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List Price: $24.95 | | Label: Henstooth Video
Salesrank: 29044
Released: May 1, 2007 |
| Our Price: $18.11 |
| Used Price: $20.41 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
When ten-year-old Karen (Brooke Shields) 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? ALICE SWEET ALICE features a surprising amount of bloodletting along with a heavy dose of Catholic iconography. This was the first (albeit brief) screen appearance for Shields. The film is alternately known as Communion and Holy Terror. Special Features Include Commentary by Director Alfred Sole & Film Editor Edward Salier and Photo Gallery. Presented in Letterboxed format (Aspect Ratio 1.85:1)
Description of Alice, Sweet Alice:
Paula Sheppard is Alice, a pouty, petulant problem child at that awkward age living with her precocious little sister Karen (Brooke Shields) and single mom. When Karen is murdered during her first communion and Alice takes her place in line, suspicion immediately falls on her. Then a diminutive killer in a yellow slicker and opaque mask continues the reign of terror, and Alice's estranged father takes up the investigation to prove her innocence. Director Alfred Sole has acknowledged a debt to Nicolas Roeg's Don't Look Now, but Alice, Sweet Alice is really in the Hitchcock mold, a stylish, smartly executed psychological suspense thriller. The violence is rarely graphic but often grueling and always harrowing, and the deaths reverberate through the film in genuine and sometimes hysterical outpourings of grief. Even when Sole reveals the killer's identity in a startling moment halfway through (à la Vertigo), the tension never lets up. The original title of the film, Communion, better captures the Catholic elements of guilt, sacrifice, and redemption that become central to the film (another tip to Hitchcock). Only a couple of grotesque caricatures (notably an obese pedophile landlord) and a few rough moments (largely special effects scenes, likely due to budgetary constraints) mar this otherwise intelligent and well executed thriller. The DVD also features an insightful commentary track by director Alfred Sole and editor Edward Salier and an alternate credits sequence (identical but for the film's title), as well as brief biographies and filmographies and a stills gallery. --Sean Axmaker
Alice, Sweet Alice Reviews:
Alice in Psycho Land 
2009-05-19 - This review is for the out of print Anchor Bay release of "Alice, Sweet Alice." It's been remastered to its original, uncut version of 106 minutes and has a widescreen presentation that appears more like 2.35:1 in lieu of the 1.85:1 stated on the jacket. The film has numerous green vertical lines in the beginning but disappear altogether as the story progresses. There is full-length commentary from director Alfred Sole and editor Edward Salier. There are no closed captions. The Henstooth edition may prove a better purchase.
Alice Spages (Paula Sheppard) is anything but sweet. In fact, she is a biter, angry mentally unhinged twelve-year-old from a dysfunctional family. She harasses her pretty, young sister Karen (Brooke Shields), plays cruel jokes on her obese, obnoxious landlord Alphonso (Alphonso DeNoble), and disobeys her gorgeous mom Catherine (Linda Miller). When Karen is murdered at her first Catholic communion, it is no wonder Alice is the prime suspect. Soon, other members of her family are attacked by someone wearing a kewpie doll mask and a yellow slicker - exactly like the ones Alice owns.
Expertly directed by Alfred Sole, "Alice, Sweet Alice" is homage to Nicolas Roeg's supernatural horror slasher "Don't Look Now." Both involve killers wearing yellow slickers. "Alice, Sweet Alice" (originally, and more appropriately titled "Communion") works well as both a mystery and a slasher. In fact it is in the same bloody vein as the Italian gialli (murder mysteries) that were highly popular in the late sixties to early seventies.
Paula Sheppard's performance as Alice is superb. Hard to believe she was actually nineteen. He childlike pouting and temper tantrums were extremely convincing. I wanted to slap her silly myself. She needed some tough love in a padded cell.
More popular today than it was when originally released, "Alice, Sweet Alice" is highly recommended for fans of psychological slasher horror, especially with ones that have religious overtones. The ending is gruesome and disturbing; it is not easily forgotten.
it pretty good 
2009-01-12 - another vintage horror. it not that suspenseful and doesnt have elaborate deaths in it. there is only one death scene that is abit brutal. its when a guy gets smashed in the head to death with a big rock. the only true positive things about it are its a "who done it slasher", and if u want to offend someone religiously this movie is for u.
a true classic of suspense
2009-01-12 - The first time I saw *Alice, Sweet Alice* was when I was flipping through the TV channels, looking for something good to watch. There's something about this movie because, since the first time I saw it, I've watched it repeatedly. I consider this film a classic because it is still suspenseful after all these years.
After her sister, Karen, is murdered, suspicion falls on Alice, who is just simply a bratty, spoiled child! After all, once you see the yellow raincoat and the mask, you'll assume it's has to be Alice who is the culprit. However, about halfway, you start to have doubts and that is what makes the film worthwhile to watch. And like *Sixth Sense*, you have to watch it again to see if you missed the clues.
*Alice, Sweet Alice* is symbols galore, heavily involving the Catholic church. You just have to watch it again to appreciate all the hidden messages. Thus, this film is a great conversational piece.
After 30 years, this film can still make you bite your nails. Now, I call that a classic!
Alice Sweet Alice
2008-07-22 - I,m watchibg Alice Sweet Alice for the first time. I'm at the scene where she is hooked up to a lie detector after "Alice stabs her Aunt or does she? This is on top of my list of favorite horror films. This movie is very interesting. It's funny when alice drops the lie detector machine on the floor LOL, and the guy says "That little bitch is dumping your machine on the floor". Great film..i recomened everyone who like good suspence, horror and humor to watch it or better yet buy the DVD.
Alice Sweet Alice
2008-07-22 - This horror story gets your attention right away. You want to find out what happens since you see Brooks Shields name in the credits. She is around for a while but is gone before the ending credits. Her 1st film I believe. She has a presence even at her young age in this flick. Good to see if for nothing else a historic moment in an actor's filmography(shields).
