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:

Its mother conceived it... You won't believe it...

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Genres:

Comedy | Horror

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

At this film's premiere, Frank Henenlotter met James Glickenhaus. The two became friends and Glickenhaus' production company, Shapiro-Glickenhaus Productions, would end up making Basket Case 2 and Frankenhooker.

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Goofs

When Casey returns to her room (where Belial is waiting), she takes off her shoes, changes into her smiley face nightie, strips off her underpants, and goes to bed naked from the waist down. When Belial chases her out of her room, she is wearing control top pantyhose and wedge sling back sandals with the smiley face nightie.

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Quotes

Sharon: What's in the basket? Easter eggs?

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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 Australian version, released on the Roadshow Home Video label, is uncut, and is the same as the American unrated version.

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Connections

Featured in 42nd Street Memories: The Rise and Fall of America's Most Notorious Street (2015)

User Reviews

Basket Case was a funny, scary, and shocking low-budget horror film from Frank Henenlotter

After first glancing at the article of this movie in the book "Cult Movies 2" some 25 years ago, I finally watched Basket Case today having bought the VHS from a used video store about a month ago. It concerns conjoined twins Duane (Keven Van Hentenryck) and Belial (which is a mixture of a puppet and stop-motion animation) and their revenge against the doctors that tore them apart. There's also a romance between Duane and one of the doctors' receptionist, Sharon (Terri Susan Smith). Written and directed by Frank Henenlotter, Basket Case is obviously low-budget and amateurish with cheesy moments to spare especially whenever Belial attacks someone. But it can also provide some genuine scares and shocks especially when Belial encounters Sharon. So on that note, Basket Case comes highly recommended. P.S. One of the players, a Dorothy Strongin who played Josephine here, died in my current hometown of Baton Rouge, LA, on May 25, 2006.

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