Communion (1976)
Genre: Horror / Mystery
Duration: 98 minuten / 108 minuten (unrated)
Alternative titles: Alice, Sweet Alice / Moord onder de Communie / Holy Terror
Country:
United States
Directed by: Alfred Sole
Stars: Linda Miller, Mildred Clinton and Paula E. Sheppard
IMDb score:
6,4 (15.220)
Releasedate: 13 November 1976
Communion plot
"If you survive this night... nothing will scare you again."
Alice Spages is a rebellious and troubled twelve-year-old who lives with her mother and younger sister Karen. Her mother pays more attention to Karen, ignoring Alice. When something terrible happens at Karen's First Communion, all eyes turn to Alice. She is suspected of murdering her sister. But did she do it?
Actors and actresses
Catherine Spages
Mrs. Tredoni
Alice Spages
Dom Spages
Aunt Annie DeLorenze
Father Tom
Detective Spina
Mr. Alphonso
Jim DeLorenze
Karen Spages
Reviews & comments
wibro
-
- 11590 messages
- 4098 votes
This film, which has all the characteristics of a Hitchcock thriller, certainly did not disappoint me. The tension building was excellent and the acting was of course also very good, especially from Paula Sheppard in the role of the devilish Alice. Well, what about that dirty and perverse fat lump "Fatty". I can't remember ever having such a "fat man" in a movie family. And then Alice who, in terms of perversity, was not inferior to that fat bastard by squeezing his kitten's throat. Well, animal lovers come on in. The killings were also beautifully portrayed. Furthermore, this film is steeped in Roman Catholic fundamentalism. Holy Communion, Confession and more of that nonsense. Not that it immediately bothered me because it fit perfectly in this film, the story of which took place in the early sixties when the Roman Catholic Church still had a lot of power. Still, I'm left with a question: well before the end, the identity of the killer was revealed. Way too early I read in various comments. That's what I thought too, but on the other hand, they happen to be murders of those people, Karen, "Fatty" the landlord who hated Alice, among others. Wouldn't Alice have instigated that crazy Mrs Tredoni to commit those murders, I wondered after the film. The last scene where Alice took the bloody knife out of Mrs Tredoni's purse and then that look on her face as if to say "You did a great job!" made me think in that direction. It is for that reason that I watched this film again today.
All in all, an excellent thriller, this film by Alfred Sole, which I had never heard of until recently. Also had to think of that film by Nicholas Roeg "Don't Look Now" where this film was certainly not inferior in terms of tension.
4.0*
Translated from Dutch · View original
Shadowed
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- 11670 messages
- 6867 votes
Delicious.
Remarkably good horror film from which I had very little expectations in advance. But I was completely surprised by an extremely atmospheric and at times terrifying and nasty horror film. I think the term "slasher" is quite misplaced in this film. More like a thriller.
Perhaps a very cheap, but extremely effective film that sometimes gave me the shivers. Especially scenes such as the discovery of the murder of that child, strangling the kitten and regularly frustrating emotions ensure that Communion rises above average thrillers. But there was certainly another contributing factor as well.
That factor comes in the form of a very flashy Sheppard. It makes every scene good. Striking that she was 19, looks much younger. Perhaps a bit theatrical at times, but above all a strong and interesting character in this slasher. Without Sheppard, the film would have turned out a little less well.
Visually also very solid. Low budget, of course, but an effective, raw course of the film. And some scenes stand out in terms of camera work. Scenes such as the murder of the priest and the POV scene of it. It ensures that this film also regularly stands out in that area.
Very smooth for the rest. I saw the unrated version and it went down well. That certainly doesn't happen to me often in a slasher like this. Very much enjoyed. The movie doesn't feel long-winded in anything and I wouldn't think these movies would go over well with me in general. But Communion can do that anyway, and kudos for that. This one might go into my favourites.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Onderhond
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- 87698 messages
- 13075 votes
Missed opportunity.
It all started pretty strong. Sheppard is doing very well, that landlord was also a wonderful figure. But it is mainly the Alice character that manages to shape the film, with a few very recognizable attributes that are indeed reminiscent of a slasher set-up. If only the film had continued in that direction.
Unfortunately, halfway through, the momentum slows down a bit, it has long been clear that Alice is probably not the perpetrator and a twist comes out of the blue that really makes no sense. The film tries to juggle a bit with the plot, but the only result is that the film becomes a lot more boring.
The murders/attacks aren't really anything to write home about either, but that's a bit typical of 70s/80s horror. Extremely fake blood and bad editing make it a breeze. Very unfortunate about the second part so, if the film had just been less ambitious, the result would have been a lot better I think.
2.5*
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