Films Depicting People with Psychic Abilities
Before there were special people with powers like the mutants in the X-Men, there have been characters in cinema with psychic abilities. This sub-genre was very popular in films for decades, especially in horror films. For this list, the character, whether a major or minor character, has to have some form of psychic ability. The power in question can be obtained by birthright or some other means. Note...many of the films listed here are adaptions from the works of writer, Stephen King.
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- DirectorBrian De PalmaStarsSissy SpacekPiper LaurieAmy IrvingCarrie White, a shy, friendless teenage girl who is sheltered by her domineering, religious mother, unleashes her telekinetic powers after being humiliated by her classmates at her senior prom.Based on a novel written by Stephen King, Carrie is considered to be the first film to discuss a person having psychic power and therefore, is the foundation of the sub-genre of characters that have psychic abilities. While characters with psychic abilities have appeared in films years before Carrie came out, this film was so popular with audiences that many consider it to be the first-ever film to explore this subject matter. Her special ability is telekinesis; being able to move objects by force of thought.
- DirectorBrian De PalmaStarsKirk DouglasJohn CassavetesCarrie SnodgressA former CIA agent uses the talents of a young psychic to help retrieve his telekinetic son from a shadowy secret government agency.By the time this film came out, the sub-genre really began to take off. Here, we're dealing with two teenagers, Gillian and Robin, that have special abilities. One has the power of telekinesis and levitation (Robin) and the other has precognitive abilities (Gillian), being able to "see" things that have already occurred and make people bleed through touch. The Fury also does something not many films in this sub-genre will do which is, despite having no connections or anything in common other than psychic ability, create a psychic bond between the two teenagers. In addition, this film gives us a what-if scenario...can psychic ability be transferred from one person to another?
- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsJack NicholsonShelley DuvallDanny LloydA family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where a sinister presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from both past and future.Inspired by a song, Stephen King gave a name to the talent little Danny has..."the Shining." Danny has the ability of precognition. Danny's abilities aren't fully developed yet due to his age like Charlie in Firestarter but he does have the gift. We discover he's not the only one that "shines." In addition to Danny, Mr. Hallorann, the chef of the Overlook Hotel, can also "shine." In one scene, we see him and Danny communicating through their ability. One tidbit...there are some theories that Danny's ability was inherited from his father.
- DirectorMark L. LesterStarsDrew BarrymoreDavid KeithFreddie JonesA couple who participated in a potent medical experiment gain telepathic ability and then have a child who is pyrokinetic.When Stephen King wrote the novel this film is based on, he created Charlie, a character that can create fire by thought alone or pyrokinesis. This film explores the question, what if scientific experiments could create psychic beings?
- DirectorDavid CronenbergStarsJennifer O'NeillStephen LackPatrick McGoohanA scientist trains a man with an advanced telepathic ability called "scanning" to stop a dangerous Scanner with extraordinary psychic powers from waging war against non scanners.This film discusses the ability to create spontaneous combustion with the force of thought. In addition, this film explores the concept of world domination. Can people with psychic abilities take over the world?
- StarsNancy TravisMatt KeeslarKimberly J. BrownA college professor and a team of psychics investigate mysterious deaths and disappearances at an old abandoned mansion.Rose Red does something that no other film on this list has done...it has a cast of characters that have psychic abilities as opposed to one character. Their abilities include:
1. Telekinesis
2. Precognition
3. Automatic Writing
4. Telepathy
5. Levitation
6. Post-cognition
7. Psychometry
In addition, Rose Red is the first and only film on this list to have a character, Annie, with multiple psychic abilities that is autistic. - DirectorBrice MackStarsLisa PelikanBert ConvyNina FochOstracized at a snooty private school because of her rural, poor background, a scholarship student is tormented to the point where her only remaining recourse is revenge, using the only method she knows: her psychic control over snakes!Made in 1978, this film is an imitation of the film, Carrie. Both films have a similar story line in that both girls are shunned because they're not considered cool. They also have special abilities that only their parents are aware of. Of the characters on this list, Jennifer has the unusual ability to control reptiles, especially snakes, with her mind.
- DirectorJack GoldStarsRichard BurtonLee RemickLino VenturaA telekinetic novelist causes disasters simply by thinking about them.Even actor Richard Burton would portray characters that developed psychic abilities in the late 70's. In this film, Burton brings his melodramatic flair to this story regarding a man who can create disasters by the force of thought. At one point, this film delves into the idea of life after death. Can a person with psychic powers defy death?
- DirectorTom McLoughlinMichael SchroederStarsMeg TillyMelissa NewmanRobin EvansAs part of an initiation into a club called the Sisters, a young girl must spend the night in a mausoleum.This little-known gem explores concepts that had not been discussed in this sub-genre. In this film, its plot deals with what can be referred to as psychic vampirism. The lead character in this film, Raymar, has the ability of telekinesis and being able to drain people of their life force, both in life and even in death. In addition, like the Medusa Touch, One Dark Night explores the question: can a person with psychic ability conquer death?
One more concept Night explores in its narrative is psychic ability being an inherited trait. The antagonist, Raymar, has a daughter who has the gift of precognition. Can a person inherit psychic ability? - DirectorIrvin KershnerStarsFaye DunawayTommy Lee JonesBrad DourifA famous fashion photographer develops a disturbing ability to see through the eyes of a killer.Laura's gift is clairvoyance, in this case, being able to see through the eyes of someone else. However, it must be noted she can't see the person but can see what they see. In addition, when she has these bouts of "seeing", she becomes blind to her surroundings in that her vision literally is controlled by what the killer is seeing.
- DirectorDavid CronenbergStarsChristopher WalkenBrooke AdamsTom SkerrittA man awakens from a coma to discover he has a psychic ability to foresee future events.Another story by Stephen King. The character here has the gift of precognition. Unlike some characters that can "see" without contact, the main character in this story can only "see" with contact. In addition, he obtained his ability after an accident and awaking from a five-year coma.
- DirectorRobert DayStarsKay LenzShelley WintersTony BillA withdrawn young girl joins an unpopular sorority in college. It turns out she has psychic and telekinetic powers, and she uses them against a rival sorority.I refer to this film as the small screen adaption of the film, Carrie. Like Carrie, Sarah is shy, considered to be uncool, she's quiet and she is telekinetic.
- DirectorSam RaimiStarsCate BlanchettKatie HolmesKeanu ReevesA fortune teller with extrasensory perception is asked to help find a young woman who has mysteriously disappeared.Like Laura Mars, the character here has clairvoyance as well. In addition, like Laura Mars, she can only see through the eyes of someone else.
- DirectorQuentin LawrenceStarsForrest TuckerLaurence PayneJennifer JayneA series of decapitations on a Swiss mountainside appear to be connected to a mysterious radioactive cloud.Before Carrie, there was the Trollenberg Terror, aka, the Crawling Eye. In this film, one of the characters has the ability of ESP, which becomes a blessing and a curse to her. Its because the alien forces become aware of her ability and are threaten by her presence. Note...if you see the Crawling Eye, make sure you watch the uncut version.