Patrick (film)

Patrick
Directed by Richard Franklin
Produced by Richard Franklin
Antony I Ginnane
Written by Everett De Roche
Starring Susan Penhaligon
Robert Helpmann
Rod Mullinar
Music by Brian May
Cinematography Donald McAlpine
Editing by Edward McQueen-Mason
Release date(s) 1 October 1978 (Australia)
9 May 1979 (France)
Running time 112 min., 140 min. (original cut)
Country Australia
Language English

Patrick is a 1978 Australian horror film directed by Richard Franklin and written by Everett De Roche. It is the pivotal movie of respected Australian director Richard Franklin's career.[1]

Contents

Plot summary

Patrick (Robert Thompson) lies in a coma in a Melbourne private hospital. He had murdered his mother and her lover three years ago by electrocuting them in the bath. Patrick, who has psychokinetic powers, falls in love with Kathy (Susan Penhaligon), the new nurse at the hospital, communicating with her via an electric typewriter. Patrick also uses his psychokinetic powers to control the men in Kathy's life and to defend himself against the hospital's bitter Matron Cassidy (Julia Blake) who plots to murder him.[2]

Cast

Reception

The film was nominated in three categories, including Best Film, at the 1978 AFI Awards. Franklin also won the Best Director prize at the prestigious Sitges Fantasy Film Festival in Spain.[3]

The Encyclopedia of Fantasy notes the similarity between the movie's plot and that of the novel Tetrasomy Two by "Oscar Rossiter" (non de plume of Dr. Vernon H.Skeels (1918-2007) )[4].

In Italy, the film was rescored by Goblin.

Remake

In February 2010, it was announced that Mark Hartley would direct a remake of the movie,[5] with Antony I Ginnane as producer.[6] It will be Hartley's genre feature film debut.[7]

See also

References

External links