The Medusa Touch (1978)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Jack Gold

Writers:

Peter Van Greenaway (novel)
John Briley (screenplay)

Release Date:

1978 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Psychological thriller about a novelist, a telekinetic, who causes disasters simply by thinking about them.

Plot Keywords:

Disaster | Brain | Investigation | Police | Childhood

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Richard Burton	...	John Morlar
Lino Ventura	...	Brunel
Lee Remick	...	Doctor Zonfeld
Harry Andrews	...	Assistant Commissioner
Alan Badel	...	Barrister
Marie-Christine Barrault	...	Patricia
Jeremy Brett	...	Edward Parrish
Michael Hordern	...	Atropos - Fortune Teller
Gordon Jackson	...	Doctor Johnson
Michael Byrne	...	Duff
Derek Jacobi	...	Townley - Publisher
Robert Lang	...	Pennington
Avril Elgar	...	Mrs. Pennington
John Normington	...	Schoolmaster
Robert Flemyng	...	Judge McKinley

Also Known As:

La grande menace (France)

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

France | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Norway:16 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) | Iceland:16 | Germany:12 | Netherlands:16 | Australia:M | UK:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Bristol Cathedral, College Green, Bristol, England, UK

Company:

Coatesgold

Trivia:

The cathedral in the climactic scenes was given the fictitious name of Minster Cathedral (even though it was intended to be Westminster Abbey) because the director did not want anyone who was familiar with the architecture of the Abbey to say "But that's not Westminster Abbey", given that the scenes were actually filmed at Bristol Cathedral.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: When Molar visits a fortune teller, the boom mic is visible above the fortune teller's head.

Quotes:

John Morlar: I will bring the whole edifice down on their unworthy heads

UNDERRATED SUPERNATURAL THRILLER

Hmm. Some of the reviewers here have complained about the film's slow pacing. Well, yes...compared to the MTV style edited movies of the past 5 years, I'd have to agree. But, the pacing is also necessary in order to show the slow psychological breakdown of the lead character. It's a slow burn type of story, and the filmmakers were much more concerned with building a creepy atmosphere than bombarding us with CGI effects, blood and gore, and whatever else passes for supernatural horror these days.

Besides, Richard Burton on a bad day is better than most actors at their best.

If "Jason X" and other hollow, special effects driven films are your idea of horror...then this isn't the film for you. The Medusa Touch is a methodically paced thriller, aimed at genre fans who enjoy a more thoughtful kind of horror film. If you enjoyed "Don't Look Now," then this is the type of film for you.

If you have the rare opportunity to catch this obscure film, you should at least give it a fair shake. Then you can decide for yourself.