The Manitou is a 1978 horror movie directed by William Girdler. The movie stars Tony Curtis, Michael Ansara, and Susan Strasberg. It tells the story of Karen Tandy, a young woman who visits her psychic boyfriend Harry while suffering from a painful lump on her back.
Harry studies the lump and discovers that it is growing at an incredible rate and is rapidly turning into a reincarnation of a 400-year-old Native American spirit named Misquamacus. With the help of a Native American medicine man, John Singing Rock, Harry and Karen attempt to fight off the evil spirit before it can fully materialize and wreak havoc on the world.
As the lump on Karen's back grows larger, she experiences increasingly terrifying hallucinations and visions. Eventually, the spirit takes control of Karen's body and begins attacking Harry and John, revealing itself to be an incredibly powerful force not to be trifled with.
The movie builds to a climactic battle between Harry and the spirit, with terrifying special effects and intense action. In the end, Harry manages to defeat the spirit and save Karen, but not before a shocking twist is revealed that leaves the audience reeling.
The Manitou was inspired by the Native American legend of the Manitou, a powerful, supernatural being that can be invoked for both good and evil purposes. The movie blends horror, science fiction, and Native American mysticism to create a unique and terrifying viewing experience.