The Medusa Touch

"This is an interesting underseen psychological thriller/mystery. The police investigate a home invasion that left the occupant (Richard Burton) in a coma. The investigation is led by French acing legend Lino Ventura (they use the officer exchange program trope to explain his presence). The investigation finds that Burton has believed he could manifest catastrophes with his mind since he was a child. There are enough suspicious deaths surrounding him that even the clear eyed Ventura starts to suspect that something is going on. This is just a solid thriller with some possible sci-if elements. (Tonally it reminded me of Croenberg’s Scanners). It telegraphs where it is going pretty early but it executes it well. Ventura gives the film some gravitas, so it doesn’t devolve into camp. Burton is super over-the-top in the flashback scenes but it works for his paranoid and isolated character. 3.5 out of 5 Stars"