PATRICK (1978)
Director: Richard Franklin
Synapse Films

One of the more popular horror efforts given to us by the Australian film industry, PATRICK has often been compared to the Brian DePalma thrillers CARRIE and THE FURY, but even so, it’s a much different movie. When released in the U.S., PATRICK was trimmed by more than a few minutes and was re-voiced (the same fate that fell upon the AIP version of MAD MAX), but a DVD of the proper, longer Australian version surfaced a few years ago from Elite Entertainment. Synapse Films now re-releases PATRICK on DVD, carrying over the same extras, but this time it's presented anamorphic.

Patrick (Robert Thompson), a quiet and obviously disturbed young man, murders his mother and her lover by tossing a plugged-in heater into their bathtub. Years later, Patrick is a comatose patient in the private Roget Clinic, run by the rather sadistic Dr. Roget (Robert Helpmann), who makes electric shock treatment examples by murdering little frogs. A young, pretty English nurse named Kathy (Susan Penhaligon) takes a position at the clinic after passing a tough interview with the prudish head nurse, Matron Cassidy (Julia Blake), who apparently has no like for her. Kathy becomes in charge of room 15, where Patrick lays bed-ridden as a vegetable, not able to move or show any discernable brain activity, but something about her gives him an unexplainable motivation. Patrick is able to communicate to Kathy with “yes or no” answers and telepathically sends messages to her on a typewriter. These telepathic powers also allow Patrick to cause damage from the comfort of his bed, and this means harm to Kathy’s separated husband (Rod Mullinar) in the form of casserole-burnt hands, as well as nearly drowning her new lover (Bruce Barry) in fits of jealousy that display the same sort of rage he enacted at the sight of his philandering mother.

As much as PATRICK has a reputation as a worldwide cult item, it’s also considered as being overrated by many a film fan. This is probably due to the rather slow pacing, and the lengths which it takes for anything remotely horrific to occur. This might be the case, but PATRICK is still quite captivating, as it embodies a compelling story line, as well as strong performances in a very dialog-driven film. Susan Penhaligon, is an appealing cult star in her own right, having made notable appearances in THE LAND THAT TIME FORGOT, THE HOUSE OF MORTAL SIN and the 1977 BBC adaptation, COUNT DRACULA before this. She’s quite earthy and likable here, and an excellent choice to portray a working class woman thrust into Patrick’s lovesick awareness of her and his subsequent malevolent paranormal behavior. As Patrick, Robert Thompson doesn’t have to do much more than lay in bed and stay perfectly still, but somehow he easily conveys his vindictive nature through blank expression, an effect which is more than creepy.

Aussie director Richard Franklin delivers more of a suspenseful supernatural thriller than a horror film (it was given a PG rating in the States), as it’s low on any kind of graphic violence and and most of the off-the-wall paranormal stuff is saved for the ending. It’s clear that this was intended to be in the vein of Alfred Hitchcock, even if the Hitchcockian scenes come infrequently, such as when Matron Cassidy sneaks into the clinic late at night, slips off her shoes, and tip-toes down the stairs to the basement, obviously up to no good. Franklin’s heightened awareness and appreciation of the Hitchcock style harked back to his days at USC where he got to meet the much celebrated director, and he was later invited to the set of TOPAZ. Even the score by the usually diverse Brian May, apes, or rather compliments Bernard Herrmann, and a screening of PATRICK was enough to convince executives at Universal studios that Franklin was the right man to direct PSYCHO II after Hitch had passed away.

Synapse upgrades the old Elite disc with a spiffy anamorphic (the Elite version wasn’t presented as such) transfer which offers PATRICK in a 1.78:1 letterboxed aspect ratio. Colors appear stable and detail is sharp, with occasional grain and minimal print blemishes in sight, even though there are a few. The Dolby Digital mono options are the film’s original English track, as well as Spanish and French language tracks, all which come off strong with no noticeable defects.

The main extra is here is an audio commentary (carried over from the Elite disc) with director Franklin who, very sadly, passed away in 2007 from cancer. Franklin nicely illustrates his craft and his directorial approach, often comparing scenes in PATRICK to the work of Hitchcock, and he reveals a lot about the film, even mentioning the now-lost 140 minute version, and the unrelated Italian sequel (PATRICK LIVES AGAIN). Without introduction, the American-born screenwriter of the film, Everett De Roche, talks briefly and has his say about PATRICK, after which Franklin returns. Rounding out the extras are an Australian trailer, an American trailer, and three different U.S. TV spots. (George R. Reis)

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