The Visitors (1972 film)

The Visitors is a 1972 American psychological drama film directed by Elia Kazan. It was Kazan's first independent film and was made on a low budget. The film explores themes of trauma, violence, and the lingering effects of the Vietnam War on American society.

The story centers on Martha Wayne (Patricia Joyce) and Bill Schmidt (Patrick McVey), a young couple living a secluded life in rural Connecticut. Their lives are disrupted by the unexpected arrival of two former soldiers, Mike Nickerson (Steve Railsback) and Tony Rodriguez (Chico Martinez), who were court-martialed for the gang rape of a Vietnamese woman during their service in Vietnam. Bill was the sole dissenting vote against them in the court-martial proceedings.

Mike and Tony’s visit, initially seemingly friendly, quickly escalates into a tense and ultimately violent confrontation. The film avoids explicit depictions of the rape incident in Vietnam, instead focusing on the psychological impact of the war and the men's inability to readjust to civilian life. The arrival of the visitors forces Bill and Martha to confront their own moral compromises and the complexities of justice and revenge.

The Visitors is notable for its realistic style and its unflinching portrayal of the darker aspects of human nature. It avoids easy answers or moral judgments, leaving the audience to grapple with the complexities of the situation and the characters' motivations. It is considered a significant, albeit controversial, work in Kazan's filmography and a powerful statement about the lingering consequences of war.