This supernatural thriller deals with John Morlar (Richard Burton) , while he's watching a British television broadcast an anchorman explains that American astronauts are trapped in orbit around the moon. Suddenly someone in Morlar's room picks up a figurine and strikes him on the head repeatedly. His blood splatters the television screen. French Detective-Inspector Brunel (Lino Ventura) along with his helper (Michael Byrne) arrive at Morlar's flat to start the criminal investigation. At first he thinks Morlar is dead, but soon he hears him breathe. As the man was struck over the head and being admitted to a hospital . Meantime, weird disasters befall the surrounding city . At the hospital, Morlar is hooked up to life support systems, one machine in particular monitors the activity of his battered brain . It seems that despite his unconscious state, the man is using his telekinetic powers to will things to happen. As Morlar states : ¨I am the man with the power to create catastrophe¨, as he has the power to move objects , to cause the death of anyone who stands in his way . Richard Burton is the man with the medusa touch ... he has the power to create catastrophe! . As he possesses a powerful gift , Telekinesis : A mental force that enables this man to move objects and control events. Science cannot explain the awesome power of the mind. And nothing can control it ! .
This horror-style story contains intriguing events, thriller , chiller , suspense , tension and disaster images . Main and support cast are pretty good , as Richard Burton playing the telekinetic novelist who causes disasters simply by thinking about them , he's top-notch , especially when scathingly giving a vitriolic disection of his faithless wife , but the real starring is the French Lino Ventura who is terrific as the stubborn police inspector . Support cast is magnificent with plenty of notorious British secondaries , such as : Michael Hordern , Alan Badel , Gordon Jackson , Michael Byrne , Derek Jacobi , Robert Lang , Robert Flemyng, Philip Stone , Malcolm Tierney , Jeremy Brett and Harry Andrews .
It displays a thrilling and exciting musical score by Michael J. Lewis . As well as colorful and appropriate cinematography by Arthur Ibbetson . The motion picture was professionally directed by Jack Gold. Jack was born in London and being a prestigious director and producer , known for Bofors guns (1968) , The Reckoning (1970) , Man Friday (1975) , Aces high (1976) , The Medusa touch (1978), The Chain (1984) , Escape from Sobibor (1987), and Goodnight, Mister Tom (1998). ¨The Medusa Touch (1978) is a rehash of the catastrophe genre along with supernatural powers clichés in which the splendid casting stands out . Rating : 6.5/10, nice and entertaining . It's a fairly watchable and breathtaking film and it results to be a good treatment of telekinesis theme along with disaster movies. Enthusiasts of horrific hokum will enjoy themselves ehile cynics chuckle . Essential and indispensable watching for Lino Ventura, Lee Remick and Richard Burton fans.
