Get the MovieNight app
Add it to your home screen — faster & full screen
Get the MovieNight app
Add it to your home screen — faster & full screen
ITC Entertainment
Not part of a collection.
Richard Burton is the man with the medusa touch... he has the power to create catastrophe.
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.
CinemaSerf
Jun 4, 2023 · via TMDB
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!
Wuchak
Apr 5, 2022 · via TMDB
_**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
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
Amazon Video
Shout! Factory Amazon Channel
Amazon Video
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
Malcolm Tierney
Deacon
Philip Stone
Dean
Robert Lang
Pennington
Avril Elgar
Mrs. Pennington
James Hazeldine
Lovelass
John Normington
Mr. Copley
Robert Flemyng
Judge McKinley
Norman Bird
Major Henry Morlar
Jennifer Jayne
Mrs. Morlar
Frances Tomelty
Nanny
George Innes
Van Driver
Ian Marter
Detective
Brook Williams
Male Nurse
Shaw Taylor
TV Space Reporter
Mark Jones
Sgt. Hughes
Maurice O'Connell
Sgt. Robbins
Victor Winding
Senior Police Officer
John Flanagan
Police Constable
Stanley Lebor
Police Doctor
Guy Standeven
Teacher (uncredited)
David de Keyser
Brunel (voice) (uncredited)
Jack Gold
Director
Anne V. Coates
Supervising Editor
Arnon Milchan
Executive Producer
Anne V. Coates
Producer
Jack Gold
Producer
Brian Johnson
Special Effects Supervisor
The Dark Knight
Star Wars
The Usual Suspects
Kamen Rider Saber: The Phoenix Swordsman and the Book of Ruin
Dial M for Murder
Logan
Sleuth
The Man Who Knew Too Much
Match Point
An American Werewolf in London
Ressha Sentai ToQger vs. Kamen Rider Gaim: Spring Break Combined Special
Blow-Up
28 Days Later
The Long Good Friday
Superman
The Getaway
Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow
Frenzy
From Russia with Love
Mission: Impossible
Dr. No
The Fantastic 4: First Steps
Dirty Pretty Things
Payback
The Amazing Spider-Man
Fellowship of the Frog
You Only Live Twice
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
The Assassination of Richard Nixon
Blackmail
The Squeaker
The Man with the Golden Gun
Johnny Handsome
Tomorrow Never Dies
National Treasure: Book of Secrets
A View to a Kill
Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters the Movie: Protect the Tokyo Enetower!
Entrapment
Killing Zoe
Sharky's Machine
Dune
Violent Blood Bath
Knockaround Guys
009-1: The End of the Beginning
Birthday Girl
Death Line
The Secret of the Red Orchid
The Last Railway
Escape Route
Making Contact
Underdog
The Broken
Batman & Robin
666: Kreepy Kerry
Kamen Rider Revice: Special Event
Jake Goes on a Date
Drosera
Source Code
Tenet
The Dead Zone
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Déjà Vu
Coma
23 Paces to Baker Street
2073
Time Lapse
The Independent
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon
The Seven-Ups
Star Trek: Nemesis
Night Watch
12:01
Paycheck
The Mean Season
Surrogates
Next
Push
The Astronaut
Overdrive
Kin
Eradication
The Jester
Circle
Stalked by My Doctor
Fast Color
The Asphyx
Cosmos
Murder at the Embassy
Deception
RoboCop
Apr 14, 1978
© 2025-2026 MovieNight. All rights reserved.
Versus
Sign in to play →
Leo Kottke: Home + Away
1989
Match in a Haystack
2025
Sign in to vote
Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Halloween
1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
Trivia
Leaderboard →Playing as a guest — sign in to save your score and rank on the leaderboard.
Movie Trivia
Guess the movie from a clue — tagline, plot, cast and more. Pick from four posters.
What movie experience do you prefer?
What is your favorite movie genre?
Versus
Sign in to play →
Leo Kottke: Home + Away
1989
Match in a Haystack
2025
Sign in to vote
Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Halloween
1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
Trivia
Leaderboard →Playing as a guest — sign in to save your score and rank on the leaderboard.
Movie Trivia
Guess the movie from a clue — tagline, plot, cast and more. Pick from four posters.
What movie experience do you prefer?
What is your favorite movie genre?
We use essential cookies to run MovieNight, plus analytics (Google Analytics) and advertising (Google AdSense) cookies. By continuing to browse, you agree to this — or click No and we won't. See our Terms & Privacy Policy to learn more.