The Kirlian Witness (1978): Cast & Plot
The Kirlian Witness is a 1978 crime thriller directed by Jonathan Sarno, starring Nancy Snyder as Rilla, Nancy Boykin and Lawrence Tierney. It runs 1 hour 31 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 31m (91 min)
- Director
- Jonathan Sarno
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- CNI Cinema
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Kirlian Witness About?
The premise of The Kirlian Witness without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In this unconventional thriller, a grieving woman discovers she can converse with her houseplant, the sole silent witness to a recent homicide. As the plant relays fragmented memories, she is drawn deeper into a psychic realm where the verdant observer holds the key to uncovering the murder.
The Kirlian Witness Themes & Keywords
· 10 tags- psychotronic film
- human plant communication
- plant
- telepathy
- lie detector
- kirlian photography
- murder
- polygraph
- occult
- independent film
The Kirlian Witness Cast & Characters
Nancy Snyder leads the cast as Rilla, with Nancy Boykin as Laurie and Lawrence Tierney as Detective. Directed by Jonathan Sarno; 8 actors are credited in all.
- Director Jonathan Sarno
- Nancy Snyder as Rilla
- Nancy Boykin as Laurie
- Lawrence Tierney as Detective
- Ted Le Plat as Dusty
Also Starring in The Kirlian Witness
· 4 more- Maia Danziger Claire
- Joel Colodner Robert
- Tony De Carlo Hotel Clerk
- Joel Eagon Man in Plant Store
The Kirlian Witness Plot Summary
What happens in The Kirlian Witness from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
On a moonlit rooftop above her apartment, Rilla Nancy Snyder’s sister Laurie Nancy Boykin is murdered. There are no clues and no fingerprints, and the authorities are stumped. Yet there is a witness of sorts—the killer might be identified if Rilla can communicate with it, but pursuing that path could cost her marriage, her sanity, and her life.
Laurie Nancy Boykin had turned a childhood fascination with plants into a remarkable telepathic bond, a connection she studied with tireless dedication. When she dies, that bond seems to tether Rilla to a potential trail leading to the culprit. The idea of a plant as the sole witness unsettles the police, who remain openly skeptical, so Rilla becomes a one-woman private detective agency, forging ahead on her own terms.
Full summary
The whole story of The Kirlian Witness, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The Kirlian Witness?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is murdered on the moonlit rooftop at the start of the film?
The Kirlian Witness Also Known As
2 alternative titles: “The Plants Are Watching” and “Nur die Pflanze war Zeuge”.
- Also known as
-
- The Plants Are Watching
- Nur die Pflanze war Zeuge
Seen The Kirlian Witness?
Movies Like The Kirlian Witness
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Witness to Murder, Eyewitness to Murder and The Viewer.
The Kirlian Witness FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Kirlian Witness, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Kirlian Witness?
The Kirlian Witness runs 1 hour 31 minutes (91 minutes).
When was The Kirlian Witness released?
The Kirlian Witness was released on November 15, 1978.
Who directed The Kirlian Witness?
The Kirlian Witness was directed by Jonathan Sarno.
Who is in the cast of The Kirlian Witness?
The Kirlian Witness stars Nancy Snyder as Rilla, Nancy Boykin as Laurie and Lawrence Tierney as Detective, among 8 credited actors.
Does The Kirlian Witness have a post-credit scene?
No. The Kirlian Witness has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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