Dressed to Kill (1980)

Your blood may run cold, but you now find yourself pinioned to the story.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Brian De Palma here directs another above-average thriller dealing with his principal interests of sex and violence, in his own flamboyant and inimitable style. All of the things you expect from a good De Palma film are here, from the fluid and interesting use of the camera which gives the film a classy visual look, to the elegant music by Pina Donnagio, to the Hitchcock references. Here, it's PSYCHO, with supposed heroine Angie Dickinson, a middle-aged housewife with a problematic sex life, who becomes drawn into a storyline involving a killer.De Palma shows a total understanding of the elements required to make a gripping thriller in this movie and he does everything right. Not least of which is assembling a solid and proficient cast, highlighted by Michael Caine's twitchy turn as a psychiatrist with a dark secret of his own. Fine too, is Dickinson as the bored housewife, around whose sex life much of the film is centred. De Palma enjoys playing with Dickinson's character, twisting her around so that a moment of joy becomes a moment of horror as she learns that a man she has just slept with has a venereal disease. Nancy Allen turns up as the classy prostitute with a heart, who finds herself stalked by the killer in some suspenseful sequences (the best of which is at a train station - something about De Palma and train stations is just right). Smaller parts are taken by Keith Gordon as the young, brainy hero, and Dennis Franz, who adopts the cop-you-love-to-hate type role which he would recreate throughout much of his later career.Highlights in the film for me include an excellent cat-and-mouse game in an art gallery as Dickinson attempts to snag a prospective lover; the aforementioned train sequence in which Allen is chased by both a gang of thugs and the killer; and of course the taut lift sequence. The violence is bloody and brutal without being over the top, and a strong sexual undercurrent runs throughout the movie, occasionally erupting into the aforementioned violence with a lot of power. De Palma can't resist inserting one final shock/dream sequence at the end, either, which rounds things off nicely. Although his repeated camera tricks sometimes work against him (the split-screen, for instance, isn't as effective here as in CARRIE, making the screen muddled instead of exciting), DRESSED TO KILL still stands as a solid, powerful thriller made at the height of De Palma's career.

**** May contain strong spoilers ****This is a review made by StoneDraim... and that means that if you want to read a probably different kind of review, keep reading....This is my personal experience, my personal point of view/perspective and my personal opinion... and my opinion is just one of like 7 billions in this world.Typical Brian De Palma movie magic, this movie begins like a blend of a romantic adult scene and a deeply psychological thriller with a little touch of "Psycho". Were I surprised and a little chocked over all the details that were shown during the woman's shower? Yes, I was.About 16 minutes into this one, there is an epic scene where the lady is at an art gallery. Her emotions and impressions is very effectively enhanced by the wonderful orchestra doing the music in a almost Italian sense of way. Her desperation is matched perfectly by the strings. Just the fact to give about 5 minutes of a movie describing a sexual frustrated woman's own inner war in chasing a man, then turning the back to the man, losing her glove to the man and chasing him in a subtle way is fantastic! These five minutes following the opening scene is showing what is going on inside of her. A successful lady bored of life and starting to walk the edge of experimental minds a little too much... to the edge of madness.Brian De Palmas usual technique of camera angles and zoomings blended together with close shots is all over the place and gives "Dressed to kill" that special Mr. De Palma touch.Amazing work on the script. Almost 35 minutes of the entire movie is spent to the woman and her life in more than one way. Then she is killed and the main character is suddenly all gone... the story turns around and continues with other characters following that. Piece of art! The killing is very intense and blood is floating everywhere. The razor is drawn along the woman's throat and in details I can witness the brutality. From a observation in psychology into this immediately and effective turn. Well done, Mr. De Palma!1 hour and 35 minutes... I am in awe! Like a psychological version of an insane asylum with the touch of....yes... Dracula.... with an escaping patient rounding it off in "Psycho" way!Over to the movie as a product: - The production : Brian De Palma. All through a great production from 1980. Pino Dinaggio's score lifts it up a great deal. - The actors : Michael Caine is.... Michael Caine; hooray! He delivers every time. Nancy Allen.... I saw Robocop and went crazy on her good skills. Now... well....... From 1980 to 1987 of Robocop, she made the major leap, let me tell you that. Besides that, good acting on the behalf of the other actors. Dennis Franz is making a hilarious portray of a little over the edge experienced civil "cop". - The story : Major twists makes this a solid top notch story. From a little intense drama to a combination of thriller, crime and detective mystery thing. - Entertainment : Hard to really appreciate it to the fullest 36 years later. Even so... more than good. - Age : 15. A good old slashing makes the age pop up more than 5 years.7,0 out of 10. (The final rate is based most on my own entertainment of the movie. Short elucidation of the rating: 7 Well made movie. Proper entertainment.)

Clearly one of the most classic 1980 films is that of Brian De Palma's "Dressed to Kill" it's an interesting and well acted and simply shot suspense thriller that teases with drama and murder all while blending sex and skin in so well it's really an eye candy treat! The pace of the film is fast and fever pitch from start to finish keeping you the viewer on edge and guessing only to be thrown for a twist and a shock by the end of the picture.Set in New York city in Manhattan the story begins with Kate Miller(the bold and near perfect Angie Dickinson)as a middle age housewife who has problems she's sexually frustrated as her husband can't get it right in bed and her only son is a computer and book nerd named Peter(Keith Gordon)who wants to explore more. So one afternoon before lunch after Kate has a session with her psychiatrist Dr. Elliott(the in top form Michael Caine)she decides to end the afternoon at the city art museum only does she later find out that it will end for good for her! As it's after meeting a mystery type looking guy she follows him to his taxi then to the apartment for a one night stand type of affair, then slowly but surely the film starts to take twist and turns after Kate's life ends some of the characters are connected others are hard to get a read on as no one is who they seem.Now enter Liz Blake(the sexy Nancy Allen)who's a high priced call girl escort type who's at the apartment complex and is a witness to the murder of Kate as she lay in blood on the elevator soon one by one or little by little the pieces start to come together or do they this picture is like a jigsaw puzzle that throws you for a loop. Really it's a thrilling interest as the mystery blonde woman is not really what it seems to be! Plus the movie and film is blended and spiced up nice with plenty of sex and skin and most of it is carried by the sexy performance of Nancy Allen as she rocks it up as call girl Liz as the scene where she strips down to her black bra and panties is some great eye candy! Overall "Dressed to Kill" is one fun sexual thrill tease of suspense and twist a maze of complex obsession, deceit and emotional bloody drama of skin and murder as it's really like an identity nightmare for everyone involved. Really this is one memorable classic to see and it's enjoyable to watch many times over.

Dressed to Kill (1980) *** (out of 4) Brian DePalma's surreal thriller about a psychiatrist (Michael Caine), a hooker (Nancy Allen) and a victim's son (Keith Gordon) who try to find a female killer stalking them.If that plot description sounds really stupid then I do apologize but I'm going to try and protect you from spoilers. DePalma's DRESSED TO KILL is pretty much a remake of a certain movie but I'm not going to mention that movie, that movie's plot or that movie's filmmaker just to prevent major and obvious spoilers. Once you've seen this film you'll undoubtedly know what movie I'm talking about. It's funny but DRESSED TO KILL really divides fans and critics because some call it a masterpiece while others call it a piece of trash that hides behind that other film.For me personally, I think there's a masterpiece hidden here but sadly there are enough flaws that really keep it from being a great movie. I will start off with the flaws but the screenplay itself and the story are quite stupid and at times you really have to shake your head. I'd argue that the story really doesn't make too much sense but I honestly believe DePalma knew this and didn't care one way or another because his main goal was to create a visual, sexual and sensual thriller that packed a punch and the film certainly does that.There are really three stars to this picture and it's DePalma, the music by Pino Donaggio and the cinematography by Ralf D. Bode. The three of them work so perfectly together because the film really is just a sympathy of thrills. Again, the story really doesn't matter as it's so far in the background. The real magic and tension comes from the countless silent moments where the camera just glides around to the music and DePalma works to build up suspense. There's the sexuality of the opening sequence. The surreal nature of the art museum. I won't even get started on the three endings to the picture.DePalma certainly paints one of the more beautiful thrillers of the decade and throw in the weird sexuality and you've got quite the picture. The performances are also quite good with everyone filling their roles nicely. Allen is charming as the street-wise hooker. Caine is believable as the doctor. Gordon plays a nerd like no other actor in history. Angie Dickinson brings a certain flare as does Dennis Franz as the detective.DRESSED TO KILL could have and should have been a "great" movie but as it stand, the film is quite powerful in its own right.