Patrick (2013)

Patrick: Directed by Mark Hartley. With Sharni Vinson, Rachel Griffiths, Charles Dance, Peta Sergeant. At a private clinic, a young nurse soon discovers that one of the comatose patients is quite sinister.

“I watched the original 1978 Patrick for the first time the other day to prepare for the remake. It was rather boring, but had that certain vague 1970s creepy charm that kept me from turning it off. I watched the 2013 remake today and was equally bored. Production values are higher this time, but this version is full of stupid CGI and annoying false scares punctuated by a shrill, awful soundtrack. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe cast are OK, although the original 1978 actor who played Patrick was far superior than the new guy who looks like a gay male model. Charles Dance is normally a wonderful actor but given nothing to do beyond a bland rehash of every other villain heu0026#39;s ever played. Rachel Griffiths is horribly boring as the Matron (as with Patrick himself, the 1978 original actor was much better and creepier).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe script is the main problem, just like the threadbare original. The idea of a comatose telekinetic pervert possessed by erotomania for his nurse is an interesting idea, but itu0026#39;s never fully developed. Thereu0026#39;s too much else going on that takes away from that relationship.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eTo be honest, I saw the 1980 Italian pseudo-sequel, Patrick Still Lives (aka Patrick Vive Ancora), a few years ago, and I found that ridiculous gorefest much more fun than either the original or remake. Itu0026#39;s worth a watch just for the levitating fireplace poker scene! Another Italian film that rips off Patrick (and is full of gore) is Lucio Fulciu0026#39;s Aenigma.”