EssenceStory Well Deserved Praise

Acensbart Excellent but underrated film

Helllins It is both painfully honest and laugh-out-loud funny at the same time.

Hayleigh Joseph This is ultimately a movie about the very bad things that can happen when we don't address our unease, when we just try to brush it off, whether that's to fit in or to preserve our self-image.

Scott LeBrun The cute and appealing Susan Penhaligon ("The Land That Time Forgot") plays Kathy Jacquard, a young woman returning to work as a nurse. She comes to a private hospital where the title character (Robert Thompson, "Thirst") has been in a coma for three years. (He'd murdered his trampy mother and a lover of hers, before lapsing into his current state.) Despite misgivings from her boss (Robert Helpmann, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang") and supervisor (Julia Blake, "X-Men Origins: Wolverine"), she finds herself attached to Patrick, and reaching out to him. Soon it becomes apparent that he CAN sense her presence, and has fallen in love with her. However, he has incredibly powerful psychokinetic powers that constantly manifest themselves in and outside the hospital."Patrick" isn't without some flaws, but overall it emerges as an interesting and largely absorbing story with some bonkers moments. Obviously it's done on some sort of budget, keeping special effects to a minimum and mostly concentrating on plot and performance. Since it runs an hour and 53 minutes in its most complete version, it's too drawn out to be totally effective, not always staying on point. Some viewers can describe it as "cheesy" or "tacky", but it does succeed at being creepy often enough to overlook its lesser aspects. One element that stuck in this viewers' head for years is the way that Patrick makes spitting sounds - once for yes, twice for no - when acknowledging Kathy's questions.Much effectiveness is due to Thompson, in his film debut. He has the hardest job among the cast, having to lie there for most of the films' duration and not react to other actors in the room. He certainly has a look that helps to make him quite memorable.But the whole cast is fine: Ms. Penhaligon, Mr. Helpmann, Ms. Blake, Rod Mullinar as Kathy's amiable estranged husband Ed, Bruce Barry as inquisitive doctor Brian Wright, Helen Hemingway as Kathy's co-worker Sister Williams, Maria Mercedes as a high strung nurse, Walter Pym as aged and senile Captain Fraser, and Frank Wilson as a detective.The film further benefits from impressive camera work and capable direction by Hitchcock protege Richard Franklin, who as we all know went on to make the surprisingly worthy first sequel to "Psycho". And it can boast another lovely music score by that great Aussie composer Brian May.Even if you're not overly impressed with the film in general, you will want to stick it out for THAT ending.Seven out of 10.

Witchfinder General 666 "Patrick" of 1978 is a slow-paced yet effective and weird little Austalian Horror film, that often seems like a drama more than a supernatural thriller. It is not an easy film to rate, but it sure was something completely different than I had expected before I first saw this. While I had expected to see a blood-soaked slasher, "Patrick" turned out to be a quite calm and slow-paced, but nonetheless eerie Thriller with a surprisingly elaborate plot...Kathy (Susan Penhaligon), a young nurse who lives separated from her husband, finds a job in a mental hospital. As usual for new nurses, Kathy is assigned to care for Patrick (Robert Thompson), a sinister young comatose patient with an unholy past. While Patrick's only activity is his occasional spitting, the comatose man seems strangely alive...While the film will probably not keep you on the edge of your chair in fear from the beginning to the end, it certainly delivers a certain tense and eerie atmosphere. This is not your film if you're looking for tons of blood and gore. To my surprise, "Patrick" was almost gore-less. Nevertheless, this film is definitely worth watching, both for its original storyline, and its eerie mood. The acting performances are good, though in no way outstanding. While Susan Penhaligon fits well in her role, I can't say that her performance impressed me. Robert Halperman and Julie Blake are very convincing in their roles, and even though the role may not call for the greatest acting skills, I must say that Robert Thompson was genuinely creepy as the eponymous character. There are two different scores for this version, one by Brian May for the Australian version, and one by Goblin for the European version. Even though European, my DVD (unfortunately) contains the Brian May score. Unfortunately, since as a hardcore fan of Italian Horror, Goblin-scores have become some of my favorite film soundtracks (and some of my favorite music to listen to). I will happily watch the movie again with the Goblin score, however. "Patrick" may be a bit too slow-paced at times. Especially the strong focus on Kathy's private troubles is a bit superfluous. Nevertheless, this is an interesting little Horror film that true genre-fans will not regret watching. Especially recommendable for the eerie atmosphere! 6/10

lost-in-limbo After killing his mother and her lover by electrocution. Patrick is now in a coma, where he has been bed-ridden for the past three years in a private hospital. The reason for him being kept on life support is that the doctor in charge; Dr. Roget is using him in the experiment into exploring the territory between life and death. Kathy a new nurse arrives and the first job she is given is to look after Patrick. While, the other staff might not see it, Kathy starts to realize that Patrick has psychokinetic powers, which he uses to manipulate things to his likings.This is one film I've always been pushing aside, but I finally took the chance and seeing a couple of favourable reviews also helped. "Patrick" I found to be an interesting genre piece that was above-average compared to most low-budget and knock-off horror flicks. But again it didn't entirely wow me altogether, but still the film really does string you along with it's slow grinding suspense and slick execution. There are some effective scenes that are illustrated with great skill, but the suspense comes mostly from the thoroughly, taut script. Which, it does comes rather thick in. If you're looking for any blood, you'll be highly disappointed as this centres around the psychological nature than anything psychical. There are some minor acts of violence with the most damaging sight being done to a frog, but it focus more so on the aftermath and rallying the suspense through the surprising developments. The subtle plot has some unique details where little hints and suggestiveness are build up in key areas. The back-story surrounding Patrick is interestingly, involving and we're given time with most of the characters. But it might be too slow for some tastes. I actually thought they could've tighten the film down from its two hour running time, because at times it did kind of linger. Director Richard Franklin also brings to the table influences from Hitchcock, but also he adds some masterstrokes to his self-assured and patient handling of the picture. The professional cinematography plays around with some sharp moving shots and on show is a multi-layered score that plunges you into the deep end. The unknown cast are more than adequate with a strong lead performance by Susan Penhaligon as Kathy and Robert Thompson's appearance is creepy when they cut to him laying in bed as the vegetable Patrick. Robert Helpmann also is decent enough as Dr. Roget and rest of the supporting cast deliver fine performances.Overall, "Patrick" follows a familiar pattern, but its done quite well.

Vomitron_G I finally had the chance to watch PATRICK and I'm glad I did. I had heard about it a few times, in a way that got me interested. I knew it had a certain cult-status, so I made sure I didn't know too much about it before seeing it. I recommend everybody who hasn't seen it yet to do the same, that way the movie will have its maximum impact. So, you guessed it, I liked it a lot and think it's an effective creepy little horror/thriller. The only thing you need to know about the story is that it's about a young man, Patrick, who's in a coma for several years and for reasons unexplained. Also bare in mind that before he slipped into a coma, Patrick viciously killed his mother and her lover... just in case you start feeling sorry for the poor lad at one point or another. You might wanna stop reading now, 'cause you do not need to know more.I think that when you consider PATRICK was released in 1978, it truly was a suspenseful little shocker. I can understand that some may find it too slow or even boring, but I personally don't mind slowly building up tension in this type of movies. I simply loved the fact that this movie carefully gives hints to the viewer about the fact that Patrick has acquired all sorts of psychokinetic powers throughout his comatose-years. And you sometimes can see him as a helpless child, then again as a cunning psychopath. This movie at one point, also raises some thoughts about the moral issues concerning euthanasia. But then leaves those questions behind when you start wondering whether it are the machines who keep Patrick alive, or it is Patrick who controls the machines. Also, the tension throughout this movie is sharp as a knife, 'cause you're constantly waiting for Patrick to move, and when he does, it truly is a terrifying sight.You can tell this was shot on a low budget but it still looks okay. The acting was even pretty decent (thanks to a good, unknown cast, 'cause otherwise this movie would have failed miserably). I especially liked Susan Penhaligon as Kathy and of course Robert Thompson as creepy Patrick. Robert Helpmann was very unlikeable as the sadistic Dr. Roget. The same goes for Helen Hemingway as the hateful head-nurse Williams. There isn't really any gore in this movie and the few make-up effects are not so well-done. However this movie does something that's simply unthinkable in nowadays cinema and will make several animal-rights activists go foaming at the mouth. At one point Dr. Roget actually pierces a real living frog's brains, hereby killing it. Then he joyfully runs electricity through its carcass to see it jump again (but he eventually gets what he deserves when he is seen eating those same frogs under the mental influence of... Patrick). Pretty sick, if you ask me.On a curious note, I suspect no-one less than Quentin Tarantino having seen and liking PATRICK. Because in KILL BILL Uma Thurman's character's also in a coma AND spits at unsuspecting bystanders. It might be far-fetched, but those are the only two movies I've seen that have such a character, and considering Tarantino is such a real movie-buff...PATRICK is an Australian movie that wasn't too successful after all and highly under-appreciated if you ask me, so the bigger surprise it was that, all of the sudden two years later, an unofficial sequel was made in Italy, PATRICK VIVE ANCORA, which differs immensely from the original. But that, my friends, is a completely different story, and you may not wanna go there...