A tale of love gone both right and wrong within and without a family. How monsters are defined, not born. How good intentions sometimes cannot divert disaster. Why letting your ex-conjoined twin talk you into a campaign of murderous revenge is more than likely a terrible idea, with lasting consequences beyond what may or may not have been intended. A warm and lovingly rendered portrait of early 1980's NYC Times Square Culture, from low-rent hotels with stairwells full of trash to adult theatres that show Kung Fu Triple Features to grimy bars that are a home away from home to seedy doctor's offices with poor lighting. Basket Case is not a film that offers any answers to how we should be with ourselves, our families, our loved ones, our neighbors, but it is one which honors the difficulties in mediating the tensions within all of our relationships, and does so with honesty and compassion.

74

Basically the grind-house splatter version of Ted. Loud, exhausting sleaze, even at a mere 90 minutes, yet packed with audacious low-budget effects and a staggering commitment to the material. Our lives would all be better if we collectively decided to chill the fuck out and watch rollercoaster rides like this every once and awhile. So many marbles were lost in the making of Basket Case, and I couldn't be happier.

an absurdly gross and grimey no-budget splatter movie about conjoined twin brothers (one a normal upstate dork, the other a murderous meatball attached to his abdomen) forcefully separated from each other by (and getting revenge on) their abusive father and a collection of new york's filthiest medical professionals that eventually transitions into a weird, bleak midnight movie melodrama made under the same conditions as some of the best NYC gutter trash guerilla filmmaking of the 70s, and that to my surprise is actually fairly emotionally invested in the humanity of the giant shrieking meatball monster that shreds peoples faces to a bloody pulp. almost as sad as it is seedy.

full discussion on episode 143 of my podcast SLEAZOIDS.

Basket Case contains what is possibly the most substandard lead performance of the 80s — almost Tommy Wiseau in The Room level shoddy. And the supporting performances aren't exactly a step up. A film filled with inappropriate musical queues, far too much screaming, excessive sleaze and preposterously delivered lines; I had a great time with it, ultimately because, above all else, it’s more tragic than anything & the authorship’s passion truly shines through. And Belial is one of the most memorable creatures in cinema history.

There's something maniacally impressive about a movie where the only good performance comes from a screaming flesh basketball.

"Am I just paranoid, or am I just..." -Green Day (NIF)

What a bizarrely touching story, and perhaps the creepiest low budget monster ever.

In Basket Case, a man and his formerly conjoined twin ("siamese twins") who he carries with him in a basket, seek revenge on the man who forced them to separate. Along the way they'll encounter a wild array of New York type people, eat a couple dozen cheeseburgers, find the neediest and most trustworthy woman in history, and kill some nosy people while screaming bloody murder.

Kevin Van Hentenryck kills the lead role in this film and shows the full monty to boot. The tone is so strangely comic yet horrifying, I love it. The key is the freaky-ness of Belial, the monster, who will haunt my waking day-mares ....probably forever.

P.S. The prostitute, Casey, sounds exactly like Aziz Ansari. That's not a joke it's just a weird thing I noticed and couldn't un-notice.

Rented on Prime.

Definitely an interesting movie. The guerilla footage and ham sandwich budget really do a lot for this one. Not a horror classic by any means, but definitely worth a watch for its gimmick.

What really amazed me the most is beyond all the exploitation elements this movie does have a heart. I felt so bad for the poor little monster, he never had a chance. 

This is one of those no budget films where every single actor is on point to bring their personality, it takes a talented director to do that.

Don’t know why I waited so long to see it, this is one that lives up to its legacy. I can see my rating go up on a rewatch.

Was für ein Schrott, ein Trashfilm der extravaganz. Entweder man mag es, oder eben nicht. Die Grundidee lutscht sich nach 30 Minuten aus und macht am Ende nicht mehr wirklich Spaß sondern langweilt eher. Schade!

Just really charming B movie schlock!

7/10

If the filmmakers are to be believed, this bizarre, filthy little masterpiece cost $35,000 to make. Dollar for dollar, the greatest film ever made. Every scene is as entertaining as possible. Gory, funny, weird, stupid, cool shots of sleazy Times Square street life in the early '80s. No redeeming social value. Didn't learn a thing. Loved every minute of it. The star is a sculpture in upstate new york now. Seems chill.

10/10.

This was fun, but not as much as expected for me. I think it would be a lot more fun with a group of friends. The effects are cheap, but often good for what they are working with. The story is just plain bonkers and I love how they committed to it.

I’d like to say it was the quarantine that made me notice how thicc the hotel manager was, but it wasn’t the quarantine at all....... that was just me.

Omg I love this movie. This movie was made with a low budget in the 80s and those are always some of the best horrors. The creature is animated using stop motion which is incredible and the practical effects in this movie are hilarious. 10/10 made me laugh but it’s intent was to make you cry.

This is low-budget 80’s horror gold! Which is of course the greatest film genre. I live for these cheesy practical effects.