After a suicide attempt, an anonymous young man (Zeljko Ivanek) is taken to a hospital for treatment.

But soon his psychologist Dr. Gail Farmer (Harrold) discovers the strange patient is a "sender," a powerful telepath who has the ability to transfer his nightmares to others...with tragic results.

As Dr. Farmer scrambles to calm the Sender's psyche so as to stop his terrifying projections onto others, a mysterious woman named Jerolyn (Knight) shows up, claiming to be the Sender's mother.

But what's real here? And what can stop the Sender?

Gorehounds will likely find this effort ho hum, but horror lovers with some patience might find a little to admire here.

Lead Zelkjko Ivanek is good, while Kathryn Harrold is sympathetic as the doctor. Veteran actress Shirley Knight - so good in 1962's Sweet Bird of Youth - here delivers an intriguing performance as the young man's mother.

Note: we're never quite sure if the mother is in fact alive or a ghostly figure, which adds to the overall spookiness of The Sender.

Worthy of a look.