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.

---

Plot Keywords:

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

---

Taglines:

"First it drives you mad, then it kills and kills and kills!"

---

Genres:

Horror | Thriller

---

Certificate:

PG

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.

---

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.

---

Quotes

Police Lt. Jeff Morgan: Wait a minute, didn't you tell me that when the energy force leaves his body, he is clinically and medically dead?
Dr. Gubner: Clinically and medically yes.
Police Lt. Jeff Morgan: Thank you very much, Doctor, I won't be needing your services any longer.

---

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.

---

Connections

Featured in The Danton Force (2016)

---

Soundtracks

Do These Things Really Happen?
Sung by Gloria Lynne
Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster
Music by Mike Corda

User Reviews

Entertaining junk.

"Psychic Killer" is quite amusing, and at the least can boast a twist on the usual sort of vengeance-themed murder spree. Some viewers might say that the ideas being explored deserve a much better cinematic treatment, but as schlock goes, this movie does show its audience a decent time. There's a fair bit of gore, and a little bit of imagination in terms of the death scenes. As guided by former actor turned director Ray Danton ("Deathmaster"), this has also got a hell of a cast of familiar faces to keep things watchable.

Jim Hutton plays Arnold Masters, a Norman Bates type who was wrongly convicted of murder and sent to a mental institution. While incarcerated, he makes the brief acquaintance of fellow patient Emilio (character actor Stack Pierce, who has a strong presence). Emilio provides Arnold with the tools to orchestrate murders while not being physically present at the murder scenes. As a result, flustered police lieutenant Jeff Morgan (Paul Burke) has to try to solve killings that don't make any sense.

The concepts of Kirlian photography (which can be seen behind the opening credits) and astral projection are good enough of a hook to reel viewers in. Hutton is good as the unbalanced protagonist. Making appearances are Julie Adams and Whit Bissell from "The Creature from the Black Lagoon", Nehemiah Persoff, Rod Cameron, Neville Brand (as a butcher whose only real "crime" is charging too much for his meat), Aldo Ray, and Della Reese. Mary Charlotte Wilcox supplies the T & A as a sexpot nurse who likes to tease her bedridden patient. In a supporting role is film director Greydon Clark ("Without Warning"), who co-wrote the picture with Danton and Mikel Angel.

This movie is "good" fun, although it does lead to a pretty horrific finale.

Seven out of 10.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

December 1975 (USA)

Also Known As:

Psychic Killer

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