Alice Sweet Alice (1976) (88 Films DVD Review)
Directed By: Alfred Sole
Starring: Linda Miller, Mildred Clinton, Paula E. Sheppard
Rated: 18 (UK)/Region: 0/1:85/Number of disc: 1
Available from 88 Films
When ten-year-old Karen (Brooke Shields – in her first screen appearance) is killed in church on the occasion of her first communion, her seemingly innocent older sister Alice (Paula Sheppard) becomes the prime suspect. Matters become complicated as more of Alice’s family members are attacked, along with residents of her apartment building. Can a twelve-year-old girl be capable of such mayhem, or is someone else with a vicious plan destroying her family?
This is a film that just seems creepy. From our main focus of Alice to the large and repulsive neighbor to just about every character here, they all seem weird or “off”. That is what makes this film just a moody and interesting horror film. As things play out you also realize just how smart of a horror film it actually is as well. You have some nice gore and disturbing scenes, but you also have a very smart script that is well written and gives us a shock or two along the way.
Even at it’s nicest looking, Alice Sweet Alice is still a bit of an old looking film. The scratches that remain in the transfer only help add to the aura of the movie while watching. These days you see soo many films tries to capture that old grindhouse feel, but this is a movie that comes natural with that feeling. I think even if the most picky of horror fan can appreciate a movie like this at the end of the day.
– ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN 1.85:1 TRANSFER
– ORIGINAL MONO AUDIO
– AUDIO COMMENTARY BY DIRECTOR ALFRED SOLE & EDITOR EDWARD SALIER
– ALTERNATIVE “COMMUNION” TITLE SEQUENCE
– ORIGINAL TRAILER
– STILLS GALLERY
– BOOKLET NOTES BY CALUM WADDELL
– REVERSIBLE SLEEVE INCORPORATING
