Patrick
File:Patrick (film).jpg
Directed byRichard Franklin
Written byEverett De Roche
Produced byRichard Franklin
Antony I. Ginnane
StarringSusan Penhaligon
Robert Helpmann
Rod Mullinar
CinematographyDonald McAlpine
Edited byEdward McQueen-Mason
Music byBrian May
Release dates
1 October 1978 (Australia)
9 May 1979 (France)
Running time
112 min., 140 min. (original cut)
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
Budget$400,000[1]

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.[2]

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.[3]

Cast

Reception

The movie was highly successful, selling to over 30 countries.[1]

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.[4]

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) )[5].

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,[6] with Antony I Ginnane as producer.[7] It will be Hartley's genre feature film debut.[8]

Sequel

A sequel made in Italy with Italian actors was titled Patrick Still Lives and released in 1980.

See also

Influences

Quentin Tarantino is a fan of the movie and borrowed from Patrick for a scene in Kill Bill where the bride is in her coma and spits on the orderly, mimicking Patrick. He relates the story in Mark Hartley's documentary Not Quite Hollywood.

References

  1. ^ a b "Profit, praise for "Patrick"". The Australian Women's Weekly (1933 - 1982). 1933 - 1982: National Library of Australia. 5 July 1978. p. 15. Retrieved 23 September 2012.((cite news)): CS1 maint: location (link)
  2. ^ "Patrick" at Australian screen
  3. ^ Murray, Scott (1994). Australian Cinema. St.Leonards, NSW.: Allen & Unwin/AFC. p. 282. ISBN 1-86373-311-6. ((cite book)): Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Patrick at IMDb
  5. ^ "'Like "Tetrasomy Two," Skeels was a true original '". ((cite web)): line feed character in |title= at position 50 (help)
  6. ^ "'Not Quite Hollywood' Director to Remake Aussie Thriller 'Patrick'".
  7. ^ "Not Quite Hollywood Director Plans Patrick Remake".
  8. ^ "Not Quite Hollywood Director Helming Patrick Remake".
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