The Medusa Touch

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

1978 1h 49m EN

👍

6.8

SOLID

😬

METACRITIC

⭐

6.9

IMDB

★6.8TMDB · 206●49Metacritic★6.9IMDB · 8,017

HorrorThrillerScience FictionMystery

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

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.

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

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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

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jack Gold
Writers: John Briley
Languages: English
Countries: France, United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

48 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: France, United Kingdom.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Directed by Jack Gold, shot by Arthur Ibbetson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Michael J. Lewis. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Ian Crafford shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Richard Burton and Lino Ventura and Lee Remick carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Richard Burton is the man with the medusa touch... he has the power to create catastrophe.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0077921 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jack Gold directs. Arthur Ibbetson behind the camera. Michael J. Lewis scores. Ian Crafford cuts. Produced in France, United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

148 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2International production across 2 countries: France, United Kingdom.
3Directed by Jack Gold, shot by Arthur Ibbetson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Michael J. Lewis. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Ian Crafford shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Richard Burton and Lino Ventura and Lee Remick carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "Richard Burton is the man with the medusa touch... he has the power to create catastrophe.".
8IMDB entry: tt0077921 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Arthur Ibbetson
Original score: Michael J. Lewis
Editing: Ian Crafford
Makeup / hair: Mike Jones
Runtime: 109 min · 1h 49m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
IMDB: The Medusa Touch (1978)
Metacritic: 49/100
IMDB rating: 6.9/10 · 8,017 votes
MPAA: PG

Awards

1 nomination total

Also by

Jack Gold

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

Wuchak2022-04-05
★ 6/10
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
CinemaSerf2023-06-04
★ 7/10
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!