A severely psychologically damaged schizophrenic stable boy (Peter Firth) is placed under the observation of a psychiatrist (Richard Burton) who tries to determine the root of his behavior after he blinds several horses. Adapted for the screen from his own stage play, Peter Shaffer's
Equus contains powerful and vivid material and imagery which comes off as somewhat clunky and is not opened up all that well for the screen by director Sidney Lumet. Burton and Firth are both excellent and Harry Andrews and a great supporting role as the seething, disbelieving stable master.
** 1/2 out of ****
