The Medusa Touch(1978)
04/13/1978 (US)Horror, Thriller, Science Fiction, Mystery1h 49m
6.8
"Richard Burton is the man with the medusa touch... he has the power to create catastrophe."
Overview
A French detective in London reconstructs the life of a man lying in hospital with severe injuries with the help of journals and a psychiatrist. He realises that the man had powerful telekinetic abilities.
John Briley
Screenplay
Jack Gold
Director
Top Billed Cast
Where to Watch
Stream
Rent
Buy
Powered by JustWatch
Popularity Trend
Last 30 Days
This chart shows the popularity trend over the past 30 days.
Media
![The Medusa Touch (1978) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Mx4yXJkGo2g/hqdefault.jpg)
The Medusa Touch (1978) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]
Trailer
Social
W
A review by Wuchak
6.0
Written on April 5, 2022
_**Beware the ‘deathlook’ of Richard Burton**_
A writer in London is convinced he has the power to cause destruction at will (Richard Burton) and it’s driving him mad. Lee Remick plays his psychiatrist while Lino Ventura is on hand as a Scotland Yard detective.
"The Medusa Touch" (1978) is a slow burn psychological thriller/horror that takes the psychokinesis element of “Carrie” but throws in the mass disaster angle of the later “The Mothman Prophecies” (2002). Other films covering this kind of mind power include "Powder" (1995), "Phenomenon" (1996) and “Youth Without Youth” (2007) with the difference here being that the protagonist’s party trick is mayhem rather than benevolence.
Like the original Star Trek pilot, “Where No Man Has Gone Before” (1966), the theme is power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. For instance, if Morlar (Burton) wanted to illustrate his power to the therapist, why not simply lift up her dress or something else harmless, such as picking up a chair? Like Bruce Banner, his gift (or curse) only manifests when provoked to anger.
Remick was the youngest adult cast member at 42 during shooting. I’m not an ageist, but the rest of the cast is glaringly mature. Burton was only 52, but looks way older (he must’ve lived a hard life). Nevertheless, he’s legendary and you can’t beat his presence, voice or delivery.
The film runs 1 hour, 49 minutes, and was shot in London and the greater London area, including the White Cliffs of Dover and Reculver Towers, which are about an hour’s drive east of the city on the coast.
GRADE: B-/B
A writer in London is convinced he has the power to cause destruction at will (Richard Burton) and it’s driving him mad. Lee Remick plays his psychiatrist while Lino Ventura is on hand as a Scotland Yard detective.
"The Medusa Touch" (1978) is a slow burn psychological thriller/horror that takes the psychokinesis element of “Carrie” but throws in the mass disaster angle of the later “The Mothman Prophecies” (2002). Other films covering this kind of mind power include "Powder" (1995), "Phenomenon" (1996) and “Youth Without Youth” (2007) with the difference here being that the protagonist’s party trick is mayhem rather than benevolence.
Like the original Star Trek pilot, “Where No Man Has Gone Before” (1966), the theme is power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. For instance, if Morlar (Burton) wanted to illustrate his power to the therapist, why not simply lift up her dress or something else harmless, such as picking up a chair? Like Bruce Banner, his gift (or curse) only manifests when provoked to anger.
Remick was the youngest adult cast member at 42 during shooting. I’m not an ageist, but the rest of the cast is glaringly mature. Burton was only 52, but looks way older (he must’ve lived a hard life). Nevertheless, he’s legendary and you can’t beat his presence, voice or delivery.
The film runs 1 hour, 49 minutes, and was shot in London and the greater London area, including the White Cliffs of Dover and Reculver Towers, which are about an hour’s drive east of the city on the coast.
GRADE: B-/B
