LogFAQs > #979811519

30. Basket Case (1982 / 316 points)
Directed / Screenplay by: Frank Henenlotter
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Why Its Significant - While not a mainstream horror film and made on a shoestring budget, Basket Case embodies the spirit of exploitation cinema and golden age body horror. Basket Case throws a wrench into traditional horror monsters - unlike other easily-digestible Hollywood horror villains, Belial's raw, exposed form pushes boundaries and forces the audience to confront the uncomfortable. The separation of conjoined twins is a brutal violation, and the film delves into the psychological and physical consequences, creating a sense of unease about bodily autonomy, and forcing viewers to confront the sanctity of the body, the ethics of medical intervention, and the right to bodily self-determination. Duane's unwavering loyalty to Belial, despite his monstrous form, speaks to the power of familial bonds and the struggle for acceptance in a world that deems them freaks. Future films like Society, which features grotesque body transformations as a metaphor for societal corruption, and Teeth, where the female protagonist's monstrous anatomy becomes a weapon against patriarchal oppression, or Malignant, where the hidden twin fuels a desire for revenge, owe a debt to the way Basket Case initially pushed boundaries in body taboos and societal norms. Basket Case had two sequels and was selected for preservation by the Museum of Modern Art in 2017.

The Rankings
Bitto - 8
Jcgamer107 - 20
Evilordexdeath - 22
Mythiot - 22
Plasmabeam - 23
Rockus - 24
Fortybelowsummer - 25
Snake - 26
Johnbobb - 29
Karo - 29
Lightning - 29
Seginustemple - 29
Inviso - 30

Bitto - I generally de-emphasize acting performances, which is great for this movie, because wow, this is easily the worst acting in the gauntlet. That's impressive! I will instead focus on the overall plot and the characters, both of which I really like. I'm glad the revenge plot ends about halfway through the movie and the rest is about Belial wanting more of which he cannot have and how it creates a rift between Belial and Duane. I like Duane's exasperation with Belial at the end and how it leads to both of their death at the end. I like the overall budget feeling of the movie. It makes it feel personal. The hotel in particular feels like a genuinely solid location by the end. The one time the acting does get in the way is selling the relationship between Duane and the receptionist. I just feel 0 chemistry there and the whole relationship moves really, really fast.

Jcgamer107 - 4/10

Evilordexdeath - So this was one of maybe four movies on the list I had seen before we started. I heard about a scene near the end where the protagonist runs around town naked and was curious to see that in its intended context. This is a very dumb reason to sit through a whole movie, and maybe the experience of watching the whole thing waiting for one honestly very mundane scene right at the end increased my feelings of antipathy toward it, but while I don't hate this film I just kind of don't care about any aspect of it. The story is insubstantial and kind of dumb, the characters are dull, the acting is stilted and awkward, the monster looks really stupid, and it's not even so bad it's funny. It's a good example of a movie so mid that seeing a blurry, distant image of a cock is the most memorable part.

Plasmabeam - Was about to write Basket Case off as trash until we got the backstory on the monster. That might be enough to save this one from my bottom 5.

Rockus - Ultimately won me over to be honest. The performances arent very good and the production is admittedly pretty shoddy, but it takes such a big swing and has a whole lot of personality that its difficult to really dislike it. I might even warm up to it on repeated viewings. It has a kind of charm to it, even with how grimy and seamy it is at times, and how nasty it makes living in New York City look. Pretty fun despite its complete lack of craft, or perhaps even because of it? I dont know. Its difficult to express just why I enjoyed this but its difficult to really hate it.

Fortybelowsummer - This movie is so stupid, but its quite hilarious and by the end actually kind ofmoving? The premise is wacky: guy carries around his deformed surgically removed twin and they take revenge on those who have wronged them, in exceedingly bloody fashion. The brothers name is Belial (dick move naming him that, dad, but youll get yours) and he is one pissed off fleshy basketball of a guy. Its an absolute treat watching him maim someone or trash a hotel room in fantastically shitty stop-motion. Turns out all Belial really wants is to grab some titty and maybe a little more (oh god that thrusting), and I guess thats what the movie is really about: the dark side of sexual repression. Whether or not its also a statement about abortion I dont know, but it was definitely an entertaining watch, despite probably the worst acting in any of our films.

Snake - Basket Case is one of those films thats more proof of concept than anything else. A close look reveals a film brimming with raw potential often hampered by its narrative limitations. Belial, to me, is a grotesquely fascinating creation, a testament to the creativity that can blossom under financial constraints. The practical effects ooze a grimy authenticity that melds perfectly with the grimy NYC setting on display here, along with its rogues gallery of weirdos all portrayed by uneven unprofessional actors, who, with very little in the way of alternative credits to their names, still add a layer of bizarre charm to the film. Yet, the narrative struggles to maintain momentum beyond the initial shock value. The revenge plot feels simplistic, and character development is minimal. In addition, the sexual assault against Sharon at the end of the film feels like a case of the director simply knowing no other way to end their film. Horrifying, sure, but the lack of deeper exploration of it leaves the act feeling cheap and exploitative.

Johnbobb - The only good thing I can think to say about this is that it inspired a much, much better movie almost 40 years later.

Karo - So a pair of conjoined twins are separated against their will, and they are out for revenge against all the doctors who performed the surgery. One of these twins is this normal looking person, while the other is a grotesque monster portrayed by a fake-ass puppet.

This is not how conjoined twins work, they are simply identical twins who did not separate fully. This means they should look basically the same, not have one of them be fucking Krang or whatever.

Anyway, he carries his dismembered brother around in a wicker basket like some sort of pet that he drops burgers in to feed and my god this is just so fucking stupid.

The duo somehow get away with multiple murders despite just walking in during broad daylight with many witnesses (one of whom he later dates) carrying a large and memorable basket.

The movie is an unremarkable adventure lacking in both medical ethics and medical accuracy, featuring lots of unconvincing creature effects, incompetent acting and an exploitative circus sideshow attitude towards a real condition that real people have.

An utter and irredeemable garbage basket.