Psychic Killer (1975)

A former mental patient uses astral projection to destroy the people he believes have wronged him.

Director:

Ray Danton (as Raymond Danton)

Writers:

Greydon Clark, Mikel Angel

Stars:

Paul Burke, Jim Hutton, Julie Adams

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Burke	...	Police Lt. Jeff Morgan
Jim Hutton	...	Arnold James Masters
Julie Adams	...	Dr. Laura Scott
Nehemiah Persoff	...	Dr. Gubner
Neville Brand	...	Lemonowski
Aldo Ray	...	Lt. Dave Anderson
Whit Bissell	...	Dr. Paul Taylor
Rod Cameron	...	Dr. Commanger
Della Reese	...	Mrs. Gibson
Mary Charlotte Wilcox	...	Nurse Burnson (as Mary Wilcox)
Judith Brown	...	Anne Turner
Joseph Della Sorte	...	Harvey B. Sanders
Greydon Clark	...	Police Sgt. Marv Sowash
Harry Holcombe	...	Judge
Robin Raymond	...	Jury Foreman (as Robyn Raymond)

Storyline

Mental patient Arnold Masters, hospitalized for a murder he didn't commit, learns astral projection--the art of leaving one's physical body and transporting the soul someplace else--from a fellow inmate. Upon his release, Arnold uses his new powers to bump off the people he holds responsible for his arrest, his mother's death while he was imprisoned and the price of meat! Lt. Morgan and Lt. Anderson are the cops on his trail, while his caring shrink, Dr. Scott, tries to prevent any more deaths.

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Plot Keywords:

manhunt | erotic horror | paranormal phenomena | sexploitation film | psychotronic film | 

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Taglines:

Meet Arnold Masters. He Can Think Of 1000 Ways To Kill You.

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

December 1975 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Kirlian Effect

Filming Locations:

Lincoln Heights Jail - 401 N. Avenue 19, Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$250,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lexington Productions, Mars Productions Corporation, Syn-Frank Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The sign on lawyer Sanders' new building says "M. Rustam Const. Corp." Mohammed Rustam and Mohammed Rustam are two of the producers.

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Goofs

Lieut. Morgan (Paul Burke) reports that the coroner describes the scalding victim as having "first degree burns". First degree burns are the least serious (but most painful) type of burn, and the coroner would know this.

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Alternate Versions

Although the cinema version was uncut the 1992 UK video was pre-cut by 9 secs before submission to remove scenes of bloodstained breasts during the shower murder. The 2000 Vipco release was the complete version.

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Connections

Referenced in The American Nightmare (2000)

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Soundtracks

La Donna e mobile
(uncredited)
from 'Rigoletto'
by Giuseppe Verdi
Performed by Joseph Della Sorte

User Reviews

A Few Interesting Ideas

Psychic Killer (1975)

** (out of 4)

Arnold Masters (Jim Hutton) is in jail serving time for killing the doctor who let his mother die. The truth of the matter is that he's actually innocent and is released once the real killer confesses. Before getting out another inmate gives him a special amulet, which gives him a psychic power to kill. Before long Arnold is killing off those he blames for his mothers death and it's up to a couple detectives to try and figure out what's going on.

PSYCHIC KILLER isn't what I'd consider a good movie but at the same time it has some rather interesting things that make it worth watching. Obviously the film tries to copy that son-mother relationship of PSYCHO but it throws in some also fits in with the "psychic" horror films that were quite popular throughout the decade. The film benefits from having an all-star cast and they certainly help add to the entertainment value.

For the most part I thought Hutton was good in the lead, although I'd argue that the screenplay does less for his character than any other. He's at least believable in the part of this mama's boy who wants revenge. The supporting players are all good in one way or another and this includes Julie Adams (CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON) as well as other familiar faces to the genre inclduing Whit Bissell, Rod Cameron, Aldo Ray and Neville Brand. If you're a fan of the horror genre then those faces are going to be very familiar.

The one major issue I had with the film was that it was a tad bit too slow for its own good. I thought a little faster pace would have helped things and I'd also argue that the film had a rather flat look to it. The film is rather weird in regards to what it's going for as there are times it seems happy to be a PG-rated horror film but then, out of nowhere really, we get some rather graphic, if not all that creative, violence. There's a shower sequence that's certainly the highlight of the picture.