Alice, Sweet Alice

Alice is a 12 year old brat with a real mean streak...she bullies her younger sister (an 11 year old Brooke Shields) and terrorizes a reclusive neighbor. When her sister is murdered in church everyone begins to wonder if she's crossed the line from a tiny terror to a psychotic.

It's the simplicity of the story and near perfect execution that made this a cult classic. It's got ambiance, a wonderful accompanying score, creative camera work (although a little too much of people looking directly into the camera). Paula Sheppard shines as Alice and sometimes just the look on her face gives you the feeling she's thinking up new ways to traumatize people. It's got great subtext with sibling rivalry, children coping with divorced parents and religious faith. Some of the editing feels a bit stiff and some of the acting is subpar but in a story like this it can add a bit to the 'creepy' factor.

I think this is one of those movies that gets a little better with age. 6.5 in 1976 7.5 in 2021

Alice, Sweet Alice - 1976 (This Film Rates a B ) The film takes place in 1961, New Jersey. A young girl Karen played by Brooke Shields, is about to receive her first communion. Her sister Alice becomes jealous and starts to torment and bully her. However, Karen is strangled in church by an unknown assailant wearing a translucent mask. The mothers ex-husband starts to investigate the murder but the police are also interested in the case. Her overly bitchy mother (Annie) moves in to help out and Alice is not a fan. The family start to suspect that Alice killed Karen and the police are a bit suspicious as well. The rather obese cat daddy neighbor tries to molest her while she is delivering the rent money. He is dirty and disgusting. But that poor kitty! The masked figure attacks Annie on the stairs in an overdramatic but gripping sequence. Alice is sent to a psychiatric unit and states that Karen tried to kill Annie not her. The ex/detective receives an odd call from someone claiming to be Annie's daughter and that she has the crufix belonging to Karen. He learns of the killers real identity before he dies. The reveal is a little anti climatic but the death has some intensity. Eventually a pathologist is able to rule out poor Alice as a suspect. The real killer is a bit off kilter since the death of her own daughter on the same day as this communion. She kills the pervert neighbor but is spotted fleeing the scene by police. She has one more kill before its all over, right in front of the whole church congregation. But in the end, Alice might not be so innocent after all. The ending is a little bit of a downer. The build is spectacular even though some of the camera shots/angles aren't particularly great. At times its hard not to laugh even if not intentional. The chaotic church scene, The whole cake interaction at the 22 minute mark with the obese neighbor was a bit weird. The reaction of the congregation at the end was puzzling. It's not overly gory but what is present is top notch. Its just to quick for the eye and not often enough. The script is above average for a slasher film even if overlong. The acting is fairly decent, some average highlights and some not so good ones. It really is overdramatic like the 46:40 min mark at the hospital. For the most part, the soundtrack is spot on. A real mixture of vintage sounds. But it all fits. A lot of religious overtones and church scenes throughout. No T&A. It's an odd but sinister film.

Alice Spages (Paula Sheppard) is a rebel and problematic twelve year-old girl that lives with her divorced mother Catherine (Linda Miller) and her younger sister Karen (Brooke Shields). Catherine gives more attention to Karen, neglecting her older daughter. During the first communion of Karen, the girl is strangled by a woman dressed with a St. Michael's yellow coat and a mask. Alice takes her place in the line wearing her veil that she claims she had found on the floor and becomes the prime suspect of the police. When Catherine's sister Annie (Jane Lowry) is stabbed on the leg several times, she accuses Alice and the girl is sent to psychological evaluation under the protest of her parents and their friend Father Tom (Rudolph Willrich). Alice's father Dominick Spages (Nies McMaster) seeks evidences to prove the innocence of Alice.

"Communion" is a creepy and stylish horror movie of the 70's and practically the debut of Brooke Shields in the cinema with a minor but important participation. The dramatic story discloses insanity through weird characters in a period of heavy rain and using the Catholic principles of communion, sin and guilty, giving an atmosphere that recalls Dario Argento's movies. The relationship among Catherine, Father Tom and Dominick is not clear, especially because the Catholic Church requires celibate from the priests. In one moment, Catherine is ready to leave town alone, and she says to Father Tom that Alice would be better with him, giving an indication that Alice might be Tom's daughter. If my guess is right, the behavior of fanatic Catholic Annie that apparently blames Catherine for getting married pregnant of Alice is explained, and the conclusion is perfect, with Mrs. Tredoni saying that "children should pay for the sins of their parents"; calling Catherine of whore; and stabbing Father Tom. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Comunhão" ("Communion")

Note: On 29 May 2012, I saw this film again on DVD.

Note; On 06 Sep 2022, I saw this film again.

"Alice, Sweet Alice", unfortunately listed here under its more tame alias "Communion", is a modest but sublime thriller that excellently fits in the superior horror decade that were the 70's. It's in fact a thriller with just that tad bit extra… Despite of the modest budget Alfred Sole had to work with, his film doesn't look dated like many others and the influence it had on the slasher sub-genre is amazing. Who killed little Karen Spages during her first communion service? This question with a seemly obvious answer keeps you entertained and – especially – frightened throughout almost the entire film. Too bad the story loses some of its impact around the hour, due to a few tedious sequences and unexciting dialogs. Luckily, Sole rapidly continues where he left off and delivers us a truly marvelous finale where even Hitchcock himself would show respect for. There's a terrific catholic atmosphere and symbolism featuring in this film, stressed extra by the chilling musical score. Although the movie more or less became famous because it introduces Brooke Shields, it's in fact Paula E. Sheppard who gives away a flawless and imposing acting performance as Alice. She has this brilliantly nihilistic glance in her eyes that makes you feel uncomfortable. "Alice Sweet Alice" is definitely a film I would recommend to every horror fan. It contains several highly memorable sequences like, for example, all the ones involving the fat filthy and perverted neighbor. Fundamental horror viewing for Gothic lovers.

Yahoo! One of my all-time favorites. Made in the 70s but set in the 60s in an uber-catholic world during the Kennedy administration, this movie is about catholic killings. It's magnif. Paula Sheppard is incredible, a wonderful actress at so young. Gotta love Brooke Shields. Such aplomb. She's like her own damn cult. The direction is many-layered. Asides like the landlord downstairs feel so right. That scene in the stairway when the aunt is stabbed is amaze! You can watch events on two different levels. The music is choice. A young girl is murdered during her first communion, right there in the church. Her barely-psycho sister is blamed but it doesn't quite fit. This is only the first murder.