The Clairvoyant

The Clairvoyant

Year: 1982

Runtime: 97 mins

Language: English

Director: Armand Mastroianni

FantasyCrimeThrillerMysteryHorror

Two uneasy allies—a police officer and a TV talk‑show host—team up to hunt the elusive “handcuff killer.” They are guided by a gifted artist who can foresee the murders and sketches the crimes before they happen, leading the duo on a tense cat‑and‑mouse chase.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Clairvoyant yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – The Clairvoyant (1982)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Clairvoyant (1982). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

New York City, Hudson River

Set in Manhattan along the Hudson River, the film weaves crime scenes through bars, theaters, and a bustling arts district. Key locations include the Hudson River waterfront, a BDSM leather bar, the Art Students League, and the Comic Strip stand-up club. The urban landscape amplifies the tension of investigation and media attention that swirl around the case.

🏙️ Urban crime 🗽 City setting 🎨 Arts scene

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:49

Main Characters – The Clairvoyant (1982)

Meet the key characters of The Clairvoyant (1982), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Virna Nightbourne

An art student at the Art Students League of New York with latent precognitive abilities. Her nocturnal visions and drawings connect Elizabeth's murder to the other crimes, turning art into a tool for the investigation. She grapples with the burden of foreknowledge and the ethical implications of acting on what she sees.

🎨 Artist 🔮 Psychic

Paul 'Mac' McCormack

An ambitious TV talk-show host whose charm masks a brutal propensity for control. He is implicated in Elizabeth's murder and follow-on crimes through Virna's visions, and he pursues Virna while manipulating the investigation. His confrontation with Larry ends in a deadly rooftop fall.

🎭 Villain 🔪 Killer

Detective Larry Weeks

A police detective and aspiring stand‑up comedian who teams with Mac to locate the killer, then pivots as Virna's visions illuminate new connections. He uses deduction and persistence to interpret the drawings and pursue leads, culminating in the takedown of the killer.

🕵️ Detective 🎤 Stand-up

Detective Cullum

A seasoned police detective who helps coordinate the investigation and follows the evolving clues alongside his colleagues.

🕵️ Detective 🧩 Investigator

Muriel

Virna's roommate and a nurse who notices the pattern of the crimes forming around Virna's drawings; she becomes a victim in the killer's pattern.

👩‍⚕️ Nurse 🧑‍🎨 Witness

Willie Gonzales

A Puerto Rican immigrant who attacks Mac after claiming he was paid to do so; he is killed by a responding officer in a panic.

🚧 Assault 🕊️ Fatal

Willie Gonzalez Hitman Backup in Bar scene

A backup hitman involved in the bar scene, glimpsed briefly but tied to the chain of violence surrounding the case.

🎭 Bar scene 🗡️ Violence

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:49

Major Themes – The Clairvoyant (1982)

Explore the central themes of The Clairvoyant (1982), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️ Investigation

Two detectives, along with a TV host, chase a killer who uses handcuffs and staged violence to claim victims along New York's riverfront. The investigation is driven by a series of murders that link seemingly random victims through a chilling pattern. The pursuit is tense, blending procedural craft with a sense of urban danger. The film uses a noir lens to show how motive and opportunity intersect with showmanship.

🔮 Clairvoyance

Virna's unconscious, precognitive abilities steer the investigation as she dreams and draws scenes that mirror the crimes. The artist's visions reveal connections between Elizabeth's past and the current murders, turning art into evidence. The film crafts a supernatural thread within a crime story, raising questions about fate, guilt, and responsibility. These visions blur the line between intuition and reality, shaping the detectives' approach.

⚠️ Danger & Deception

Ambition and manipulation drive Paul 'Mac' McCormack, whose charm masks a brutal willingness to use others. The relationships among Mac, Det. Weeks, and Virna expose a web of trust broken by violence. The killer's identity is slowly uncovered as Mac's sins collide with Virna's visions and the detective's deductions. The rooftop confrontation culminates in a fatal fall, sealing the truth and reshaping the survivors' lives.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:49

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Gritty serial killer investigations like in The Clairvoyant

Tense hunts for elusive murderers that push detectives to their limits.For viewers who liked the tense cat-and-mouse chase in The Clairvoyant, this section features similar crime stories. Discover movies where detectives hunt elusive killers, featuring dark atmospheres, high tension, and psychological stakes in the vein of this 1982 thriller.

tensedarksuspensefulgrittyparanoiddisturbinganxious

Narrative Summary

These narratives follow a structured investigation, often with a ticking clock as the killer continues their spree. The journey is driven by piecing together clues, facing dead ends, and a final, high-tension confrontation. The resolution often comes at a heavy personal cost for those involved.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here by their shared focus on a dark, high-intensity investigation, a steady pacing that builds suspense, and a heavy emotional weight stemming from the violent crimes. They create a cohesive experience of procedural dread and psychological strain.

Thrillers with psychic crime-solving like The Clairvoyant

Stories where supernatural intuition guides a harrowing pursuit of justice.If you liked the use of clairvoyant visions in The Clairvoyant, explore similar movies where psychic abilities are key to unraveling a mystery. Find films that blend supernatural elements with gritty crime thrillers, featuring tense atmospheres and high-stakes psychological danger.

hauntingsuspensefuldisturbingparanoidanxioussupernaturaldark

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a protagonist whose unique ability provides crucial, but often traumatic, insights into a crime. This creates a direct, personal link to the killer, raising the stakes beyond a standard investigation. The journey explores the psychological burden of their gift and culminates in a confrontation where their power is both a weapon and a vulnerability.

Why These Movies?

This thread unites movies through their core premise of using psychic intuition to solve crimes, which creates a specific type of suspense and personal danger. They share a dark tone, high intensity from the supernatural threat, and a focus on the psychological toll on the gifted individual.

Unlock the Full Story of The Clairvoyant

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Clairvoyant in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Clairvoyant is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Clairvoyant Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Clairvoyant, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Clairvoyant Summary

The Clairvoyant Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Clairvoyant with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Clairvoyant Timeline

The Clairvoyant Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Clairvoyant that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

The Clairvoyant Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Clairvoyant

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Clairvoyant: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Clairvoyant

Similar Movies to The Clairvoyant

Discover movies like The Clairvoyant that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.