Matrixston
Wow! Such a good movie.
Incannerax
What a waste of my time!!!
Robert Joyner
The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one
Roy Hart
If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.
GL84
Following her daughter's death, a mother's guilt and Catholic repression keeps her from admitting that her jealous and emotional older daughter is responsible even when a similar killing spree strikes the neighborhood forcing them to deal with their issues.This one here wasn't all that bad of a slasher effort even though it is somewhat overrated. What this one really does get right is the rather domineering and oppressive tone featured here, with the film so heavily steeped in Catholicism and repentance that it works incredibly well at generating a great atmosphere throughout here. Not only is there a depiction of Christ or a cross fixed prominently in just about every sequence here, sometimes both together in pictures, paintings or statues but the whole film revolves around the jealousy depicted towards the First Holy Communion as that sets the whole film in motion. Likewise, the inability of the characters to recognize or accept any kind of wrongful, sinful behavior on her part since she's clearly crazy yet being unable to admit it doesn't come across as necessary here because of the conditioning not to accept that possible reasoning. That tends to get played out nicely in the first half here as the different investigations into her behavior only to keep getting caught up in the religious drama that occurs in here as they try everything they can to pin it on her only to find themselves stumbled by the insistence nothing out of the ordinary was occurring and that their issues all play a major part of the investigation holding itself back. Alongside that, the film's few slasher scenes aren't all that bad either with the fact that there's the chilling taboo-breaking opening attack in the church confessional where the death of a child is the prime factor here in setting this forward, the great ambush at the warehouse where he follows the masked killer into the abandoned building and leads into a fine brawl into the big battle to the ending confrontation in the church.This also manages to touch upon normal giallo motifs where the gloved killer requires a single killing device, the middle segment of the film trying to play detective for an incredibly brutal crime that takes place at the beginning of the film and several other little touches from the genre. This here is all added together into a nicely influential film that does have some really good things about it. This one here simply feels overrated than what it should. The biggest reason here is this is simply so slow going with the first murder so long into the film which manages to handle just about all of the first part of the film. The fact that the next ones come way into the second half leaves a lot of time in between the segments where nothing happens and it becomes a drag to sit through. That there is the major reason for this one to feel as it does, since this forces time away to devote to it when it doesn't need the terms as it's already been expertly given. The fact that there's also way too much time devoted to the red herring suspect that it starts to get boring after a while. There's way too much built up into a completely improbable idea that it just becomes aggravating when it introduces yet another piece of evidence that throws more fire towards the obvious red herring. All these things are responsible for it's overrated feeling.Rated R: Violence, Language, nude pin-ups, violence-against-animals and children in jeopardy.
gavin6942
After a young girl (Brooke Shields) is brutally murdered during her first communion, her strange and withdrawn older sister (Paula E. Sheppard) becomes the main suspect.There are some odd rumors circulating about this film. Allegedly, Bill Lustig worked as a second-unit director, but there seems very little to confirm that. Also, this was alleged to be an attack on the Catholic Church in response to the director getting excommunicated for his involvement in pornography. These aspects appear to be true, or at least director Alfred Sole claims them to be. Apparently a bishop's house was in the adult film, "Deep Sleep", and this was upsetting. Sole was even indicted on federal obscenity charges.What is absolutely true is that this film is criminally underrated. An amazing plot (not unlike the giallo films of the 60s and 70s), a great mystery, a cool killer with a creepy mask (inspired in part by the raincoat in Nic Roeg's "Don't Look Now" and in part by "The Sad Seed"), and solid direction and acting from top to bottom.Even more interestingly, this film was released in 1976, and is obviously a slasher film. This puts it before "Halloween", after "Black Christmas", and well before the slasher boom of the 1980s. The style and plot elements are very much ahead of its time in that respect.As of 2016, the film is expected to be remade by Dante Tomaselli, who happens to be Alfred Sole's cousin. If nothing else, the new film (if it happens) will shine more light on the original.
loomis78-815-989034
On the day of her first communion, 12 year old Karen, (Brooke Shields in her first role) is gruesomely murdered by a masked killer wearing a yellow rain coat. This shocking opening catches your attention quickly. Everyone, including the police suspects it was her jealous older sister Alice (Sheppard) who was mysteriously missing when the deed was done and shows up with an article of Karen's clothing. Her Mother Catherine (Miller) simply won't believe it and calls in her ex-husband Dom (McMaster) to help clear her daughter. A few more stalking deaths are executed in macabre fashion and the suspicion is on Alice. This low budget shocker from New Jersey has a real nasty streak to it. It unfolds smoothly putting its attention on character and mystery. Director Alfred Sole lays on suspense first and then delivers the terror with intensity that really makes this film work. Several unnerving scenes stand out like the attack on the apartment stairs and when Dom investigates an abandoned building with the killer on the loose. These scenes are gruesome and shocking and the sight of the creepy killer is quite unnerving throughout the film. The acting is quite good with Linda Miller as the mother and the excellent performance from Paula Sheppard as Alice. Sole delivers something deliciously evil and scary. With everything today being so politically correct, 'Alice Sweet Alice' (Originally called Communion) reaches from the 1970's and slaps you in the face. To say this movie is politically incorrect by today's standards would be an understatement and it is welcomed. Shocking and scary, this is a gem from the 70's that shouldn't be missed especially by Slasher film fans.
Alexia Verona (idontknowiknowthatidontknow)
was it just a coincidence? lucky? what did the ending mean exactly? ambiguous? You can see Brooke shields in her early teens where she is very pretty. this is a fine film from the 70's where films were taunt, thrilling, violent, moody, atmospheric. you remember the movie valentine, where someone with a mask kills people? this is like valentine with a genius IQ. one of the finest films i've ever seen. hitchkokican camera work since the directer was an avid fan of his. acting was a little weak except for Alice. they don't make films like this anymore. it's a shame. why do IMDb require ten lines for a review? it's really annoying because i only have 2 or 3 lines of things to say. then i have to think of things to type. anyway it is a very good movie and if you are a horror fan or thriller fan, you will like it for sure. se la vi.4.5/5