About this episode

The episode explores the 1978 film The Medusa Touch, featuring a live event with discussions on folk horror and the film's themes.

The Medusa Touch (1978): Richard Burton and the Power of Catastrophe In this episode, we investigate the 1978 supernatural horror thriller The Medusa Touch . Directed by Jack Gold and adapted from the Peter Van Greenaway novel, The Medusa Touch is a quintessential piece of seventies British cinema that sits at the dark intersection of the disaster movie and the occult thriller. The film follows the investigation into the apparent murder of John Morlar , played with volcanic intensity by Richard Burton . Richard Burton is the undeniable gravitational centre of The Medusa Touch . Despite Richard Burton only filming for three weeks and demanding a massive upfront fee, his presence as the telekinetic John Morlar defines the movie’s grim atmosphere. We discuss how Richard Burton portrayed a man who believed his thoughts could cause jumbo jets to crash and cathedrals to crumble. Interestingly, because of Richard Burton’s high cost, his character is often seen heavily bandaged in a hospital bed, allowing a stand-in to do the heavy lifting while Richard Burton provided the piercing close-ups and that legendary voice. Fans of 90s rock will know that a specific line from Richard Burton in…

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