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The Survivor
Movie

The Survivor

1981 • Unknown

Woke Score
1.4
out of 10

Plot

When a 747 crashes shortly after take-off, the sole survivor is the pilot. Virtually unhurt, he and the investigators look for the answers to the disaster. Meanwhile mysterious deaths occur in the community and only a psychic, in touch with the supernatural, can help the pilot unravel the mystery surrounding the doomed plane.

Overall Series Review

The Survivor is a supernatural thriller from 1981 about Captain Keller, the lone survivor of a catastrophic plane crash, who suffers from amnesia and is tormented by strange visions. He seeks answers regarding the disaster and the mysterious deaths occurring in the community. The narrative is driven by the supernatural mystery and the pilot's journey to uncover a dark truth about the crash. He teams up with a clairvoyant, Hobbs, who is in contact with the restless spirits of the victims. Together, they confront a spiritual reality that defies the material world's explanations. The plot focuses on a classic investigation structure, blending aviation mystery with Australian gothic horror elements. The film does not center on social commentary or political lectures, keeping its focus on character trauma, existential questions of fate, and the paranormal forces at work.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics1/10

The main characters are a white male pilot and a white female psychic in a story focused entirely on a supernatural disaster mystery. Character competence and the supernatural form the plot's engine. There is no focus on immutable characteristics, intersectional hierarchy, or vilification of white identity.

Oikophobia1/10

The film's Australian setting and institutions are presented as a backdrop for the supernatural events, not as fundamentally corrupt or racist. The conflict centers on a plane crash and the spiritual fallout, without deconstructing the nation's heritage or showing hostility toward Western civilization.

Feminism2/10

The female lead, Hobbs, is a competent psychic who provides crucial, irreplaceable help to the male protagonist, giving her agency and importance. However, the central trauma and character arc belong to the male pilot, Captain Keller. Her competency elevates her role beyond a simple sidekick without portraying her as a perfect 'Girl Boss' who instantly eclipses all male characters.

LGBTQ+1/10

The narrative makes no mention of non-normative sexualities or gender ideology. The focus is strictly on the disaster, its investigation, and the supernatural phenomena. The traditional male-female pairing in the lead roles is standard for the period and is not a subject of political discussion.

Anti-Theism2/10

The film is heavily invested in the reality of a spiritual realm due to the central role of a psychic and vengeful spirits. A Catholic priest is a minor character who gives a sermon at the vigil, and is presented neutrally as an institutional figure. While the supernatural (psychic) is the primary driver of truth over the scientific investigation, the film acknowledges a transcendent realm without explicitly demonizing organized religion.