Frère de sang

this film was alot of fun to watch as a fan of cheesy films. it isn't for hardcore gorehounds but is a treat for anyone who gets a kick out of b-movie classics like "the horror of party beach".

this film is genuinely entertaining despite it's low budget and doesn't seem to take itself too seriously. forget the plot holes and bad acting, this film is STILL worth watching.

things to look for:

the cheesy stop animation of the "monster" moving around

the silly sounding howls of rage it makes

feeding time LOL

the "scary eyes" scene LOL

"bloody folder? what bloody folder?"

basket case isn't the meaning of life or a technical marvel, but it is fun to watch nonetheless. if you're in the mood for a fun b-movie, then basket case might be exactly what you're looking for. it won't scare you, but it just might entertain you.

Basket Case (1982) happens to be one of the greatest shoe string budget horror films ever made. A true cult classic and a tragic tale of brotherly love and jealousy. The sleazy surroundings and characters that the movie was shot in and around adds to it's charm. Duane and Belial are a pair of brothers you don't want to cross paths with. This film was such a success that it spawned two sequels and a funny cameo in another. Highly recommended.

A

I first saw this horribly grainy movie back when I was around 12 years old. It was such a traumatizing experience, I thought I would wet my pants in the Dr. Needleman death scene! Then I discovered the Something Weird digitally remastered version this year and I absolutely love it now! I now realize it was meant to be funny in many places; it gets more campy with every viewing (that's not bad) and the over-the-top gore effects help it hold that position. Like the title of this review says, you seriously might think of steering clear of New York City after watching this movie. The only two movies I can think of that make New York look like a filthy, dirty abyss would be the ones mentioned in the other reviews, TAXI DRIVER and HARDCORE. To rebutt a fellow reviewer's point: Casey the prostitute is not hairy, but is on the chunky side! This movie is highly recommended as campy viewing at best. If anyone actually watches this movie while taking it seriously (it obviously doesn't want to be), of course they won't like it! But this is required for fans of cult movies, horror movies, and any of those who love the offbeat. Me included!

After first glancing at the article of this movie in the book "Cult Movies 2" some 25 years ago, I finally watched Basket Case today having bought the VHS from a used video store about a month ago. It concerns conjoined twins Duane (Keven Van Hentenryck) and Belial (which is a mixture of a puppet and stop-motion animation) and their revenge against the doctors that tore them apart. There's also a romance between Duane and one of the doctors' receptionist, Sharon (Terri Susan Smith). Written and directed by Frank Henenlotter, Basket Case is obviously low-budget and amateurish with cheesy moments to spare especially whenever Belial attacks someone. But it can also provide some genuine scares and shocks especially when Belial encounters Sharon. So on that note, Basket Case comes highly recommended. P.S. One of the players, a Dorothy Strongin who played Josephine here, died in my current hometown of Baton Rouge, LA, on May 25, 2006.

Basket Case (1982)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Duane Bradley (Kevin Van Hentenryck) arrives in New York City carrying a basket that contains a big secret. Duane is actually half of a Siamese twin and he and his deformed brother (who he keeps in the basket) are seeking vengeance against the doctors who separated them.

Frank Henenlotter's BASKET CASE was made for very little money and it quickly became a success and gathered a rather large cult following. I think there are several things to really enjoy in the film but at the same time I can't help but think that there are several things that could have improved it. The biggest issue I have with the film is the fact that it really drags at times and I think losing ten minutes probably would have helped it. I mean, the revenge factor takes way too long to materialize and I'd argue that there are way too many subplots.

Outside of that you've got to respect what Henenlotter was able to do with such a small budget. Yes, the special effect of the deformed brother isn't believable but there's still some low-budget charm that really helps the picture. Another major plus is that the atmosphere really captures the seedy side of New York City and there's no question that the authentic locations really add a lot to the picture. As with William Lustig's MANIAC, this film just breathes NYC and its seedy locations. Van Hentenryck's performance is another plus the film has going for it and there's no doubt that there are many memorable supporting players.

BASKET CASE certainly deserves its cult reputation. The gore, weird story line and terrific locations make it a must see.