Killers of the psychic type are few and far between, which is probably for the best considering that my head would likely explode if there were one too many. Self-deprecating humor aside, it doesn’t take a parapsychologist to figure out that a former mental patient with a penchant for astral projection is bound to turn some heads. That’s not to say Psychic Killer is without its flaws; however, the idea of a man seeking revenge via hallucinations and telekinesis is interesting in its own right given that the victims have no control over their fates, and so moments such as that of a man losing control of his car and running it off a cliff really go to show that Arnold is hellbent on revenge and that his newfound abilities fit him like a glove. I appreciate the film for these reasons, and although I wish its message about the justice system wasn’t so contrived, I can see what the writers were trying to say.

During my viewing, I was curious if the cause of Arnold’s powers would be addressed, as the medallion had me intrigued, and as I look back on the film, I can tell that the filmmakers had mysticism on their minds. This is of note in that mysticism isn’t often depicted in horror; on the other hand, I can’t help but think that the writers couldn’t be bothered with fleshing out their ideas, or maybe they couldn’t see eye to eye. Either way, I was disappointed by the lack of elaboration, and so I’m left scratching my head as to what to make of the medallion. Sure, it shows up in a few scenes, but aside from that, it’s just kind of there, occasionally catching the eye as it shines brightly.

Given that telekinetic terror is the name of the game, there is something to be said for the kills. They’re not overly gory, but there is plenty of creativity on display as victims are scalded, crushed, and reduced to ground beef. Such moments are delightfully over the top, albeit so obvious that you can see them coming from a mile away. Now that I think about it, that’s kind of fitting, considering Arnold’s fondness for remote retribution. Those who have been wrongfully accused could learn a thing or two from him. Anyway, William Kraft’s score aids in building tension with its intense instrumentation and eerie melodies, so my hats are off to him.

Psychic Killer is a few assessments short of a psychiatric evaluation; there’s no doubt about that. Still, as an extrasensory curiosity, it has its points of interest. I couldn’t deny that even I was up to my ears in paranormal mumbo-jumbo.