Basket Case (1982)

A young man carrying a big basket that contains his extremely deformed Siamese-twin brother seeks vengeance on the doctors who separated them against their will.

Director:

Frank Henenlotter

Writer:

Frank Henenlotter

Stars:

Kevin Van Hentenryck, Terri Susan Smith, Beverly Bonner

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kevin Van Hentenryck	...	Duane Bradley (as Kevin VanHentenryck)
Terri Susan Smith	...	Sharon
Beverly Bonner	...	Casey
Robert Vogel	...	Hotel Manager
Diana Browne	...	Dr. Judith Kutter
Lloyd Pace	...	Dr. Harold Needleman
Bill Freeman	...	Dr. Julius Lifflander
Joe Clarke	...	O'Donovan
Ruth Neuman	...	Duane's Aunt
Richard Pierce	...	Duane's Father
Sean McCabe	...	Young Duane
Dorothy Strongin	...	Josephine
Kerry Ruff	...	Detective
Ilze Balodis	...	Social Worker
Tom Robinson	...	Thief in Theater

Storyline

Charming country bumpkin Duane Bradley takes a motel room in New York with a basket and a backpack. In a flashback sequence we learn the basket contains his surgically removed Siamese twin - who is not only so physically deformed the doctors hesitated to consider him a human, but is also the vindictive driver behind their trip, with the purpose of killing off all those he blames. But in one of those doctors' offices, Duane gets his first-ever date, with the receptionist, and wants to start a positive life. When the freak twin escapes, the scene is set for a grim finale.

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Plot Keywords:

psychotronic film | grindhouse film | cult director | cult film | male objectification | 

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Taglines:

What is the secret Dwayne is hiding in the basket? Open it... if you dare!

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Genres:

Comedy | Horror

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

To try to make the film appeal to a comedy crowd, the original distributor cut all the gore scenes out of the film. They were eventually put back in and re-released in theaters with the subtitle "The Full Uncut Version!"

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Goofs

During the bar sequence, Duane refers to his brother, calling him Duane, instead of Belial.

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Quotes

Casey: [In the Bar] There's something I've been dying to ask you. What's in the basket?
Duane Bradley: My brother.
Casey: Your brother!
Casey: [Duane and Casey both laugh] What is he, a midget?
Duane Bradley: No, we're twins. Siamese twins
Casey: That's funny, you don't look...
Casey, Duane Bradley: oriental!
Casey: [Duane and Casey both laugh] So what happened? Somebody shrink him?
Duane Bradley: No, he's deformed. A freak, he looks like a squashed octopus!
Duane Bradley: Our mother died giving birth to us. He was attached to my right side. They wouldn't let us go to school or anything. They kept us hidden. We were the ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

Since the crew only consisted of three or four people, many of the names in the credits are fictitious.

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Alternate Versions

The initial US release, while still unrated, was cut by the distributor to eliminate virtually all of the blood and gore. The violence was later re-inserted when the film started playing the midnight circuit.

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Connections

Referenced in The House on Cuckoo Lane (2014)

User Reviews

Love it!

I went into Basket Case thinking "Oh God, this is going to be excruciating." The first five minutes totally shattered my expectations.

This movie wasn't boring and horrible- it was hilarious, gory and great. I laughed hysterically at the bad acting, Crayola paint blood, sleazy characters (and scenes), and horrendous dialogue. "Whatcha got in the basket? Easter Eggs?" This is one of the Best Bad films I've seen (up there with Troll I and II, Chupacabra Terror, and Chopping Mall). I particularly enjoyed the Disgusting Blob Brother's sexual frustration and the black wo-MAN (I couldn't tell until she practically took off all her clothes and even then). All the Roach Hotel's patrons were hilarious, especially the crazy woman who just shows up and tells random stories and then disappears quickly.

Basket Case is great for Bad Movie Connoisseurs and gore lovers. Fantastic... I want to watch again!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 April 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

Basket Case

Filming Locations:

Franklin Street, Tribeca, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Basket Case Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1