The Reincarnation of Peter Proud (1975)

Too much of everything

Stylish but barely mediocre overall

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

College professor Peter Proud (a fine and likeable performance by Michael Sarrazin) is plagued by nightmares that appear to be flashbacks from a previous life. Proud discovers that he's the reincarnation of smarmy womanizing heel Jeff Curtis (a nicely slimy turn by the hunky Tony Stephano). Complications ensue when Peter falls for Jeff's daughter Ann (an appealing portrayal by the ravishing Jennifer O'Neill), which raises the ire of Jeff's bitter widow Marcia (superbly played by Margot Kidder). Director J. Lee Thompson relates the engrossing story at a steady pace as well as ably crafts an eerie and enigmatic atmosphere. Moreover, Thompson and writer Max Erlich bring a surprising sexual frankness and perversity to the decidedly adult and edgy material: We not only get a satisfying smattering of explicit nudity and sizzling softcore sex, but Kidder also does a genuinely erotic bathtub masturbation scene and the romance between Peter and Ann has a pretty kinky quasi-incestuous element to it. The sound acting by the capable cast keeps this film humming: Cornelia Sharpe as Peter's horny, but fed-up girlfriend Nora Hayes, Paul Hecht as helpful parapsychologist Dr. Samuel Goodman, Norman Burton as friendly psychiatrist Dr. Frederick Spear, Anne Ives as Jeff's senile elderly mother Ellen, and Debralee Scott as slutty teenager Suzy. Victor J. Kemper's glossy cinematography gives this picture a pleasing polished look. Kudos are also in order for Jerry Goldsmith's wonky, yet stately electronic score. The grim ending packs a devastating punch. An on the money movie.

All - everyone - give outstanding performances in this terrifically terrifying story of reincarnation. I was about 3 years old when this film came out but was introduced to it as a pre-teen or teen. Anyway I saw it a handful of times as a teen and watching it again all these years later I have to say the film still gives me the chills.Peter Proud has nightmares, he seeks help in a dream clinic and later he and a friend feel he must be experiencing flashbacks of a previous life - Jeff Curtis. Peter sets off on a journey to find out who Jeff Curtis was and why he was murdered before.The film is a little graphic at times, mainly with sex, rape and murder - but that is NOT all there is to this film - it's mainly Peter "finding himself" or should I say "finding Jeff Curtis".9/10

I recently watched "The Reincarnation of Peter Proud" on Youtube 40 years after I saw it in a theater.Reincarnation is a complicated subject, but the film does a fairly good job of explaining some of its intricacies. Peter Proud (Michael Sarrazin) begins having strange dreams of people that he has never met and places he has never been to. In order to find some peace, he goes in search of the images in his dreams and finds them in a town in Massachusetts.I really enjoyed the slow unraveling of the mystery and the performances are great, especially Margot Kidder as a widow with a terrible secret.

This was a very good movie! It was one of those movies that you just can't take a break in - it was that exciting! The plot proceeds at all times and there is not a dull moment.The idea is also original. Although there are a lot of stories about reincarnation, these usually are about people who are somehow brought back to their previous lives several centuries ago. I cannot remember that I have ever before come across a story, in which the main character died only 35 years ago in his previous life. Which means that he can go to see the people he were involved with in that life, because they are still alive. It opens up for interesting moral dilemmas, such as: can you have a love affair with someone who was your child in your previous life, or is this incest..?Reincarnation is of course always an interesting theme, because it is such a fantastic possibility to contemplate!I think the category "horror" was a little wrong for this movie though, because it is not that kind of movie by which you get your thrills from suddenly seeing something scary - such as a ghost. It is more of a crime/mystery story, actually.It was not possible to foresee the ending, which is good, but I wish they had chosen an happy ending... The main character had not done anything to deserve this ending.The reason I give this movie only 8 stars instead of 10, in spite of the fact that I found it so exciting, interesting, and original, is the fact that there was too much and too explicit nudity and sex in it. You could almost call it a soft porn movie. This was of course typical of the 1970:s - but I do not like it.I think ordinary feature films which are not labeled as porn should not continue porn either, because this can be offending to some people. It can also be very unsuitable and embarrassing, if you have rented the movie to watch it in the company of for instance your teenagers or your older relatives. To be honest, I got embarrassed when I watched this movie although I was alone in the room, because I feel some things should be done in private...