Young Terrence Stamp is a marvel in this movie, a character whose innocence is completely misunderstood when he somehow gets out into the world, having been in a coma since entering life. With the help of the psychiatrists sent to help him when he comes out of his stupor, he learns enough in a short period of time to advance to the mentality of a young boy, and curious to see the world, escapes with the help of his adult sized strength, knocking out a guard. Stamp makes his way around society, obviously perplexed why people treat him coldly or with fear. His doctors (which includes Robert Vaughan) try to find him, and hopefully before it is too late as he is labeled a dangerous psychotic pervert by the law enforcement searching for him, a belief far from the truth.
Stamp's performance goes from the basic grunts and cries of someone with the mentality and fear of an infant to the curiosity and friendliness of a grade school boy. It is easy to see why he is feared yet you can't help but lose your sympathy for him because he is in a situation that he is in no way responsible for. This is a very unique film that takes the character past Cliff Robertson's Oscar-Winning performance in "Charly" (which dealt with mental retardation and arrested development) and is closer to the more recent classic "Benjamin Button", and that makes the story all the more heartbreaking. This is something that even the science of psychiatry couldn't figure out, and thanks to Stamp's brilliant performance, wins over the audience with adoration for this loving adult with a six year old brain.
Stamp's performance goes from the basic grunts and cries of someone with the mentality and fear of an infant to the curiosity and friendliness of a grade school boy. It is easy to see why he is feared yet you can't help but lose your sympathy for him because he is in a situation that he is in no way responsible for. This is a very unique film that takes the character past Cliff Robertson's Oscar-Winning performance in "Charly" (which dealt with mental retardation and arrested development) and is closer to the more recent classic "Benjamin Button", and that makes the story all the more heartbreaking. This is something that even the science of psychiatry couldn't figure out, and thanks to Stamp's brilliant performance, wins over the audience with adoration for this loving adult with a six year old brain.