Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

Basket Case

  • 19821982
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
19K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Basket Case (1982)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer1:06
1 Video
69 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Horror

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

IMDb RATING
6.1/10
19K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Frank Henenlotter
  • Writer
    • Frank Henenlotter
  • Stars
    • Kevin Van Hentenryck
    • Terri Susan Smith
    • Beverly Bonner
Top credits
  • Director
    • Frank Henenlotter
  • Writer
    • Frank Henenlotter
  • Stars
    • Kevin Van Hentenryck
    • Terri Susan Smith
    • Beverly Bonner
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 177User reviews
    • 127Critic reviews
    • 77Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:06
    Trailer

    Photos69

    Basket Case (1982)
    Basket Case (1982)
    A1
    Basket Case (1982)
    Basket Case (1982)
    Basket Case (1982)
    Basket Case (1982)
    Basket Case (1982)
    Basket Case (1982)
    She Freak (1967)
    Florence Shultz and Mary Ellen Shultz in Basket Case (1982)
    Beverly Bonner in Basket Case (1982)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kevin Van Hentenryck
    Kevin Van Hentenryck
    • Duane Bradleyas Duane Bradley
    Terri Susan Smith
    • Sharonas Sharon
    Beverly Bonner
    Beverly Bonner
    • Caseyas Casey
    Robert Vogel
    • Hotel Manageras Hotel Manager
    Diana Browne
    Diana Browne
    • Dr. Judith Kutteras Dr. Judith Kutter
    Lloyd Pace
    Lloyd Pace
    • Dr. Harold Needlemanas Dr. Harold Needleman
    Bill Freeman
    • Dr. Julius Lifflanderas Dr. Julius Lifflander
    Joe Clarke
    Joe Clarke
    • O'Donovanas O'Donovan
    Ruth Neuman
    • Duane's Auntas Duane's Aunt
    Richard Pierce
    • Duane's Fatheras Duane's Father
    Sean McCabe
    Sean McCabe
    • Young Duaneas Young Duane
    Dorothy Strongin
    • Josephineas Josephine
    Kerry Ruff
    • Detectiveas Detective
    Ilze Balodis
    • Social Workeras Social Worker
    Tom Robinson
    Tom Robinson
    • Thief in Theateras Thief in Theater
    Chris Babson
    • Kutter's Dateas Kutter's Date
    Maria T. Newland
    • Patientas Patient
    Florence Shultz
    • Nurseas Nurse
    • Director
      • Frank Henenlotter
    • Writer
      • Frank Henenlotter
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    Basket Case 2
    5.4
    Basket Case 2
    Brain Damage
    6.5
    Brain Damage
    Frankenhooker
    6.2
    Frankenhooker
    Basket Case 3
    4.7
    Basket Case 3
    Society
    6.5
    Society
    From Beyond
    6.6
    From Beyond
    Re-Animator
    7.2
    Re-Animator
    Street Trash
    5.9
    Street Trash
    Tourist Trap
    6.1
    Tourist Trap
    Sleepaway Camp
    6.2
    Sleepaway Camp
    Phantasm
    6.6
    Phantasm
    Maniac
    6.4
    Maniac

    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —KGF Vissers
    • basket
    • psychotronic film
    • grindhouse film
    • evil twin
    • cult director
    • 133 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Its mother conceived it... You won't believe it...
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Horror
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Most of the credits that appear at the end of the film are fake. The crew was very small and, rather than repeat the same names over and over again, they decided to just make up names.
    • Goofs
      During the bar sequence, Duane refers to his brother, calling him Duane, instead of Belial.
    • 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 big family secret. everybody hated us, except our aunt. See, he likes the dark. He doesn't like to be seen, not even by me sometimes. And you know what else?

      Duane Bradley: [Casey shakes her head] He talks to me

      Duane Bradley: [Points to his head] Up here.

      Duane Bradley: Without words. I just here him whispering in my brain. Sometimes he talks for hours and won't shut up. i used to be able to talk to him like that, but that was when we were still connected. Our aunt said it was our special gift. But since we've been separated, I can't do it anymore, but he can still do it to me. In fact, he's even better at it now, he always knows what I'm thinking...

      Casey: Duane, you're giving me the creeps.

      Duane Bradley: They didn't want him to live. But he fooled them. He didn't die, he just got stronger. Oh, If you only knew what it was like. Duane and I kept hidden from everyone. We're the both of us so messed up. I don't know which one of us is worse...

    • Crazy credits
      Since the crew only consisted of three or four people, many of the names in the credits are fictitious.
    • Alternate versions
      In the UK the film was originally cut for both cinema and by a further 35 secs for video by the censors who removed the following:
      • The scene where Duane watches a kung-fu film is missing shots of 'chain-sticks' from the kung-fu film itself.
      • The second doctor's death scene is missing a shot of him spitting blood as well as the climatic shot of blood splashing on his face.
      • The death of the female vet shortens shots of Belial clawing her face, the terminating shot of the scene showing the vet with scalpels sticking in her face is deleted.
      • Shots of the noisy neighbour being clawed to death by Belial are cut; this sequence was originally intercut with two other scenes making the editing at this point awful due to these cuts.
      • The infamous scene where Belial 'romances' Duane's girlfriend is the worst to suffer cuts- after she wakes up the entire scene has been removed bar a brief shot of her being strangled. In addition the shot of Belial on top her dead body and Duane's attempts to pull him off her is missing. Its worth noting that apart from the opening scene every murder in the film was cut to some degree by the UK censors. The 1999 Tartan release finally saw the film passed fully uncut by the BBFC.
    • Connections
      Edited into Basket Case 2 (1990)

    User reviews177

    Review
    Top review
    a b-movie done right
    this film was alot of fun to watch as a fan of cheesy films. it isn't for hardcore gorehounds but is a treat for anyone who gets a kick out of b-movie classics like "the horror of party beach".

    this film is genuinely entertaining despite it's low budget and doesn't seem to take itself too seriously. forget the plot holes and bad acting, this film is STILL worth watching.

    things to look for:

    the cheesy stop animation of the "monster" moving around

    the silly sounding howls of rage it makes

    feeding time LOL

    the "scary eyes" scene LOL

    "bloody folder? what bloody folder?"

    basket case isn't the meaning of life or a technical marvel, but it is fun to watch nonetheless. if you're in the mood for a fun b-movie, then basket case might be exactly what you're looking for. it won't scare you, but it just might entertain you.
    helpful•2
    0
    • takatomon
    • Mar 29, 2004

    FAQ1

    • What are the differences between the BBFC-18 VHS and the uncut version?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 2, 1982 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Basket Case - Der unheimliche Zwilling
    • Filming locations
      • Welfare Hotel, Times Square, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production company
      • Basket Case Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $35,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1(original/negative, intended ratio)

    Related news

    Indie Horror Month 2022: A Look Back on the Independent Horror Scene of the 1990s
    Indie Horror Month 2022: A Look Back on the Independent Horror Scene of the 1990s
    Apr 16DailyDead
    January 11th Genre Releases Include Dune, Basket Case: Special Edition (Blu-ray), and Halloween Kills
    January 11th Genre Releases Include Dune, Basket Case: Special Edition (Blu-ray), and Halloween Kills
    Jan 10DailyDead

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Basket Case (1982)
    Top Gap
    What was the official certification given to Basket Case (1982) in Spain?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    See the full list
    Image caption not available
    2:14
    The Most Anticipated Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    Watch the video

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.