IMDb 6.2 1978 HD

Patrick

Patrick

1978
Horror Science Fiction Thriller
112 min PG Australia
6.04 / 10
6.2 IMDB

A comatose hospital patient harasses and kills through his powers of telekinesis to claim his private nurse as his own.

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Richard Franklin
Starring
Robert Thompson / Susan Penhaligon / María Mercedes / Robert Helpmann / Rod Mullinar / Helen Hemingway / Bruce Barry / Julia Blake

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

unsettling chilling suspenseful creepy atmospheric disturbing unique tense psychological effective memorable dread

Reviews

C
Chloe Davies
May 24, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

Richard Franklin's 'Patrick' is an intriguing Australian horror film that hinges on a novel, unsettling premise. The idea of a comatose patient exerting telekinetic control is inherently disturbing, and the film explores this effectively. Susan Penhaligon carries the…

A
Arthur Finch
May 24, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

'Patrick' is a masterclass in minimalist horror, proving that the most terrifying threats can be unseen. The film's central conceit – a comatose man with telekinetic powers – is brilliantly realised, creating a suffocating atmosphere of dread. Susan…

G
Genevieve Dubois
May 24, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

The 1978 shocker 'Patrick' offers a unique twist on the haunted house trope, transplanting the malevolence into a hospital room. Its strength lies in the unsettling notion of a mind controlling events from a state of physical incapacitation.…

M
Marcus Bellweather
May 24, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

A genuinely creepy entry from Australia's horror canon, 'Patrick' succeeds through its ingenious and disturbing concept. The film taps into primal fears of invasion and powerlessness, as a seemingly inert patient becomes a terrifying antagonist through telekinesis. Susan…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 24, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

Richard Franklin's 'Patrick' remains a standout in Australian horror, a film that deftly weaponises helplessness. The premise, a comatose patient wielding telekinetic vengeance, is inherently unsettling. Susan Penhaligon anchors the narrative with a performance steeped in growing dread,…

FAQs

'Patrick' cultivates a pervasive sense of dread and unease throughout its runtime. The film masterfully builds tension through its claustrophobic hospital setting and the constant threat posed by Patrick's unseen influence. The tone is consistently chilling, favouring psychological manipulation and suspense over jump scares. This creates a palpable atmosphere of vulnerability and mounting terror for both the characters and the audience.