Richard Burton delivers a strong performance as unbalanced self-proclaimed telekinetic John Morlar. He is busted up at the beginning of the movie by a mysterious attacker and hospitalized, so his appearances are flashbacks that piece together the mystery of his assault for Detective-inspector Brunel (Lino Ventura). Morlar’s past is exposed via questioning of psychiatrist Dr. Zonfeld (Lee Remick) and others Morlar crossed paths with.
The flashbacks really work well and John Briley’s screenplay of Peter Van Greenaway’s novel is extraordinary. I won’t go into the plot as to not spoil how it all plays out — suffice it to say, I was hooked.
