The Medusa Touch

Based on Peter Van Greenaway’s bestseller, The Medusa Touch boasts a splendid cast – headed by a top-billed Richard Burton, although it is Italian actor Lino Ventura who has the bigger part.

French police officer Brunel (L. Ventura) is called to London on an exchange program to investigate a brutal and near fatal attack on well-known novelist John Morlar (R. Burton). The film begins with an unknown assailant bashing in Morlar’s head with a heavy object. Brunel’s investigations lead him to psychologist Doctor Zonfeld (Lee Remick), who is able to tell him something about her former patient Morlar – but not as much as she could do.
Morlar, a one time-radical barrister who is more than capable of unleashing destructive telekinetic powers on all those who get in his way or in any way attempt to thwart him, has miraculously survived the vicious attack and is comatose in hospital under strict observation. Through flashback sequences we learn of his troubled childhood and events which caused him to behave the way he has and to wreak this amount of havoc. Particularly harrowing is a scene where – in order to demonstrate his powers to a disbelieving Dr. Zonfeld – he wills a jumbo jet to crash into a skyscraper.

Before long, Detective Brunel realises that Dr. Zonfeld is holding back on him and wants to know the reasons why. Zonfeld feels that she has no alternative but to reveal the ugly truth… But the more Brunel probes, the more dangerous the entire situation becomes – leading to the film’s chilling climax!

We have a number of top stage- and film character actors making fleeting performances throughout, most notably TVs ‘Sherlock Holmes’ Jeremy Brett, and Harry Andrews (Ice Cold In Alex, Theatre Of Blood) – here doing his working class bit as a caring copper.

Directed by Jack ‘Ghandi’ Gold with some flair, the plot seems at times absurd and far-fetched, but nonetheless makes for riveting entertainment.

SPECIAL FEATURES of this Blu-ray edition include:

* Audio commentary with director Jack Gold, Kim Newman and Stephen Jones
* Destroying the Abbey: behind-the-scenes footage
* Original Theatrical Trailer
* Image Gallery
* Booklet by Kim Newman