When young Karen is murdered during her First Communion, suspicion falls on her troubled sister, Alice . As more bodies appear, innocence and guilt blur in a world of religious paranoia and repressed rage.
Alfred Sole’s second directorial effort is a little choppy with bumpy pacing but remains gripping. Echoing Don't Look Now and Hitchcock’s suspense, the film uses misdirection, voyeuristic camerawork, and shocking violence. The unsettling masks and Catholic iconography enhance its eerie, almost surreal tone. Set in 1961 but steeped in a distinct ’70s atmosphere, Alice, Sweet Alice is a psychological horror-thriller blending Catholic guilt, family dysfunction, and masked terror.
Paula Sheppard as Alice, though in her late teens, is convincingly childlike, balancing innocence and menace. Linda Miller and Niles McMaster add emotional weight, while Alfonso DeNoble steals scenes as a grotesque landlord. Brooke Shields brief debut appearance as Karen anchors the film and Miller delivers an underrated performance as her tormented mother. Both Rudolph Willrich as father Tom and Mildred Clinton as Mrs. Tredoni are notable.
With shocks and twists despite its flaws, Alice, Sweet Alice is an underappreciated gem. Its suffocating tension, psychological depth, and haunting imagery make it a standout of ’70s horror.
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