Basket case

Basket case

Duane Bradley looks unassuming, but he isn’t just any ordinary young man. At first glance, he seems fine. The only thing that raises concerns is that he never parts with his shabby wicker basket case, pressed to his chest with a protective gesture. What is he keeping there? Some crumpled banknotes? Ladies’ underwear? No. It’s his Siamese twin, Belial, separated after a successful surgery. Successful for everyone but the brothers, who decide to seek revenge on the brilliant surgeon and travel to New York to find him.

“Basket Case” premiered in 1982. It cost $35,000, and the film crew was so small that the filmmakers decided to make up the names in the opening credits for the sake of hype. Frank Henenlotter, the director, made a name for himself not only with this magnificent work but also with its two sequels and films such as “Brain Damage” and “Frankenhooker”. We have already shown the latter as part of our “The Best of the Worst” cycle.

“Basket Case” is a comedy horror film where scenes of brutal violence are interwoven with surreal dialogue, often quite witty. At first, Duane is eager to participate in the vendetta, but his focus changes when he meets Sharon, a nurse whom Belial is jealous of. He wants to have his brother all to himself and won’t take no for an answer. He’s the only one he has, and no wonder – he’s a psychopathic murderer and a malformed monster, and that doesn’t help him make friends. When Belial loses control of his lust for killing, Duane turns against him, which leads to tragedy.

A screening of “Basket Case” will trigger anxiety not only with the macabre, but also with the absurd. The stifling vibe, the smothering interiors – this gives “Basket Case” an incredible ambiance (despite its idiotic plot). It’s no surprise at all that it was still being screened in late-night cinemas for a few more years after its initial release. Kevin Van Hentenryck, who portrayed Duane in all parts of the series, became a cult actor, although “Basket Case” dominated his career. He took a 13-year hiatus from it in 1991 and has been appearing on screen for the past 20 years occasionally. He now excels as a self-taught sculptor.

WHAT IS “THE BEST OF THE WORST”? These are screenings of a variety of B-grade films – ranging from old American sci-fi movies with aliens and flying saucers hung on strings, through blockbuster 80s action cinema with immaculate heroes in windbreaker pants, to horror films starring rubber monsters. Low budgets, absurd dialogue, lousy acting, illogical plots, and the commitment and passion of the filmmakers are just some of the features common to the worst productions in the history of world cinematography that are presented as a part of the cycle. “The Best of the Worst” films have been sparking a love of B-grade cinema among the audience since 2015. To date, there have been several hundred screenings and events featured in the cycle. The series is the brainchild of Monika Stolat, the originator and programmer of the cycle, while it is organised by New Alexandria.