Patrick

(1978)

Patrick is a 1978 thriller about a nurse Kathy Jacquard (British actress Susan Penhaligon), who goes to work at mental care facility and encounters Patrick, a comatose patient who is a mystery to all. The arrival of Kathy stirs something in Patrick and he begins to show signs that he knows exactly what's going on. He communicates with Kathy via a typewriter. Then weird things start to happen, affecting people who are either attracted to her, as in her ex-husband and a new beau or are making her work life hard as in the matron. It seems Patrick has the ability of telekinesis and he will do anything including killing people to make Kathy his, even though he never leaves his bed. Patrick is very Hitchcockian in style and director Richard Franklin is actually a well known protege of Hitchcock (he directed Psycho 2). And boy does this film have a weird vibe about. Some of the film is quite perverse (something Hitchcock was also known for). The film is well worth a look if you like something that is well directed, a bit out there and some good thrills along the way.

Oh, by the way, Patrick is currently being remade by the guy that made Not Quite Hollywood. The original has a distinct style to it that worked. Hmm, I don't know about this.

Susan Penhaligon film clip

Carole Ann Aylett film clip

Helen Hemingway film clip (collages below for this one)