Sisters (1972)

De Palma don't make 'em like this anymore. Brilliant, creepy psychological thriller concerning French-Canadian twin sisters Danielle and Dominique (Margot Kidder). One is seemingly normal and one is seemingly insane. One is an actress who, while on a game show, wins dinner with one of its contestants, Philip (Lisle Wilson). The two have an enjoyable time, and even end up spending the night together back at her apartment. The next day, Philip awakens to the two sisters arguing in the next room. Danielle then asks Philip to go into town and purchase some more medicine for her. He does so and, out of the kindness of his heart, purchases a birthday cake for the sisters, since today is their birthday. Upon his return, the thrills begin and Jennifer Salt decides to investigate these weird goings-on. SISTERS is a very eerie thriller from Brian De Palma which features his outstanding scriptwriting/direction, Paul Hirsch's top-notch editing, Bernard Hermann's welcome nerve-jangling score, not to mention the awesome split-screen, enabling us to see two events at one time. Despite the ultimately strange conclusion, the film is a creeper and not to be missed. 9/10

Fmovies: Sisters benefits from a terrific set-up, a well delivered first hour, a marvelous Bernard Herrmann score, and De Palma's able use of a split screen. Unfortunately it can't carry itself through to the end, and soon collapses into a confusing, formulaic, and ridiculous ending that obviously tries to cover up the fact that, well, De Palma simply didn't know HOW to end the film. Nonetheless it is essential viewing for fans of shock cinema, psychological horror, or cod-Hitchcock fans.

Director Brian De Palma's first Hitchcockian thriller was this bizarre and ever-so mysterious shocker.

Beautiful woman desperately tries to cover up the murder that her psychotic twin sister has committed, while a reporter who witnessed the crime tries to expose it.

Many criticize Brian De Palm's thrillers for being derivative of the works of the great Alfred Hitchcock, but even still his thrillers are brilliant and Sisters is no exception! De Palma sets up this film with an intriguing and mysterious story that grows more complex and sinister the deeper one sinks into it. De Palma's direction is wonderfully inventive and well-carries the film. From the films dramatic opening credits to its unsettling final image, the style of De Palma is simply spell binding! He produces one terrifically shocking murder sequence and one of the most hypnotic (and creepy) dream sequences ever! Kudos also go to the great Bernard Herrmann for his outstandingly frightening score.

Actress Margot Kidder does one of her greatest performances, as both the beautiful model and her deranged twin. Jennifer Salt is also good as the female reporter. De Palma-regular William Finely is well sinister as a mysterious doctor and Charles During is good as a P.I.

Not to be missed by thriller fans and required viewing for those who love the works of Brian De Palma.

*** 1/2 out of ****

Sisters fmovies. Nancy Drew (Jennifer Salt) would kill to get off of Staten Island and become the maverick of NYC journalism. The only problem is that all she has done to this point with her 'little job" is write about rampant police corruption, isolating herself even further from the big city. What she needs is a break, and witnessing a murder, (especially a DePalma split-screen murder) appears to be her ticket, if she can get anyone to listen. The journey she takes as means of recognition meanders through the horrors of medical science gone awry, culminating in a payoff that puts this film atop DePalma's list of credits. Nancy Drew on Acid!

Hang on to your psychoanalysis, Ladies and Gentlemen...a young Brian De Palma has brought us a fine mindf*ck that is in good company with "Psycho," "The Tenant," and even "Fight Club." "Sisters" is a brain-sizzling thriller that probes the relationship between separated Siamese twins Danielle and Dominique (Margot Kidder) in a maniacally unsettling way. Danielle is a successful actress/model; Dominique is a raving lunatic who becomes violent when sexually aroused. When Dominique murders Danielle's boyfriend, reporter Grace Collier (Jennifer Salt) takes matters into her own hands after the police refuse to help. Meanwhile, Danielle's ex-husband Emil (John Waters doppleganger William Finley) runs a local psych ward. And Charles Durning plays a detective tracking the progress of a particularly heavy couch. De Palma weaves his character interactions seamlessly, employing the types of technical tricks that would be used more superficially in his later works (the use of split-screen to show action from two separate viewpoints, for instance), in addition to some of the trippiest black-and-white imagery this side of "Eraserhead." "Sisters" is an effective, highly influential work that holds up incredibly well today...just make sure you have a refill on your pills before watching it.

Reporter Grace Collier (Jennifer Salt) witnesses a brutal murder in an apartment across from her. The murderess is Dominique Breton (Margot Kidder) who has a twin sister Danielle (also Kidder). Danielle is sweet and kind, Dominique is a psychopath. Danielle and her creepy ex-husband Emil (Bill Finley) cover up the killing but Grace is determined to find the body.

Creepy, violent, very bloody (the first murder is still shocking even by today's standards) and just great. Kidder and Charles Durning (as a detective) give great performances. Salt and Finley are just OK. De Palma's direction is fantastic (as always)--some of the sequences (especially the one employing a split screen) are incredible. Also Bernard Herrmann's score is among one of the best of his career. In terms of horror movie scores, it's right up there with "Psycho" and "Halloween".

A good, gory, satisfying film...one of De Palma's best. Look for Olympia Dukakis as a bakery shop worker.