Rating of
2/4
60%
CJP - wrote on 01/27/09
Action: 2/3 + Comedy: 0.5/2 + Good vs Evil: 1/1 + Love/Sex: 1/1 + Special Effects: 0/1 + Plot: 0.5/1 + Music: 1/1 = 6/10 or 60%.
If you're familiar with De Palma's work (Scarface, Carrie) and enjoy it then this is the piece where you get to see him say something along the lines of, "I'm going over the top and I don't care what anyone thinks so hold on!"
Body Double is a statement on his disdain towards Hollywood through Hitchcockian tones within the world of pornography. The hero is flawed, it is outright and more than silly, and it's trashy yet purposeful camp make it almost unwatchable. Modern audiences will most likely write it off because of this, and I partially agree that they should, but the bizarre mix of pornography, murder, melodrama, and pure, unapologetic bad acting summon the viewer to watch in the same disbelief the characters try to exhibit. It's not as mesmerizing as the badness of Ed Wood, but it will take you to 1984, wondering if you're cool headed enough to hang out.
