What a Sleeper! most Movie Buffs probably never heard of this Creepy, Scary, Well Written Supernatural, Para-Psychological, Serial-Killer, Conglomerate, British Gem.
Combining all these Elements in a Fast moving, unfolding of a "Simple Murder", is so Professionally handled it seems Effortless. It is well Acted and is Respectful of a Subject in Disrepute, and the Film makes it all seem Believable.
Fine SFX Work, not always Present in European Cinema (especially in the 70's),just adds another realm of Verisimilitude to the Far Out, Fantastic Premise.
The Ending has a Terrific Twist. Not to be missed.
The Medusa Touch
1978
Action / Horror / Sci-Fi
The Medusa Touch
1978
Action / Horror / Sci-Fi
Plot summary
John Morlar (Richard Burton) is watching a British television broadcast when an anchorman states that American astronauts are trapped in orbit around the moon. Suddenly someone in Morlar's room picks up a figurine and strikes him on the head repeatedly. His blood splatters the television screen. French Detective-Inspector Brunel (Lino Ventura) arrives at Morlar's apartment to begin an investigation. At first he thinks Morlar is dead, but soon he hears him breathe. At the hospital, Morlar is hooked up to life support systems, one machine in particular monitors the activity of his battered brain. Brunel discovers that Morlar has been in psychological analysis because of his history of being witness to many disasters, other people's disasters. Dr. Zonfeld (Lee Remick),Morlar's analyst, explains that Morlar's delusions had begun when he was a child. He believed that he had caused a hated nanny's death. Morlar's childhood delusions were reinforced at a resort when he overheard his parents discussing him with disapproval. When his parents strolled on top of a cliff, Morlar watched as the family car suddenly pushed them off the cliff to their deaths. One evening, Brunel pores over the mysteries of Morlar's diary and through his scrapbook of disastrous events. Gradually, Brunel begins to develop an opinion of what Morlar was like and begins to wonder if he is chasing a murderer or a victim.
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Movie Reviews
Not to Be Missed
Excellent combination of murder mystery, supernatural thriller, and disaster film; one of my favorite films
"The Medusa Touch" is a well-kept secret that more people need to discover. I have watched this film more times than I can count, and I notice something new every time; the last time got me thinking about the subtle difference between wanting something to happen and making it happen. It starts as a whodunit, develops into a supernatural thriller, and climaxes as a disaster film. The whodunit has a powerful resolution, the supernatural element is introduced through a seamless flashback-within-flashback structure which guides the viewer step-by-step from the realistic to the mind-expanding, the disaster aspect works thanks to some still-impressive special effects. There are lots of memorable scenes here, from the death of Morlar's parents to his visit to a psychic who gets so terrified by what he senses that he can't even look at him. The film is perfectly cast: Richard Burton with his commanding voice and piercing eyes, the classy, beautiful, intelligent Lee Remick, the instantly likable Lino Ventura. The "Omen"-like chilling music score is the icing on the cake. ***1/2 out of 4.
Great stuff all round
THE MEDUSA TOUCH is an excellent and understated addition to the wave of 'psychic thrillers' doing the rounds in the late 1980s and early 1980s, so remarkable because it's unlike any of the others. This is by parts a mystery story, a dark personal history, a horror flick and even a disaster movie come the end stages. Richard Burton appears mostly in flashback but mesmerises in even this small part, while Lino Ventura as the Columbo-style French detective is a thoroughly enderaring and engaging lead. The unusual structure keeps you on your toes, the mystery unfolding at just the right pace, and the ensemble supporting cast is extraordinary; kudos in particular to Lee Remick and Harry Andrews in stand-out parts. Great stuff all round, this.