Simply gore-tastic!
Frank Henenlotter’s classic Basket Case is rarely mentioned amongst the great body horror films of all time; but it should be. It rivals anything directed by body horror legend David Cronenberg. And it has a gritty, dirty feel that films like The Fly (1986) lack.
Synopsis: “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.” From IMDB
It’s a uniquely twisted plot, and Kevin Van Hentenryck pulls off the lead character, Duane Bradley, convincingly, seeming simultaneously naively innocent and complicitly evil. Indeed, the acting as a whole is wonderfully executed. Everyone seems a little bit crazy. Just as most people in New York’s red-light district probably are.
But it’s the thing in the basket that gets the most credit for this being a great horror flick.
Yes, the evil, deformed Siamese twin is clearly a rubbery prop, not unlike the Boglins I posted about a few days ago. But it’s so damn creepy looking! And though brother Duane harbors an undeniable innocence and desire to be normal, his surgically removed brother is pure, sadistic rage. It cares only for revenge. Bloody, throat-ripping revenge.
Check out this classic of cult horror on Tubi or Amazon.