The Medusa Touch
The Medusa Touch

Movie spotlight

The Medusa Touch

1978
Movie
109 min
English

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.

Insights

IMDb6.2/10
Director: Jack GoldGenres: Thriller, Mystery, Horror, Sci-Fi

Plot Summary

A wealthy novelist, John Morlar, discovers he possesses psychometric abilities, allowing him to see and influence events through touch. After surviving a near-fatal accident, his powers intensify, and he begins experiencing visions of impending doom and death. These visions are connected to people he has encountered, leading him to believe he is inadvertently causing their demise.

Critical Reception

The Medusa Touch received a mixed to negative reception from critics upon its release. While some praised its intriguing premise and Richard Burton's performance, many found the plot convoluted and the execution uneven. Audience reactions were similarly divided, with some appreciating the dark themes and supernatural elements, while others were disappointed by the film's pacing and lack of clear resolution.

What Reviewers Say

  • The film suffers from a muddled narrative and inconsistent tone.

  • Richard Burton delivers a commanding performance as the troubled protagonist.

  • The supernatural premise offers moments of suspense but ultimately fails to coalesce into a satisfying story.

Google audience: Google user reviews are not readily available for this title, making it difficult to gauge specific audience likes or dislikes.

Fun Fact

Richard Burton, known for his Shakespearean roles and dramatic intensity, was reportedly displeased with the film's production and his own performance, later describing it as one of his least favorite projects.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Though top billed in this, Richard Burton features but sparingly as a man with a tortured past. His recollections to his psychiatrist "Dr. Zonfeld" (Lee Remick) are relayed to police inspector "Brunel" (Lino Ventura) after he ("Morlar") is ...

Wuchak

Wuchak

_**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 ...