"Basket Case" has an appealing low-budget feel to it, and Kevin Van Hentenryck is very likeable as Duane. Belial, the deformed twin, is an oddly sympathetic character. Yes, the film contains some scenes that many will find sick and depraved, but it also contains some truly haunting images. Disturbing, sometimes funny, and curiously moving, "Basket Case" is a truly unique piece of cinematic art.


SICK, SICK, SICK, SICK   November 13, 2001
 7 out of 8 found this review helpful

Basket Case is WAY out there and so sick that the mouths of those watching it fall open in disbelief. This movie was made outside of Hollywood; the sets consists of a seedy flophouse (not a Hollywood soundstage designed to look like a flophouse), a 42nd street grindhouse movie theater, and what looks like an abandoned building that is supposed to be a doctor's office. The actors and extras look like they were not saleried but worked for a chance to be on film and/or a bottle of wine. There was not much money to be spent on this movie. Instead, this horror masterpiece relied on imagination and a twisted sense of humor to make it work. The story concerns a pair of separated Simease twins. Duane, the normal (normal as in being able to walk on his own and not scare people with his looks) carries his brother around in a wicker basket. The bother looks like a big glob of putty with claws and teeth. Their goal is to exact revenge on the doctor's who separated them. There is lots of blood shed, horrendous acting by non pros, and a femme fatale with the most ridiculous hairstyle ever put on celluloid.


Great horror cult classic!   April 16, 2007
 7 out of 8 found this review helpful

In the seediest part of New York City, a strange young man named Duane Bradley check into a hotel in times square with everything especially a basket that contains his small deformed brother. Long ago Duana was born with his twin brother attached to him creating a fuss among his family and when he was older him and the creature got surgically seperated leaving the Siamese brother in a garbage can, he did rescued him and protects him every know and then. Now they seek revenge on the people that seperated them as the creature goes out of control for it eats ravenously and craves for blood even the ones from room intruders.

An unforgottable horror comedy independent flick that became an instant midnight cult favorite with critical acclaim even from Rex Reed, this darkly comical terror tale is gory as hell and funny too. The violence and gore gave this movie an X rating originally but was released uncut and unrated into theaters, the acting maybe wooden but the storyline is quite original and features some good make-up and stop motion effects.

This special edition DVD has quality picture and sound with cool extras like audio commentary by director Frank Henenlotter with producer Edgar Levins and Actress Beverly Bonner, theatrical trailers, TV spots, outtakes, behind the scenes footage, a featurette, radio spots, radio interviews, clips from Beverly Bonner's comedy cable TV show "Beverly Bonner's Laugh Track", and poster-and-still gallery for this is a must have for true horror aficionados.

Also recommended: "The Toxic Avenger", "Day of the Dead", "Re-Animator", "Demons", "It's Alive!", "C.H.U.D.", "The Devil's Rejects", "Ichi The Killer", "Phenomena (a.k.a. Creepers)", "From Dusk Till Dawn", "Evil Dead II", "I Spit on Your Grave", "Maniac (1980)", "Creepshow", "The Driller Killer", "The Prowler", "Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky", "Dead Alive (a.k.a. Braindead)", "Texas Chainsaw Massacre part 2", "Blood Feast 1 & 2", "Hostel", "Brain Damaged", "Frankenhooker", "Terror Firmer", "The Brood", "Inferno", "Men Behind The Sun", "Cannibal Ferox", "Bloodsucking Freaks", "Street Trash", "Cannibal Holocaust", "Grindhouse", "Motel Hell", "The Evil Dead", "Dawn of the Dead (1978 and 2004)", "Saw Trilogy", "Dead Ringers", "Videodrome", "Scanners", "Caligula", "Last House on The Left", "Sin City", "An American Werewolf in London", "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer", "The Kindred", "American Psycho", "A Nightmare on Elm Street", "May", "High Tension", "The Untold Story", "Cannibal Apocalypse", "Hannibal", "Wolf Creek", "Final Destination 2" and "The Hills Have Eyes (1977 and 2006)".