Alarma: catástrofe

Es agradablemente ominosa y misteriosa desde el principio, y poderosamente escalofriante y pesimista hacia el final. Richard Burton y Lino Ventura tiran de la película, aunque no comparten casi ningún diálogo. Mientras se ve, es bastante fácil predecir la dirección que tomará, pero el final es toda una sorpresa. La densa atmósfera de terror en general hace que quiera volver a verla al día siguiente de haberla visto, así que por qué no ir a por una calificación más alta. (17.04.2019)

Bueno, ya sabemos dónde pudo haberse inspirado Shyamalan para su obra maestra El protegido. Una película de suspense bien graduada en cuanto al guión y la dirección. Inteligente, escalofriante, atmosférica, inquietante, pesimista. Y gracias a Lino Ventura, que también opera en Londres con una bonita carga transeuropea. Por cierto, ¿no se parece este actor a un Robert De Niro más robusto? :) (27.09.2010)

Jack Gold's direction is as enchanting as Richard Burton's gaze. Some scenes feel completely modern, fresh and new, and the film as a whole has an incomprehensibly chilling undertone (written in the pace of storytelling and the use of details – especially in the musical component, which was stolen in vain by Zdeněk Liška in a 30 Cases of Major Zeman TV series episode The Well). Of course, it is a long ending and very strange psychology and character interaction (the two main actors essentially never meet, and most of the characters behave somewhat theatrically – but this is part of the alienation effect), in any case, The Medusa Touch is an unforgettable look into the heart of darkness. I'm just glad I didn't see this movie as a kid, as then I'd attribute it to the innermost horrors and traumas. (21.09.2010)

This highly intriguing genre piece, which tightly grips a crime and supernatural thriller in its pincers, is based mainly on the impressive work of an old-school French detective who uses the long conversation method to unravel the mystery of the "evil gaze," only to have his own pragmatism increasingly undermined. The anticipation of upcoming events, the excellent Lino Ventura, the demonic Richard Burton, the chilling atmosphere, and the unreal finale make this slightly forgotten work an incredible film that will definitely make you have trouble falling asleep. 4 ½. (22.12.2008)

One thing will stay with you after watching this... An unpleasantly chilling feeling of “what if, after all". The Medusa wall sculpture in the opening credits came into my childhood dreams to terrify me more than anything else. And the tension built-up in the story (the tension, WOW the tension!), the superb acting performances by all of the actors (even Burton lying in the hospital bed; that stare, THAT stare!), an interestingly approached original topic, absolutely outstanding music (the main theme, THAT theme!) and then, primarily, THAT unforgettable ending. To this day I regret that I can’t get my hands on the book that this British gem is based on. An unforgettable movie and the movie that sparked my love of cinema. Even if in quite a chilling way. P.S.: Although the dubbing is incredibly well-done, you really should watch the original English version which, with Ventura’s French accent and Burton’s somber diction, is a completely different movie. (10.01.2007)