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Alice, Sweet Alice
1976 108 min United States of America R 18+
★6.6
Horror, Mystery, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Director: Alfred Sole
Trailers
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Description
Alice is a withdrawn 12-year-old who lives with her mother and her younger sister, Karen, who gets most of the attention from her mother, leaving Alice out of the spotlight. When Karen is found brutally murdered in a church, suspicions start to turn toward Alice. But could a 12-year-old girl really be capable of such savagery?
Budget:
$340,000
Starring
Linda Miller
Actor
Mildred Clinton
Actor
Paula E. Sheppard
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 1982
— Best Low-Budget Film
Saturn Awards 1979
— Best Screenplay
Key opinion
Alice, Sweet Alice is widely regarded as a masterful, atmospheric proto-slasher that effectively utilizes a micro-budget to create a sense of dark, lingering dread. While some consider it an overlooked genre gem, its legacy is cemented by compelling performances and a sophisticated screenplay that expertly builds suspense around its central mystery.
| Originality | The film serves as a pivotal precursor to the slasher subgenre, establishing tropes that would define 1970s and 80s horror. | |
| Acting | The cast delivers exceptional performances across the board, with Paula Sheppard and Alfonso Denobile providing particularly memorable and unsettling portrayals. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is highly praised for its ability to maintain ambiguity and tension regarding the killer's identity until the final act. | |
| Direction | Director Alfred Sole creates a pervasive, mystical, and dark atmosphere that elevates the material beyond its micro-budget limitations. | |
| Score | The score effectively establishes a mood of cold hopelessness and dread that complements the film's grim subject matter. |