Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

Very Slow, Plot Sucked, Acting OK, Has it's moments.Some cool killings. But the mystery part sucked. Not enough clues. Very slow moving. Strange enough to watch. But nothing great.Very Slow, Plot Sucked, Acting OK, Has it's moments.Some cool killings. But the mystery part sucked. Not enough clues. Very slow moving. Strange enough to watch. But nothing great.Very Slow, Plot Sucked, Acting OK, Has it's moments.Some cool killings. But the mystery part sucked. Not enough clues. Very slow moving. Strange enough to watch. But nothing great.Very Slow, Plot Sucked, Acting OK, Has it's moments.Some cool killings. But the mystery part sucked. Not enough clues. Very slow moving. Strange enough to watch. But nothing great.

The 1970's really did produce some fine horror movies that provided a lot of fear and chills as many of the scenes were done so real and shocking the kills and the gore of the blood scenes looked so shocking and it chilled the viewer. And "Alice Sweet Alice" clearly fits the descriptions of that the story is somewhat different with murder and religion and it involves a withdrawn little girl and an older woman with a secret that causes her to be for revenge.Set in 1950's Patterson, New Jersey ten year old Karen(in one of Brooke Shields's very early screen roles)is all of a sudden killed in a shocking and violent bloody manner in church on the day of her first communion, and her older sister Alice(Paula Sheppard)who's different and withdrawn appears for sure the prime suspect. Yet the film becomes more deviant and filled with bloody drama as more of Alice's family members and people who live in her apartment complex are attacked.Just when you think you have it figured out this movie takes a shocking twist as the past full of secrets prove that another person is doing the killings. Overall this film isn't mainstream, but for a 1970's horror film it's one of the better ones that entertains with suspense, gore, blood, and it twist with a shocking surprise reveal of the truth behind the killings at communions, "Alice Sweet Alice" is a cut above many classic horror films.

I can remember first seeing the image of a girl in a yellow raincoat wearing a translucent mask and thinking it was one of the creepiest things I had ever seen. I was very curious to finally watch the film that contained this frightening image. Alice, Sweet Alice starts off very shocking and very dramatic in the first half. The story of a young girl suspected of having murdered her younger sister during first communion was horrifying and at times difficult to watch. Unfortunately the plot deviates from that storyline and the movie loses most of it's emotional resonance and becomes yet another silly slasher film. The first half of the film works well but is unfortunately undone by the uninteresting plot twists.

The 70s, more than any other decade produced many what I would call "socially conscious horror movies" or message films. Alice Sweet Alice is no exception.Karen (Brooke Shields in an early role) plays Karen, a young girl who is about to receive her first communion.She is the darling, apple of her mother's eye and can do no wrong. Karen has an older sister, Alice (Paula Sheppard), who likes to go around in her yellow rain slicker scaring people,cursing, and giving them the evil eye. During Karen's communion, someone kills her and all suspicion falls on the outcast, Alice. Someone wearing a yellow rain slicker and plastic doll mask begins killing people in the town. Some suspect Alice, but is it really her?The remainder of the film focuses on Alice. Many people may have very mixed emotions about her. Are we supposed to like and care about her? She does come across as a bit bratty, foul mouthed and "off" but we can cut her some slack because she also has to deal with her emotionally detached mother (Linda Miller)not to mention the obese landlord, Mr. Alphonso. I,personally really like the Alice character.Paula Sheppard, who plays the role, does an excellent job. She looks like a normal 12 year old girl one moment, and a deranged psychopath the next. Her eyes and facial expressions speak volumes about what she is thinking. Sheppard was actually 19 at the time of filming and sadly would only appear in one other movie, the ultra weird Liquid Sky. A word or two must be said about Mr. Alphonso. He is quite unlike any other character you will see in a movie,horror or otherwise. He is bald,always wears a stained white tank top, weighs close to 400 pounds and eats cat food. There are also a few not so subtle hints that he dabbles in pedophilia. Alice has a few run ins with Mr. Alphonse.He is, in my opinion,one of the most disturbing characters ever in a movie.Alice Sweet Alice was directed by Alfred Sole who would later direct one of my favorite horror spoofs, Pandemonium. I do not know much about Sole or his upbringing but one senses that there is a bit of self referencing in this movie.It seems to be a very personal film for Sole and the fact that he grew up in the same state (New Jersey)where the film is set adds to this feeling.Catholicism plays an important role in movie. Many of the characters attend the same church that Karen was killed in. Every character in Alice Sweet Alice has emotional baggage and are often unhappy with their lives. Guilt combined with a dreary late season setting make the movie very pessimistic in its atmosphere. If you're looking for a fun, lighthearted horror movie, this is not the one to watch.The killer's identity and motive may become obvious to some as the movie progresses but it takes nothing away from the overall effectiveness of the film. Although filmed and set in the United States, it looks and feels more like a giallo, which at the time was more prevalent than the slasher movie.Overall I would give Alice Sweet Alice 8/10 plastic doll masks. It is available on DVD and comes well recommended from this reviewer. Just don't let Mr. Alphonso catch you sneaking around his apartment door.