The Earthling

A terminally ill man returns to the Australian wilderness where he spent his childhood, intending to spend his final days in solitude. During his journey, he encounters a young boy whose parents have died in an accident. Despite his desire for isolation, the man takes the child under his care and teaches him how to survive in the wild.

This 1980 action drama was directed by Peter Collinson, following his work on The Italian Job, You Can't Win 'Em All, and Innocent Bystanders. The film features William Holden as Patrick Foley and Ricky Schroder as Shawn, with supporting roles played by Jack Thompson, Olivia Hamnett, Alwyn Kurts, and Pat Evison. Produced by Filmways Pictures, Arkoff International, and Earthling Associates, it is a joint production between Australia and the United States.

The movie has received generally positive feedback from viewers. On IMDb, it holds a rating of 6.8/10 based on 2,000 votes, while on TMDB it has a score of 6.3/10 from 34 votes.