peter sandza ( kirk douglas ) a government agent be betray by a fellow friend or agent ben childress ( john cassavetes ) and who kidnap his son for his psychokinetic power . where we learn that a secret u agency be hold him and that he be use in dangerous mind experiment . so peter get help from a girl with similar ability to locate his son whereabouts . i wasn not expect too much from it after borrow it off a friend that recommend it to me . after see it and it probably de palma most underrated film in my book . it might not have date that well and the premise of the film might be consider ludicrous now and but it doesn not stop it from be an exciting adventure . this be a flashy and mostly fast pace thriller by director brian de palma . it do have a couple of slow moment and maybe it be a tad too long and but it well compensate by superbly tense situation and blister action sequence and especially in the first opening hour involve douglas character when his son be kidnap and when his hide out from government agent . there be also some scene that be not recommend for the squeamish . a some scene be fill with a lot of blood and more blood . it rather graphic violence . not to forget the whooping and hearting pound conclusion . the make up and special effect throughout the film be truly stunning . the plot basis be on psychokinetic power and at time it rather absurd and incoherent . with some incredibly cheesy moment within the dialogue . though and the direction be what cover the story inconsistency and with great and simply memorable set ups and some well shot scene . the music score be fairly effective in build up the tension and thrill and but also it have an impact in the quieter moment . there be great performance from the experienced kirk douglas ( who incredibly fit for his age and have some physical role ) and cassavetes and who really boost and add some class to the film . there be such a great chemistry between them and cassavetes be simply rivet a a conniving agent . amy irving be good in her role a gillian bellaver and the girl who be have trouble come to grip with her strong psychokinetic power . though and the same can not be say about the rest . a andrew steven a robin sandza be incredibly hammy and carrie snodgress a hester be fairly irritating . i wouldn not class it a one of de palma best and but still it far away from his bad . overall and it a fascinating set up that have it fair share of flaw and but that doesn not disrupt entertainment factor .