Watch Alice, Sweet Alice

Alice, Sweet Alice is a 1976 American horror thriller film directed by Alfred Sole. The film stars Linda Miller, Mildred Clinton, and Paula E. Sheppard. The movie is about a young girl named Alice who appears to be a well-behaved and courteous person to the people she interacts with at church, school, and with her family; however, it is soon revealed that Alice suffers from a severe mental instability, which leads her to commit gruesome acts of violence.

The movie begins in the local church where Alice (Sheppard) is being prepared for her first communion ceremony. Karen Spages (Brooke Shields), her younger sister, gets all the attention, resulting in Alice’s outburst of anger. Shortly after the ceremony, Karen is brutally murdered, and the evidence points towards Alice. Meanwhile, Alice’s aunt, Annie, comes to their apartment building to take refuge after her husband, a successful businessman, dies under mysterious circumstances. Annie is not welcomed by Alice’s mother, Catherine (Linda Miller), but she takes a particular interest in Alice to help her deal with Karen’s death.

As the movie progresses, Alice’s erratic behavior worsens. The movie has an eerie ambiance that suggests something sinister is happening within the apartment building. There are several red herrings throughout the movie, leading the viewers to speculate who the killer is. Furthermore, the movie portrays its characters as deeply flawed and suspicious. The apartment building is a hotbed of scandalous sexual activity, violent tendencies, and moral corruption. As chaos ensues, Catherine and Annie find themselves in danger as the killer is closing in on them.

Alice, Sweet Alice is a disturbing, tense, and violent thriller with several twists and turns that keep the viewers on edge. The film’s strongest aspect is Sheppard’s performance as Alice, which is both terrifying and captivating. Despite being only 12 years old, her portrayal of Alice is so spot-on that it’s hard to believe she was acting. Miller and Clinton also deliver solid performances, with Miller playing the role of a mother overwhelmed by her younger daughter’s death and her older daughter’s instability.

The movie’s themes revolve around religious fanaticism and its effects on impressionable minds. Alice’s obsession with religion is shown as the primary cause of her instability, which eventually leads her to commit the heinous crime. Furthermore, the movie also deals with the corrupt nature of institutions and their effect on society. The church and the apartment building are portrayed as places of danger, where sexual and moral abuses are rampant.

The film’s pacing is slow but deliberate, with the tension escalating as the movie approaches its climax. There are several suspenseful scenes, like when Alice shows up at Karen’s funeral, dressed in her communion dress, and the night-time chase in the stairwell of the apartment building. The soundtrack is chilling, with organ music and chants adding to the sense of foreboding.

In conclusion, Alice, Sweet Alice is a classic horror thriller that delivers on all fronts. It has a compelling storyline, a disturbing atmosphere, a great cast, and a killer twist ending that makes the movie hard to forget. The film’s 70s setting, wardrobe, and aesthetics add to its timeless appeal. The movie’s violent scenes have earned it an R rating, which is why it is not suitable for children. The movie’s message is clear, religious fanaticism can lead to catastrophic consequences in a child’s life. Overall, it’s a must-watch for horror fans who are looking for a different kind of horror.

Alice, Sweet Alice is a 1976 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 38 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4 and a MetaScore of 67.