Patrick is a 1978 Australian science fiction horror film directed by Richard Franklin and written by Everett De Roche.

Three years after murdering his parents, Patrick (Thompson) lies in a coma at the Roget Clinic, a private hospital in Melbourne.

Following a job interview with Matron Cassidy (Blake), the head of the hospital, Kathy Jacquard (Penhaligon) is taken on as Patrick's new nurse.

The hospital's owner, Dr. Roget (Helpmann), explains Patrick's condition to Kathy and says he is being kept alive to explore the nature of life and death.

He demonstrates his ability by moving objects in Cassidy's presence and attempting to drown Brian Wright (Barry), a doctor who flirts with Kathy, at a pool party.

Patrick again tries to communicate with Kathy, showing her which parts of his body he can feel; he sports an erection when she reaches his genitals.

Ed handles a hot casserole dish and severely burns his hands, but says he didn't feel a thing.

While this happens, Patrick compels Cassidy to return to the hospital, but she relents in opening the door to his room while they subject him to strobe lights.

After the two leave, Patrick possesses Cassidy and causes her to fatally electrocute herself in the basement, then turns his head to look at a frightened nurse.

Despite apparently flatlining, Patrick leaps from his bed and crashes into a cabinet in what Roget assumes is a motor reflex.

He says the final scene of Patrick leaping out of his bed was inspired by trip to a carnival Franklin had made where a man in a gorilla suit burst out into the audience, causing everyone to scream.

[7] Richard Franklin later recalled: I'd done Eskimo Nell in the Australian idiom, and... my [American] friends didn't understand it.

[9][10] The film was considered a disappointment at the Australian box office but was highly successful internationally, selling to over 30 countries and performing well in the US.

[11] The Encyclopedia of Fantasy notes the similarity between the film's plot and that of the novel Tetrasomy Two by Oscar Rossiter (nom de plume of Dr. Vernon H.Skeels (1918-2007) ).