The Medusa Touch (1978)

72% of users liked it
(1,275 ratings)

In The Medusa Touch Brunel (Lino Ventura), a French detective on temporary assignment with Scotland Yard, investigates a mysterious series of disasters. The uncanny events begin happening shortly after writer John Morlar (Richard Burton) was hit over the head by an unknown intruder and rendered… More In The Medusa Touch Brunel (Lino Ventura), a French detective on temporary assignment with Scotland Yard, investigates a mysterious series of disasters. The uncanny events begin happening shortly after writer John Morlar (Richard Burton) was hit over the head by an unknown intruder and rendered comatose. Slowly, Brunel begins to connect the strange things that are happening in the world with the deranged dreams of the comatose Morlar. He gets the final clue he needs from Morlar's reluctant psychiatrist, Dr. Zonfield (Lee Remick), who holds the key to Morlar's past. Once it is discovered that Morlar has the ability to think horrible thoughts and make them come true, Brunel and Zonfield must take off with dispatch to a London cathedral, where the Queen is scheduled to make an appearance -- but Morlar is thinking about the cathedral, and it is crumbling fast. Well-liked in Britain, this movie did not do well in the U.S. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 50 min.
Directed By: Jack Gold
Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Apr 14, 1978 Wide

No Critic Reviews Found…

Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Hogwash telepathy melodrama. Burton looks like hell and acts bored, Lee Remick looks great but her part is a waste of her time as the picture is a waste of yours.
Dr Blood

Some great effects along the way, coupled with Richard Burton's menacing acting make this a must see.
xGary X

Richard Burton's considerable charisma adds weight to this supernatural chiller, in which a psychic is able to cause catastrophes with the power of his mind. The MTV generation may find it a little slow, but fans of The Omen and The Exorcist will not be disappointed.
John M

An underrated Sci-Fi jewel that is well directed and cast. This is a dark, powerful, haunting and intelligent psychological thriller.
Barry L

Absolute belter of a film. The plane crash sequence was brialliant for its time and Burtons acting was excellent.

Cast

            Richard Burton as John Morlar

            Lino Ventura as Insp. Brunel

            Lee Remick as Dr. Zonfield

            Harry Andrews as Assistant Commissioner

            Marie-Christine Barrault as Patricia Morlar

            Michael Hordern as Atropos the Fortune Teller

            Gordon Jackson as Dr.Johnson

            Derek Jacobi as Townley the Publisher

            Michael Byrne as Duff

            Jeremy Brett as Edward Parrish

            Robert Lang as Pennington

            Denise Alexander as Hospital Doctor

            Alan Badel as Barrister

            Norman Bird as Father

            Joseph Clark as 14 Year Old Morlar

            John Flanagan as Police Constable

            Robert Flemyng as Judge McKinley

            James Hazeldine as Lovelass

            Gordon Honeycombe as TV Newscaster

            George Innes as Van Driver

            Jennifer Jayne as Mother

            Ian Marter as Detective in Street

            John Normington as Schoolmaster

            Maurice O'Connell as Sgt. Robbins

            Earl Rhodes as Parson

            Colin Rix as Engineer

            Philip Stone as Dean

            Frances Tomelty as Nanny

            Brook Williams as Male Nurse

            Malcolm Tierney as Deacon

            Stanley Lebor as Police Doctor

            Matthew Long as Copilot

            Avril Elgar as Mrs. Pennington

            Wendy Gifford as Receptionist

            Victor Winding as Senior Police Officer

            Mark Jones as Sgt. Hughes
See full cast