Dressed to Kill
Dressed to Kill

Dressed to Kill

1980Movie105 minEnglish

After witnessing a mysterious woman brutally slay a homemaker, prostitute Liz Blake finds herself trapped in a dangerous situation. While the police thinks she is the murderer, the real killer is intent on silencing her only witness.

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Insights

IMDb7.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes66%
Google Users85%
Director: Brian De PalmaGenres: Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Slasher

Plot Summary

A disturbed New York City psychiatrist, Dr. Robert Elliott, grapples with his own psychosis while his patients suffer the consequences. Meanwhile, Liz Blake, a sexually frustrated housewife, seeks solace in a chance encounter with a handsome stranger. Their paths become entangled in a terrifying series of events when a mysterious, razor-wielding blonde assassin begins a brutal spree of murders, targeting Liz and those around her, leaving a trail of blood and suspense.

Critical Reception

Brian De Palma's 'Dressed to Kill' is a stylish and suspenseful erotic thriller that, despite its controversial elements, is widely regarded as a landmark of the slasher genre. Critics lauded its visual flair, Hitchcockian suspense, and De Palma's masterful direction, though some found its graphic violence and exploration of sexuality unsettling. Audience reception was strong, cementing its status as a cult classic, while debates surrounding its themes and depiction of gender continue.

What Reviewers Say

  • Visually stunning and suspenseful, showcasing De Palma's directorial prowess.
  • Its blend of eroticism and graphic violence proved controversial, yet compelling for many.
  • A masterful homage to Hitchcock, particularly 'Psycho', with a distinctively modern edge.

Google audience: Audiences generally praise 'Dressed to Kill' for its thrilling suspense, stylish direction, and memorable performances, particularly Angie Dickinson's. Some viewers find the film's graphic nature and psychological themes intense, but it is widely appreciated for its effectiveness as an erotic horror masterpiece.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for Best Horror Film at the 1981 Saturn Awards.

Fun Fact

The famous shower scene in 'Dressed to Kill' was choreographed to mimic the shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's 'Psycho,' complete with a similar musical score and editing style.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

4 reviews
Wuchak

Wuchak

**_Sordid Hitchcockian crime thriller set in the heart of the Big Apple_** A sexually frustrated housewife in Manhattan (Angie Dickinson) does something foolish, which leads to a crime witnessed by an upscale prostitute (Nancy Allen). A ...
GenerationofSwine

GenerationofSwin...

It is an enjoyable film...but one with several natural endings. And that kind of makes for a fail. You're ready for the movie to be over after it concludes and then you wait until it concludes again, and then you wait until is actually conc...
slayrrr666

slayrrr666

Following a housewife’s brutal murder, the only witness to the incident teams up with the woman’s son to try to find the culprit which leads them to the patient of a psychiatrist who treated her and tries to stop the killer from striking th...
John Chard

John Chard

Erotico Psycho Dressed to Kill is directed and written by Brian De Palma. It stars Michael Caine, Angie Dickinson, Nancy Allen, Keith Gordon and Dennis Franz. Music is by Pino Donaggio and cinematography by Ralf D. Bode. Brian De Palm...