Film Details:
Directed by Brian De Palma (Carrie, Scarface, The Untouchables)
Written by John Farris (Based on his novel by the same name)
Starring:
Kirk Douglas (Final Countdown, The Villian)
John Cassavetes (The Killers, Rosemary’s Baby; Also a director)
Carrie Snodgrass (The Attic, Pale Rider)
Amy Irving (Carrie, I’m Not Rappaport, was the singing voice for Jessca Rabbit)
Review: by Don
This wasn’t a great film. It wasn’t a bad one either though. Visually, it was fairly decent, if a little grainy, and had some pretty good old school special effects. There is one in particular with a heck of a lot of blood that was really fun.
De Palma did this film immediately after he did Carrie, which leads me to believe that he was really into telekinesis for a while. The basic plot revolves around Kirk Douglas’ character’s search for his son who has been spirited away by a shadowy government organization. The son is a very powerful psychokinetic individual and the government organization wants to use him to its own nefarious ends. But the kid isn’t stable and they’re having trouble with him.
In comes Amy Irving. Her character is also psychokinetic and having a difficult time of things. Her powers have a tendency to flash out and hurt people around her and it makes her very uncomfortable. She goes to a special institute which is really a front for the shadowy government organization. They think she could be as powerful as the other kid and want to use her as well, but Kirk Douglas learns of her ability and believes she could be used to find his son. He’s right, but it won’t be easy.
They spring Amy Irving and go on the run, hunting for the boy. Crazy stuff happens and there is a good bit with some cops that I particularly enjoyed.
Douglas is easily the best thing about this film. His scenes are alternately full of pathos, rage, and humor and he pulls it off spectacularly. If you’re into movies about kids with crazy powers, then I say give it a look. It’s worth the time it takes to watch it, but it will never be your favorite film of all time.
