In my trip down b-movie lane, I thought it was time I gave director Frank Henenlotter's first film 'Basket Case' its due. This flick has gained a bit of a following over the years and I'm a little confused as to why. I found the subject matter off-putting & distasteful and I'm no prude. It's also very low budget. To each their own I guess.
Duane (Kevin Van Hentenryck) had his conjoined brother Belial forcibly removed from him in a surgery demanded by their parents. The two brothers share a physic bond and are trying to live off the grid as they take revenge on the doctors responsible. Duane gets the opportunity for a semblance of a normal life and romance, but his deformed brother (kept in a basket hence the title) won't make it that easy.
This is a grindhouse film the type that certainly doesn't get made anymore. Another glance at a NYC from a time long ago. The problem is the story isn't super interesting and the effects that go to making Belial are cheap, crude rather than scary. My favorite part was a repeating bit where the manager of the rattrap motel they're living in constantly investigate noises, the room. It probably wasn't supposed to be humorous.
'Basket Case' proved popular enough to warrant two sequels. This film / series has its fans, but I can't be one of them. There just isn't anything for me to bite into here and I'm obviously not keen on this genre. If you have a fondness for shock horror elements this might be worth a look as it's certainly not mainstream in the least.
Duane (Kevin Van Hentenryck) had his conjoined brother Belial forcibly removed from him in a surgery demanded by their parents. The two brothers share a physic bond and are trying to live off the grid as they take revenge on the doctors responsible. Duane gets the opportunity for a semblance of a normal life and romance, but his deformed brother (kept in a basket hence the title) won't make it that easy.
This is a grindhouse film the type that certainly doesn't get made anymore. Another glance at a NYC from a time long ago. The problem is the story isn't super interesting and the effects that go to making Belial are cheap, crude rather than scary. My favorite part was a repeating bit where the manager of the rattrap motel they're living in constantly investigate noises, the room. It probably wasn't supposed to be humorous.
'Basket Case' proved popular enough to warrant two sequels. This film / series has its fans, but I can't be one of them. There just isn't anything for me to bite into here and I'm obviously not keen on this genre. If you have a fondness for shock horror elements this might be worth a look as it's certainly not mainstream in the least.