upon release, it has since garnered a cult following, particularly among fans of low-budget genre films. The film explores themes of government secrecy, alien abduction, and the psychological impact of unexplained phenomena. Its visual style and plot elements are reminiscent of other science fiction and horror films of the late 1970s and early 1980s.