Touch (1997 film)

Touch is a 1997 American neo-noir black comedy film directed by Paul Schrader and starring Christopher Walken, Skeet Ulrich, Bridget Fonda, and Gina Gershon. Based on the novel of the same name by Elmore Leonard, the film follows Juvenal, a young man who possesses a supernatural ability to heal people simply by touching them.

Juvenal's extraordinary gift attracts the attention of various individuals and organizations, each with their own agenda. Bill Hill, a former priest turned con artist, seeks to exploit Juvenal for financial gain by building a fraudulent religious organization around him. Lynn Faulkner, a researcher for a tabloid, aims to expose Juvenal as a fraud. Meanwhile, religious zealots consider him a modern-day messiah.

As Juvenal struggles to understand and control his power, he becomes entangled in a web of deceit, manipulation, and violence. The film explores themes of faith, exploitation, the power of belief, and the nature of miracles in a cynical and comedic light. It contrasts genuine faith and spirituality with commercial exploitation and the pursuit of sensationalism. The narrative follows Juvenal as he navigates the complex world and various individuals who seek to control or understand his abilities.