Sisters (1972) – Episode 128 – Decades of Horror 1970s

"There was no body because there was no murder!" Of course, if you say it often enough, it becomes a bit hypnotizing. Join your faithful Grue Crew - Doc Rotten, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr - as they try to keep their eyes on the aforementioned body in Brian De Palma’s Sisters (1972).

Decades of Horror 1970s
Episode 128 – Sisters (1972)

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A small-time reporter tries to convince the police she saw a murder in the apartment across from hers.

IMDb

 

• Director: Brian De Palma
• Writers: Brian De Palma, Louisa Rose
• Music: Bernard Herrmann
• Selected Cast:
  • Margot Kidder as Danielle Breton / Dominique Blanchion
  • Jennifer Salt as Grace Collier
  • William Finley as Emil Breton
  • Charles Durning as Joseph Larch
  • Lisle Wilson as Phillip Woode
  • Barnard Hughes as Arthur McLennen
  • Mary Davenport as Mrs. Peyson Collier
  • Dolph Sweet as Detective Kelly
  • Olympia Dukakis as Louise Wilanski (uncredited)

Your Decades of Horror 1970s Grue-Crew take on their fourth film directed by Brian De Palma after having first covered The Fury (1978, Ep 35), Phantom of the Paradise (1974, Ep 40), and Carrie (1976, Ep 42). This time, their topic is De Palma's Sisters (1972). Jeff picked this one and reveals that it plays to his fear of being committed to a psychiatric facility and not being able to get out. Chad recognizes some Hitchcock influences and enjoys seeing Margot Kidder give a well-played performance. De Palma’s use of split screens catches Bill’s attention as he points out how in Sisters, the technique makes a lot of sense and adds to the telling of the story. Doc finds Sisters to be a very competent first thriller from De Palma, and even though he is not a fan of hers, he thinks she does a good job here. Of course, you can’t forget Bernard Herrmann’s score either.

If you haven’t seen Sisters, it is definitely worth your time. At this writing, it is available to stream on HBOmax and The Criterion Channel and on physical media as a Blu-ray disc from Criterion.

Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror 1970s is part of the Decades of Horror two-week rotation with The Classic Era and the 1980s. The film for their next episode, chosen by Bill, is Grave of the Vampire (1972), starring William Smith and written by David Chase.

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