Patrick

Friday, August 4 - Saturday, August 5, 2017

DCP projection

“If there’s a seminal Ozploitation film, it’s arguably PATRICK.  Together, the all-star Aussie team of schlockmaster producer Antony Ginnane, director Richard Franklin (Psycho II, Road Games) and writer Everett De Roche (Razorback, Long Weekend) shaped a fascinating film that blends Eurosleaze with Hitchcockian suspense.  And it has one of the era’s most memorable hooks: a coma patient who still manages to kill despite his infirmity.

Before he’s reduced to a vegetative state, mama’s boy Patrick (a creepy-as-hell Robert Thompson) goes psychotic when he overhears Mom screwing in the room next door, dumping a space heater into her tub which sends her and her lover up in flames.  Years later, he’s the star attraction at a local hospital where Kathie (Susan Penhaligon) has become a nurse. She’s assigned the task of tending to Patrick, who’s been kept on life support by a doctor (Roger Helpmann) researching the metaphysics of life.  Supposedly, Patrick’s completely unresponsive, but Kathie uncovers evidence that he’s developed a sixth sense.  What she doesn’t know is that he’s also developed an unseemly, adolescent attraction to her — which sets up one of cinema’s all-time great, screwy love entanglements.” -Brett Gallman, Oh The Horror!

Screening as part of Waverly Midnights, To Hell and Outback: Australian Horror

• Country Australia
• Year 1978
• Running Time 110 minutes
• Director Richard Franklin

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.