Basket Case (1982)
Studio: Something Weird Video/Image Entertainment
Theatrical Release: April 1982
Blu Ray Release: September 27, 2011
Director: Frank Henenlotter
Not Rated
Review by James Klein
I first heard about Basket Case when I was just starting high school. I had read up on it in Danny Peary's "Cult Movies 2" and also in John McCarthy's "The Official Splatter Movie Guide". Peary's Cult Movie books and all of John McCarthy's books/guides were my bibles in high school. This is where I was introduced and fell in love with films of the bizarre, the grotesque, the shocking and the strange. I knew Basket Case was considered a cult film, one which was both brutally gory yet funny at the same time. I was still quite shocked at what I saw and my young teenage mind quickly fell in love with this gruesome monster film. For those of us who have at times felt awkward or out of place, this one's for you.
Shot in 16 mm in NYC during the heyday of crime, violence, and prostitution, Basket Case is about a young man named Duane who is journeying into NYC for the first time. Aside form a wicker basket that he carries with him, he seems to have no idea what he is looking for. When he pays in cash at a grimy dive hotel, the riff raft that hang around the hotel quickly take notice. Duane pays it no mind as he tries to get in touch with various doctors via phone and in person. As he talks to his wicker basket, one assumes Duane is out of his mind. In fact, he is very sane and what we soon find out is that his twin brother lives in the basket. You see, the brothers are out for revenge against the doctor's who separated the conjoined brothers when they were young. No one is going to get in their way.
Basket Case briefly tries to explain why the brother's become seperated (Mom and Dad wanted their son Duane to be "normal") but the plot is really centered on these two brother's relationship and their telekentic powers which they both share. While the film is extremely bloody and at times humorous (even sometimes unintentionally) what holds Basket Case above other exploitation monster films is that the movie has a heart. One cares for these two brothers and even feels sympathy towards them, especially the monstrosity that is Belial who is just a small hunk of flesh with a human face and large claws. The drama really begins to unfold when Duane falls in love with a pretty young secretary at the doctor's office and Belial becomes insanely jealous. His violent rage towards his brother and the young woman result in tragic circumstances that almost resembles King Kong.
If one can forgive some of the lousy acting, cheap special effects and piss-poor cinematography, you may just happen to get a kick out of Basket Case. With a tongue planted firmly in its cheek, I feel its hard to not like this little monster film. However, if you are a bit squeamish I am unsure if Basket Case is really for you.
Now I originally thought that a blu ray of Basket Case was the most foolish thing ever, (I mean its suppose to look like crap! It's a grindhouse film!) the new blu ray contains an opening with writer/director Henenlotter who pretty much says the same thing. But now the film has now gotten a bit of a clean up and that it is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1;33. I was amazed at how good the movie looked and how the blu ray kept the same film grain as the old DVD had. Don't expect any DNR on this one. The blu ray also carries over most of the same special features as the old DVD.
It took me a year to upgrade my copy of Basket Case from DVD to blu ray and while I didn't think it was possible, the movie has never looked this good. While the movie may not appeal to everyone, it still holds a special place in my heart.
[rating: 4]
Theatrical Release: April 1982
Blu Ray Release: September 27, 2011
Director: Frank Henenlotter
Not Rated
Review by James Klein
I first heard about Basket Case when I was just starting high school. I had read up on it in Danny Peary's "Cult Movies 2" and also in John McCarthy's "The Official Splatter Movie Guide". Peary's Cult Movie books and all of John McCarthy's books/guides were my bibles in high school. This is where I was introduced and fell in love with films of the bizarre, the grotesque, the shocking and the strange. I knew Basket Case was considered a cult film, one which was both brutally gory yet funny at the same time. I was still quite shocked at what I saw and my young teenage mind quickly fell in love with this gruesome monster film. For those of us who have at times felt awkward or out of place, this one's for you.
Shot in 16 mm in NYC during the heyday of crime, violence, and prostitution, Basket Case is about a young man named Duane who is journeying into NYC for the first time. Aside form a wicker basket that he carries with him, he seems to have no idea what he is looking for. When he pays in cash at a grimy dive hotel, the riff raft that hang around the hotel quickly take notice. Duane pays it no mind as he tries to get in touch with various doctors via phone and in person. As he talks to his wicker basket, one assumes Duane is out of his mind. In fact, he is very sane and what we soon find out is that his twin brother lives in the basket. You see, the brothers are out for revenge against the doctor's who separated the conjoined brothers when they were young. No one is going to get in their way.
Basket Case briefly tries to explain why the brother's become seperated (Mom and Dad wanted their son Duane to be "normal") but the plot is really centered on these two brother's relationship and their telekentic powers which they both share. While the film is extremely bloody and at times humorous (even sometimes unintentionally) what holds Basket Case above other exploitation monster films is that the movie has a heart. One cares for these two brothers and even feels sympathy towards them, especially the monstrosity that is Belial who is just a small hunk of flesh with a human face and large claws. The drama really begins to unfold when Duane falls in love with a pretty young secretary at the doctor's office and Belial becomes insanely jealous. His violent rage towards his brother and the young woman result in tragic circumstances that almost resembles King Kong.
If one can forgive some of the lousy acting, cheap special effects and piss-poor cinematography, you may just happen to get a kick out of Basket Case. With a tongue planted firmly in its cheek, I feel its hard to not like this little monster film. However, if you are a bit squeamish I am unsure if Basket Case is really for you.
Now I originally thought that a blu ray of Basket Case was the most foolish thing ever, (I mean its suppose to look like crap! It's a grindhouse film!) the new blu ray contains an opening with writer/director Henenlotter who pretty much says the same thing. But now the film has now gotten a bit of a clean up and that it is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1;33. I was amazed at how good the movie looked and how the blu ray kept the same film grain as the old DVD had. Don't expect any DNR on this one. The blu ray also carries over most of the same special features as the old DVD.
It took me a year to upgrade my copy of Basket Case from DVD to blu ray and while I didn't think it was possible, the movie has never looked this good. While the movie may not appeal to everyone, it still holds a special place in my heart.
[rating: 4]
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