Basket Case

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Basket Case

R

1982

1h 31m

Horror

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

27 Reviews

55%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Duane (Kevin Van Hentenryck) checks into a sleazy hotel with a wicker basket containing his telepathic Siamese twin.

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Critics Consensus

While Basket Case definitely delivers all the gonzo gore promised by its cracked premise, it's really set apart by its rich vein of genuine pathos.

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Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

01/18/2007

B

A thing of modest B-movie beauty.

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Chance Solem-Pfeifer

Willamette Week

Nov 19

Like most other Henenlotter movies, Basket Case is beloved by horror heads in the know for its scrappy execution, darkly comedic exploitation, and gonzo manifestation of otherwise thought-provoking themes.

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Sharai Bohannon

A Nightmare On Fierce Street Podcast

12/30/2024

3.5/5

This is possibly Frank Henenlotter at his best. It's easy to see why 'Basket Case' is an important piece of horror cinema history. Bilal crawled so that Gabriel could run backward!

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Megan Seling

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

10/22/2024

I’m pretty sure that makes it the ultimate high-brow/low-brow horror movie.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

10/29/2022

[Henenlotter's] tribute to the grindhouse horror films he loves, a low-budget monster movie with creative twists and DIY special effects created with a mix of puppets, models, and stop-motion animation.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

08/31/2020

7/10

One of the pioneers of exploitation horror, complete with nudity, gore, hilariously absurd dialogue, and silly creature effects.

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Maksim S

@MaksimusMovies Jan 19

"Basket Case" is grindhouse madness at its finest—cheap, grimy, and completely unforgettable. Its bizarre creature effects and scuzzy New York atmosphere give it a charm no budget could buy. Equal parts freakshow and comedy, it’s the kind of cult horror that survives on sheer weirdness. A proudly twisted 4-star classic.

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Scott M

@RT75128960 Dec 28

Well made horror film that I put off seeing for years. I wouldn't say I was frightened by it. But it was entertaining. Well directed and written. But the acting could've been better. Very well done for a low budget film.

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Julian S.

@akajulianscott Aug 27

A splatter-soaked cult gem and a perfect time capsule of sleazy New York.

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Craig W.

@CJWolfe27 Jul 20

B movie very, not a bad watch

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Rich C

@Cordu0702 05/26/2025

Nice film! Definitely worth the watch!

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Nick O

@Nicki1985 05/22/2025

Total Barf-O-Rama! The kind of flick that makes you proud to be a weirdo. We love you Frank Henenlotter!

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Frank Henenlotter

Director

Kevin Van Hentenryck

Duane Bradley

Terri Susan Smith

Sharon

Beverly Bonner

Casey

Robert Vogel

Hotel Manager

Diana Browne

Dr. Judith Kutter

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Synopsis

Duane (Kevin Van Hentenryck) checks into a sleazy hotel with a wicker basket containing his telepathic Siamese twin.

Director: Frank Henenlotter
Producer: Edgar Ievins
Screenwriter: Frank Henenlotter
Production Co: Basket Case Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 2, 1982, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 15, 2016
Runtime: 1h 31m