Margot Kidder is Danielle, a beautiful model separated from her Siamese twin, Dominique. When a hotshot reporter (Jennifer Salt) suspects Dominique of a brutal murder, she becomes dangerously ensnared in the sisters’ insidious sibling bond. A scary and stylish paean to female destructiveness, De Palma’s first foray into horror voyeurism is a stunning amalgam of split-screen effects, bloody birthday cakes, and a chilling score by frequent Hitchcock collaborator Bernard Herrmann. —The Criterion Collection
Brian De Palma is one of the well-known directors who spear-headed the new movement in Hollywood during the 1970s. He is known for his many films that go from violent pictures, to Hitchcock-like thrillers.
Born on the 11th of September in 1940, De Palma was born in New Jersey in an American-Italian family. Originally entering university as a physics student, de Palma became attracted to films after seeing such classics as Citizen Kane (1941). Enrolling in Sarah Lawrence College, he found lasting influences from such varied teachers as Alfred Hitchcock and Andy Warhol.
At first, his films comprised of such black-and-white films as Bridge That Gap (1965). He then discovered a young actor whose fame would influence Hollywood forever. In 1968, de Palma made the comedic film Greetings (1968) starring Robert de Niro in his first ever credited film role. The two followed up immediately with the film The Wedding Party (1969) and Hi, Mom… read more
Yes, Hitchcock's influence is all over this thing, but it's got enough of an impish energy and a focus on hot-button issues of the day (Racism, Feminism and Class, Media and the Cult of Celebrity) that it deserves credit for its own identity. Plus, it's FUNNY. (The reality show in the opening scene, Peeping Toms, might have seemed like broad satire in '73. Now, it plays like prophecy of a sort)
The only thing scarier than a chainsaw-wielding cannibal or a face-fucking alien is a PATRIARCHY.
My second De Palma experience and I must say I'm even more impressed than I was before. An incredibly well put together, cinematically fascinating satirical thriller. I have to say I enjoyed this more than Dressed to Kill. The story was very engaging, the humor was well placed and style was awesome.
Really good early De Palma. The scene with the police and Jennifer Salt investigating while the body is hidden in the couch reminded me very much of Rope. Love it.
Yup. The split-screen sequences were very well-done by De Palma, Scottie. :) Perhaps my all-time favorite De Palma film next to DRESSED TO KILL (although, I'm not much of a De Palma fan myself).
(Note: The is a paper written for a class on the films of Brian De Palma. It is written with the assumption that the reader has already seen the film and it MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS. Enjoy!)
After… read review
When Alfred Hitchcock was still alive during the 1970’s, a young indendepent filmmaker named Brain De Palma directed a fantastic-made low-budget cult horror mystery classic in tradition of Hitchcock’s… read review
We all remember Brian De Palma’s “Carrie,” “Scarface,” and “Dressed to Kill” mainly because of the stylized gore, violence, and suspense. But few know he started his feature film career making satires… read review
If this movie isn’t an homage to Hitchcock then I don’t know what is. It’s all here: the motif of the doppleganger; the practice of voyeurism; disturbed femmes, and the manic aural cues of Bernard… read review