Alice, Sweet Alice 4K UHD

Great regional filmmaking: shot in Paterson, NJ long before it became a "go to" filming spot. Later notable works filmed there include The Sopranos, Billy Bathgate, Purple Rose of Cairo and the upcoming Phillip Roth adaptation of The Plot Against America, the Al Pacino (Hunters) series and of course, Steven Spielberg's West Side Story remake.The closest example of an American Gallo that I'm aware of. (Although the writer/director claims he had not seen one.)From the director of the infamous Tanya's Island (pre-fame Prince protege, Vanity and an amorous ape) the slasher spoof Pandemonium (early Phil Hartman, Pee Wee Herman, Carol Kane and a few old troopers like Tommy Smothers). Alfred Sole also had a prolific career in NYC-shot X fare.Back in the day this film was seemingly in the public domain - 27 different VHS covers plastered with: "BROOKE SHIELDS." Which made all the sense in the world back in the day.The story of a 12-year-old girl, Alice (Paula E. Sheppard), who may have killed her younger sister (Brooke Shields), Alice, Sweet Alice conflates the angst of adolescent sexual development with the fury of Catholic retribution, suggesting at times an analog version of David Fincher’s Se7en. It’s a dangerous combo, and it’s all over the fierce confrontations between the film’s characters and director Alfred Sole’s surprisingly formalist compositions. Indeed, there isn’t a scene in the film that doesn’t suggest a face-off between man and God—by my count, there’s only a handful of shots that don’t have a cross or statue of Christ passing judgment from some wall or corner of a room. Possibly the closet American relation to an Italian giallo, the film is head-trippingly hilarious (Jane Lowry, as Aunt Annie, may be the nuttiest screamer in the history of cinema) and features some of the more disquieting set pieces you’ll ever see in a horror film. It’s a strange brew, which is why—despite its considerable cult following—the film has never gotten the critical attention it deserves. Sheppard, who would go on to appear in 1982’s new wave/sci-fi Liquid Sky (recently released by Vinegar Syndrome) as the scene-stealing Adrian (in which she got to spew the classic knee-slapper, “Shut up before I cut your face and nobody’s gonna want to f*** your ugly c***!”), was actually 19 years old when she made Alice, Sweet Alice, and though you’d never know it from the way Sole frames the girl, her age is all over the world-weary fury she brings to the role, nowhere more unnerving than Alice’s many smackdowns with her revolting, obese downstairs landlord/neighbor, who takes sadistic delight in creeping out young girls. (Played with aplomb by Alphonse DeNoble, best known for Joel M. Reed's infamous Blood Sucking Freaks and the "legit" Jamie Gillis vehicle(!) Night of the Zombies. The rotound DeNoble committed suicide after the humiliation after getting stuck in a turnstile at the racetrack - the Fire Dept. had to be called and made the local newspaper- sorry about the digression) scenes that imagine what it must be like if Willy Wonka’s Veruca Salt ever butted heads with Marlon Brando’s Doctor Moreau.I suppose it's a proto-slasher, but the intelligence and influence of Don't Look Now and Hitchcock is obvious. Roger Ebert even liked it - it premiered at the Chicago Film Festival - and I seem to recall him comparing it to DePalma's Carrie, which it kinda does - both films had the same camera operator. (Ebert complains about the constant retitling of this film on "Dogs of the Week #8" on YouTube , still likes the movie, though.)Glad to see this again. Another great Arrow Release. Looks and sounds great. Not mentioned in the product description: a lively commentary with the director, editor and none other than William Lustig (Maniac), who was part of the crew - and is featured in a bit role.

Honest to god I am so happy I now own this masterpiece of a hidden gem underrated slasher film ! I’m also grateful for the wonderful folks that sent it my way checking the integrity of the disc and sending such thoughtful comments and at that it be signed by the ACTUAL DIRECTOR Alfred Sole is just….ugh ! Made my entire morning. I totally recommend buying from these sellers they are absolutely saint among men and women ♥️

THIS is how you make an effective low budget horror movie. Scary and unexpectedly intellectual. Modern filmmakers, take notes.

In 1961, sisters Alice and Karen attend a Catholic school where Alice will be getting the sacrament of her first Holy Communion. Karen is incredibly jealous of Alice and misbehaved overall. So, when Alice is found strangled and her body hidden, Karen is suspected of the murder. As the bodies pile up, more and more blame her, but is a little girl capable of murder?Alice Sweet Alice is an underappreciated slasher that has relevant themes and weird story lines. Karen is an insufferable child prone to tantrums, whining, and histrionics. However, she is mistreated by almost everyone in the film and is constantly compared to her well behaved, angelic older sister who gets everything that she doesn't. She is even denied the sacrament of communion because she was born out of wedlock, something that she had no control over. Every adult in the film is awful in some way, from the lecherous and filthy Mr. Alphonse (who tries to molest her) to her aunt (who isn't shy about displaying her dislike of the little girl) to her own parents (who hold her at arms length even when she's punished for their actions). Watching the film, Karen is annoying, but she understandably acts this way because everyone in her life failed her.The slasher wears a distinctive outfit of a yellow rain coat and an eerie clear mask, both things that Karen are seen wearing throughout the film. The murderer is a mundane person with twisted, religious motivations that do align with Catholic Church teachings (without the murder). It shows how toxic these judgmental teachings can be when applied to the real world as well as inside the church. The murders are well done, but not especially graphic. Alice Sweet Alice touches on a lot of sensitive subjects and handles them fairly well. I hope this film is eventually restored because the version on Amazon Prime is very sepia toned. The film is unique in the slasher genre and has more to do with Hitchcock murder mysteries than Friday the 13th.

This Is A Well Done 70’s For A Perfect Clear Arrow Horror Pic, Being So Underrated For An Amazing Youngster I’m Surprised Never Played Anymore Big Roles & Nobody Hardly Talks About😀

I saw this when it was brand new and broke barriers! If you can see it from the vantage point of that time in our past when such violence was unthought of and seemed ultimately impossible, then you will adore this film. Set against a backdrop of suburbia and just awash with Catholic school uniforms, traditional family values and one mean little kid, this video will hold your interest from beginning to end. At times it seems to be a modern spoof of that backdrop -- it's just all too good to be true. The makeup, hair and clothing on the ladies was killer, and I was really amused by the naked pin-ups in the police detective's office, right next to his 1961 calendar on the wall! Don't miss this movie, especially if you are of "a certain age."

Excellente copie pour cette œuvre auparavant disponible dans des éditions fort médiocres.C'est un vrai plaisir de re-découvrir le film dans ces conditions.

I love how Arrow Films has been releasing more obscure titles in this deluxe format. Last year they did it with THE BABY (1973) and now we get an awesome presentation of ALICE, SWEET ALICE. Revisiting this movie, I had forgotten how wonderful and unique the direction is. Right from the start, there is a sense of dread and doom hanging over everything and lots of disturbing religious imagery (not to mention that creepy mask the villain wears). The score is amazing and almost Hitchcock-esque. This was a low-budget film yet it in no way deserves to be grouped with lesser, cheap slashers. This baby is more stylistic and shares the same tone as more prestigious thrillers like DON’T LOOK NOW.There is a lot of character depth here, too—much more than you’d expect. Of course, after the VHS boom, the marketing for this movie always played up Brooke Shields involvement and she’s fine in it, but aside from Brooke, the rest of the cast are basically “unknowns” which really allows you to get lost in the story and forget it’s a movie. The standouts are the striking Linda Miller as the high-strung mother (she kind of resembles Liz Taylor in a few shots); Jane Lowry as the shrill aunt (she provides some much-needed histrionics that really spice up the movie); and Alphonso DeNoble as the disgusting, obese landlord complete with urine stains on the front of his pants. This guy makes Earl Peterson (Divine’s male character from FEMALE TROUBLE) look like a GQ model!For the first half-hour or so, I felt something was a little “off” and it’s the fact that this is actually a period piece but not stated as such. The two adult females are dressed like Jackie Kennedy, the Life magazine and Archie comics shown on-screen are old and it was only when I noticed a wall calendar with “1961” on it that I clued in. There’s not really a lot here for the gore hounds, but it is shot and edited so well, it should satisfy horror fans as well as those who enjoy 1970s psychological thrillers and movies like CARRIE, etc. There is a nice poster and booklet included as well as lots of background info via the commentaries and interviews. Get it!

On the day of her first communion Karen, Brooke Shields, is murdered by someone in a mask and yellow plastic raincoat. Suspicion soon falls upon her sister Alice, Paula Sheppard.Creepy early slasher classic Alice Sweet Alice finally gets a decent release from 88 Films. There are one or two signs of age, but otherwise the picture quality is pretty good.Alice Sweet Alice Aka Communion Aka Holy Terror is a way above average 70s slasher film that makes the most of it's New Jersey setting. Heavy doses of catholic imagery give the film a great morbid atmosphere of oppressive guilt with psycho sexual overtones. The killer owes a small debt to Don't Look Now, but the mask and knife point the way to later films. Paula Sheppard was 19 years old when the film was made and is great in the title role as the ambiguously motivated Alice.ExtrasAudio Commentary from the film's director Alfred Sole, editor Edward Salier and William Lustig, not credited on the case.The original and misleading trailer for the film under the title Holy Terror which emphasizes Brooke ShieldsAlternative title sequence for the same film as CommunionStills GalleryBooklet by Calum WaddellReversible cover with the original artworkTrailer Park for other 88 Films releases.The aspect ratio is 1:85.1

Nice picture & sound quality on this Blu-Ray. The movie still doesn’t compare to other slasher movies like Halloween, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Nightmare On Elm Street, Friday The 13th, Black Christmas & My Bloody Valentine. But it still manages to do its own thing to be creepy that helped shaped the slasher films of the 70’s and 80’s.

Les débuts à l'écran de Brooke Shields !