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RUNTIME
Did you know
86 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
The Return
1980 1h 26m EN
😐
5.9
MID
⭐
3.8
IMDB
★5.9TMDB · 133★3.8IMDB · 907
MysteryThrillerScience Fiction
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
Two young children and an adult in a small town have an encounter with an alien spaceship. 25 years later the children are reunited as adults in the same town which is now beset by strange cattle mutilations. Matters become worse when the cattle mutilations are joined by human murders and mutilations.
“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”
Cast
Jan-Michael Vincent
Wayne
Cybill Shepherd
Jennifer
Martin Landau
Niles Buchanan
Raymond Burr
Dr. Kramer
Neville Brand
Walt
Brad Rearden
Eddie
Vincent Schiavelli
Prospector
Darby Hinton
Darren
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Greydon Clark
- Writers
- Jim Wheat, Ken Wheat, Curtis Burch
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- United States of America
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 7
ERA
Did you know
46 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 7
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Greydon Clark, shot by Daniel Pearl. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 7
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Dan Wyman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 7
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Curtis Burch shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 7
CAST
Did you know
Jan-Michael Vincent and Cybill Shepherd and Martin Landau carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 7
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0081421 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Greydon Clark directs. Daniel Pearl behind the camera. Dan Wyman scores. Curtis Burch cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 186 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
- 246 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
- 3Directed by Greydon Clark, shot by Daniel Pearl. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 4Original score by Dan Wyman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 5Editor Curtis Burch shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 6Jan-Michael Vincent and Cybill Shepherd and Martin Landau carry the top of the cast.
- 7IMDB entry: tt0081421 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Daniel Pearl
- Original score
- Dan Wyman
- Editing
- Curtis Burch
- Makeup / hair
- Ken Horn
- Runtime
- 86 min · 1h 26m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- EN
- IMDB rating
- 3.8/10 · 907 votes
- MPAA
- Not Rated
Also by
Greydon Clark
Stills · wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Key crew
- Executive ProducerMichael R. Starita
- Makeup EffectsKen Horn
- Makeup ArtistPatricia Bunch
- Art DirectionChester Kaczenski
- ProducerGreydon Clark
- Associate ProducerCurtis Burch
- EditorCurtis Burch
- Makeup EffectsTom Schwartz
- Special Effects AssistantJacqulin Cole
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- sheriff
- alien
- alien abduction
- cattle mutilation
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical1980-03-31
Also known as
International titles
- The Alien's ReturnUS
- Incontri stellariIT
- Tödliche BedrohungDE
- A visszatérésHU
- The Return - Tödliche BedrohungDE
- Die Rückkehr der AußerirdischenDE
