Patrick

Following in the bloody footsteps of Brian De Palma's Carrie comes Australia's offering of telekinetic terror. Part twisted love story, part supernatural thriller, Patrick tells the story of a comatose patient (Robert Thompson) who falls in love with his nubile new nurse, Kathy (Susan Penhaligon). Sadly enough, his only means of communication are via electricity, spitting, and general death and destruction. Suspense mounts as Patrick begins to infiltrate Kathy's life, and head nurse Matron Cassidy (played wickedly by Julia Blake) develops evil schemes of her own. Director Richard Franklin (Psycho II) manages efficient performances from the cast, and upon release Patrick was nominated for Best Film by the Australian Film Institute (but played the drive-in chain in the U.S.). This may not be the frightfest promised in the tag line ("Patrick is in a coma... yet, he can kill"), but Patrick still proves to be an interesting diversion and provides some absolutely terrifying glimpses of late-'70s fashion. --Matt Wold