The Medusa Touch poster

1978·109 min·Released

The Medusa Touch

“Richard Burton is the man with the medusa touch... he has the power to create catastrophe.”

Horror
Thriller
Science Fiction
Mystery

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.

6.8(202 votes)

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Videos

The Medusa Touch (1978) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]

Cast & Crew

Richard Burton

Richard Burton

John Morlar

Lino Ventura

Lino Ventura

Brunel

Lee Remick

Lee Remick

Doctor Zonfeld

Harry Andrews

Harry Andrews

Assistant Commissioner

Alan Badel

Alan Badel

Barrister

Marie-Christine Barrault

Marie-Christine Barrault

Patricia

Jeremy Brett

Jeremy Brett

Edward Parrish

Michael Hordern

Michael Hordern

Atropos - Fortune Teller

Gordon Jackson

Gordon Jackson

Doctor Johnson

Michael Byrne

Michael Byrne

Duff

Derek Jacobi

Derek Jacobi

Townley - Publisher

Malcolm Tierney

Malcolm Tierney

Deacon

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Wuchak

Written on 4/5/2022

_**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

CinemaSerf

Written on 6/4/2023

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 found savagely beaten at his London flat. As the investigation expands, it is clear that the normal rules do not apply here. "Morlar" shouldn't even be alive, yet his brain activity coupled with a spate of accidents and with the ever more revealing - but sensational - revelations about his disaster-prone past lead "Brunel" and the Assistant Commissioner (Harry Andrews) to a conclusion that, well, they just cannot believe. Ventura is good in this, as is the understated, but effective Remick. There are plenty of twists that keep the obvious from becoming too obvious, too soon, and when called upon, Burton contributes well in a sort of manic, epitome of evil, manner. It is a bit dialogue heavy at times, but the last twenty minutes are great drama well put together. A good bit of telekinetic terror!

Media

The Medusa Touch (1978) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]

The Medusa Touch (1978) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]