Psychic Killer (1975)

Synopsis

The movie Psychic Killer (1975) is a horror film directed by Ray Danton and written by Greydon Clark, Mikel Angel, and Ray Danton1. The film was released in December 1975 [1].

The plot revolves around Arnold Masters (Jim Hutton), a young man serving time in an institution for the criminally insane for a crime he did not commit. Arnold’s mother was very sick and needed an operation to remove a tumor. However, due to Arnold’s mother having no insurance, the doctor did not perform the operation1. When Arnold returned to the doctor’s office, the doctor was found dead, and Arnold was framed for the crime. A speedy trial resulted in Arnold’s testimony being used against him, and as a result, he was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity. During his time in the institution, his mother died, which Arnold did not know about until six months later [1].

An inmate gives Arnold an amulet, through which Arnold learns astral projection – the art of leaving one’s physical body and transporting the soul elsewhere1. Arnold is soon freed from the institution after the doctor’s real killer was caught and confessed to the crime [1].

Soon after, Arnold begins using his newfound power of astral projection to kill those he feels were responsible for his incarceration and his mother’s death. Among Arnold’s victims are a court-appointed psychiatrist whose testimony at Arnold’s trial sealed his fate, the nurse who was supposed to care for Arnold’s mother but neglected to do so; the police officer who arrested Arnold, and the lawyer who sold out Arnold at the trial. All their deaths are made to look like accidents, which baffles the police – most notably, Lt. Jeff Morgan (Paul Burke) [1].

Lt. Morgan pieces together the connection of the victims to Arnold, and visits Arnold’s house one night. Morgan is determined to get to the bottom of all these deaths, even though he has no evidence linking Arnold to the murders. Morgan is soon joined by Arnold’s doctor, Laura Scott (Julie Adams), who tried to help Arnold during his time in the institution, and a colleague of hers, Dr. Gubner (Nehemiah Persoff)1. Before long, Morgan decides to put an end to Arnold’s murderous spree [1].

Cast

Paul Burke as Police Lt. Jeff Morgan
Jim Hutton as Arnold James Masters
Julie Adams as Dr. Laura Scott
Nehemiah Persoff as Dr. Gubner
Neville Brand as Lemonowski
Aldo Ray as Lt. Dave Anderson
Whit Bissell as Dr. Paul Taylor
Rod Cameron as Dr. Commanger

Trivia

The movie Psychic Killer (1975) was originally released under the alternate title The Kirlian Force, but it was changed to Psychic Killer to emphasize the more sensational horror scenes of the film [1].

This was the final theatrical film for both Jim Hutton and Paul Burke [1].

Reviews

According to a review on Land of Cerpts and Honey, ” Is PSYCHIC KILLER as good or better than HALLOWEEN??? Certainly not. Is it a fun and entertaining psychic proto-slasher well worth your time. That’s a big 10-4, good buddy! ” [2].

Loving the Classics states, “Sleazy, sordid, and filled with nudity and violence, this surreal oddity leaps from one bizarre setpiece to the next.” [3].

Horror News mentions, “Shot between April and July of 1974, Psychic Killer is a time capsule of a film, an authenticated record of a simpler time the consisted of silly clothes, overdone hairdos, huge cars and men with ties almost as large as their sport coats with elbow patches. ” [4].