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!

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Timeline – The Clairvoyant (1982)

Trace every key event in The Clairvoyant (1982) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Discovery of Elizabeth Mercer's Body

Elizabeth Mercer's nude, handcuffed body is recovered from the Hudson River in New York City, kicking off the case. The grisly find suggests a sadistic pattern that will thread through subsequent murders. Police begin to suspect a serial killer targeting people connected to a dark underworld.

Night Hudson River, New York City
2

Initial Handcuffed Murders

Two male victims are found murdered after being handcuffed by the assailant. The killer's method of binding them before killing hints at ritualistic control. The killings create a growing pattern that investigators try to map.

Night
3

Virna Nightbourne’s Uncanny Drawings

Virna Nightbourne, an art student, begins producing portraits that eerily resemble the crimes. She claims the drawings come from unconscious precognition and childhood experiences. The police take note as the art seems to predict the killer’s victims.

Evening Art Students League of New York
4

Muriel Notices the Pattern

Muriel, Virna’s roommate, notices the drawings’ uncanny accuracy and grows increasingly unsettled. Virna explains that her visions come from the unconscious mind. Tension builds as the art mirrors the murders.

Night Muriel and Virna's apartment/studio
5

Self-Portrait and Nightmare

Virna draws a portrait of herself as a potential victim and has a nightmare of a woman handcuffed to a bed. The vision deepens the sense that the killer’s reach touches Virna personally. She resolves to report her visions to the police.

Night Virna's studio
6

Virna Goes to the Police

Overwhelmed by the visions, Virna goes to the police to explain her drawings and abilities. She describes precognition and unconscious drawing as guiding her observations. The investigators pause to assess the potential link to the Elizabeth case.

Day Police Station, New York
7

Elizabeth Identified as the Childhood Friend

Police inform Virna that the woman found dead is Elizabeth from her hometown, who later worked as a bartender at a BDSM leather bar. The revelation confirms a long-buried connection between Virna’s visions and the crimes. The stakes rise as the killer’s reach appears to cross Virna’s past.

Day Police Station, NYC
8

Willie Gonzalez Attacks Mac

Willie Gonzalez, a young Puerto Rican immigrant, attacks Mac McCormack in his apartment, claiming he was paid to do it. The assault disrupts Mac’s life and raises fears of who is behind the murders. As the confrontation escalates, officers arrive to take Willie into custody, where he is fatally shot during the attempt to flee.

Night Mac's Apartment, NYC
9

Killer Calls Virna and Muriel Is in Danger

During a stand-up show at the Comic Strip, the killer phones Virna and warns that Muriel is handcuffed to a truck outside, about to die. Virna races to the street to help, but the killer tries to run her down with his car. The tension tightens as loved ones of the victims are drawn into the killer’s trap.

Night Comic Strip, NYC and surroundings
10

Muriel Drowns After the Truck Tragedy

Muriel is attacked by the killer and handcuffed to the steering wheel of a car, with her legs bound and the accelerator weighted down. She crashes through an industrial building and sinks into the river, where she drowns. The tragedy confirms the killer’s capacity for brutal, precise control.

Night Outside the Comic Strip / Industrial Building to River
11

Virna on Mac’s Show and the On-Air Trance

To explain her visions, Virna appears on Mac’s television show and recounts the encounter with the killer. She slips into a trance and begins drawing a portrait of handcuffed hands on live TV. The moment foreshadows the killer’s reach and deepens the mystery for viewers.

Night Mac's TV Show Set
12

Elizabeth’s Murder Revealed

Virna has a vivid vision of Elizabeth’s murder, revealing that Elizabeth was asphyxiated during a sadomasochistic group session involving Mac and three others. The three other murder victims are connected to this same crime circle. The revelation raises the personal stakes for Virna and Mac.

Night Virna’s Vision
13

Rooftop Showdown and Mac’s Fall

Virna flees Mac’s apartment and is pursued to the rooftop where Mac confronts her. A violent struggle ensues, and Mac struggles to overpower Larry, but Larry ultimately lets Mac fall to his death. The fall marks the killer’s dreams turning into deadly action.

Night Rooftop, Mac’s building
14

Aftermath: Police Arrive; Virna and Larry Escape

Police descend on the rooftop scene as chaos subsides. Larry and Virna leave together, choosing to face the danger and the truth outside the building. The killer’s identity remains at large and the mystery lingers for the audience.

Night Rooftop / Building Exterior

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:55

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The Clairvoyant Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Clairvoyant

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