John’s Horror Corner: The Entity (1982), a “true story” about an invisible ghost rapist

MY CALL:  I’ll say two things that I never thought I’d say together: this is a movie about an invisible rapist and I thought it was good.  IF YOU LIKE THIS WATCH:  The Sentinel (1977), Paranormal Activity 1 & 2 (2009, 2011), Poltergeist (1982).

Based on the true story of what is considered the most extraordinary case in parapsychological history.

Our first impression is that Carla (Barbara Hershey; Insidious, Black Swan) is a beautiful, strong, single mother wrapping up a perfectly normal day when she is beaten and raped by an invisible assailant.  However, after this traumatic event, she is rendered an understandably fragile and terrified wreck.

With the advent of a second “event” of sorts, she’s scaring her children and appearing insane to her teenage son, who doesn’t understand what’s going on…but, really, neither does Carla.  She confides in her supportive friend who advises she see a psychiatrist and even stays with her to help her feel safe.

That’s not good enough, though.  The “entity” strikes when she’s in the car, causing her to crash, she finally sees Dr. Sneiderman (Ron Silver; Time Cop, The Arrival), who doesn’t seem to find Carla’s claims credible but works hard to help her get to the bottom of it.

Eventually her teenager witnesses such an assault and is thrown across the room and held at bay by the entity–making a believer out of him.  As things escalate, a team of university parapsychologists get involved much to Dr. Sneiderman’s disapproval.  As Sneiderman’s disapproval mounts, Carla regains her confidence and mental fortitude.  This is designed, and designed well, to force us to question whether Sneiderman is actually an antagonist or protagonist in this story.

So the question remains:  is she nuts and the victim of her own psychological projections, or is she actually being raped by an entity of something other than her own creation?

This movie has several faux rape scenes.  They may be intense for more sensitive viewers, but they’re tastefully approached–as “tasteful” as a rape scene can be–in the capacity that you don’t see an assailant during these scenes.

There wasn’t much in the way of special effects.  They were poor light show displays like crackling electricity.  Except they did a great job of showing that she was being fondled by something invisible.

A movie about ghost rape…and it was good.  Give it a chance, folks.