Writer: Brian De Palma, Robert J Avrech (Screenplay) Brian De Palma (Story)
Starring: Craig Wasson, Melanie Griffith, Gregg Henry, Deborah Shelton, Guy Boyd, Dennis Franz
Plot: A young actor’s obsession with spying on a beautiful woman who lives nearby leads to a baffling series of events with drastic consequences.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Long Thriller
Story: Body Double starts when Jake Scully (Wasson) is working on his latest film only to return home finding his partner cheating on him. When Jake meets fellow actor Sam (Henry) he offers him a place to stay as puts his life back together. This new location while only temporary gives him a view into the beautiful Gloria (Shelton) apartment where she puts on these dancing shows every night.
Jake becomes obsessed with Gloria following her around town only to find that she is being stalked by someone else who has a much deadlier motive. When Gloria is murdered Jake discovers the moves to be similar to porn star Holly Body (Griffith). This leads him to investigate what the connection between the two is.
Body Double is a thriller that tries to create a mystery thriller but takes way too long to get going. Think Read Window just done in a much slower method with a few extra twists along the way. This is really a thriller that is a murder based film trying to figure what happened while trying to clear his own name along the way. My big question would really be how did it take slow long to Holly who is meant to be one of the top billed stars of the film? The stalking scenes are easy to ready giving the film no suspense on them because Jake pretty much stands next to the girl. This is a thriller that really has dated and doesn’t capture the suspense needed for the style of film.
Actor Review
Craig Wasson: Jake Scully is a struggling actor down on his luck who is giving a luxury place to look after while he gets back on his feet. While in this house he starts to watch a beautiful neighbor who enjoys an explicit dance every night, becoming obsessed with this lady he finds himself in the middle on a murder case where only a porn star can help him get to the truth. Craig is good in this role but never convince in the leading role.
Melanie Griffith: Holly Body is a porn star that Jake notices has the same moves as the girl across the way, Jake tracks her down to figure out how she fits into the picture of the murder. Melanie is good once she turns up but I think we would have liked to have met her character sooner.
Gregg Henry: Sam is the man who gives Jake the house to stay in, he also points out about the neighbor but what is his real motives about placing Jake in the house. Gregg is important to final outcome but doesn’t get enough time.
Deborah Shelton: Gloria is the beautiful lady across the way from the house Jake is staying in, she is being followed by someone and Jake wants to figure out who it is while she becomes the victim of her own stalker. Deborah is good in this role.
Support Cast: Body Double has a supporting cast which mostly involves typical Hollywood members.
Director Review: Brian De Palma – Brian gives us a thriller that is slowly paced which doesn’t reach all of its potential.
Crime: Body Double gives us a good crime story but doesn’t give us enough on it.
Mystery: Body Double leaves us wondering what is going on once the first home invasion angle.
Thriller: Body Double does try to try to keep us guessing from start to finish.
Settings: Body Double puts us into a setting of Hollywood where we see a darker side.
Special Effects: Body Double has good effects throughout whenever needed.
Suggestion: Body Double is on to try its slow pace might turn people off. (Try It)
Best Part: Good idea.
Worst Part: Too long.
Believability: No
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: Yes
Awards: Nominated for a Golden Globe
Oscar Chances: No
Budget: $10 Million
Runtime: 1 Hour 54 Minutes
Tagline: You can’t believe everything you see.
Overall: Slightly too slow for my liking but solid thriller never the less.
Rating