Body Double

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Body Double

R

Released Oct 26, 1984

1h 49m

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

40 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

After losing an acting role and his girlfriend, Jake Scully (Craig Wasson) finally catches a break: he gets offered a gig house-sitting in the Hollywood Hills. While peering through the beautiful home's telescope one night, he spies a gorgeous blonde (Deborah Shelton) dancing in her window. But when he witnesses the girl's murder, it leads Scully through the netherworld of the adult entertainment industry on a search for answers -- with porn actress Holly Body (Melanie Griffith) as his guide.

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Critics Consensus

Exemplifying Brian De Palma's filmmaking bravura and polarizing taste, Body Double is a salacious love letter to moviemaking.

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Christy Lemire

ChristyLemire.com

It's an expertly crafted B-movie, a brisk and twisty mixture of the slick and sleazy, the glossy and grungy.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 18, 2018

Full Review

Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

... "Body Double" finds Brian De Palma at the zenith of his cinematic virtuosity.

Jan 4, 2018

Full Review

Eric Henderson

Slant Magazine

Body Double, while not his finest, is the best candidate as Brian De Palma's signature film.

Rated: 4/4

Aug 29, 2006

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…was considered to be a misfire, and despite the commercial nature of the film and music, didn’t catch a wave of interest despite the racy content. But it’s one of De Palma’s more interesting failures, with striking stagings and lots of visual interest.

Rated: 3/5

May 4, 2025

Full Review

Douglas Davidson

Elements of Madness

As modern audiences tend to hem and haw over titillation, now seems like a good time to remember that it’s ok to watch, just maybe not get involved (without consent, of course).

Sep 26, 2024

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

As a murder mystery, 'Body Double' is absurdly elaborate and at times simply absurd. As a piece of filmmaking, it is delirious.

Sep 22, 2024

Full Review

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 49 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/27/25

Full Review

Blobbo X

DePalma idolize HItch, is obvious, but not have talent to come close.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/11/25

Full Review

Nick O

Takes parts of Vertigo and Rear Window, blends em’ up into a sleazy neon cocktail of murder and intrigue in a way that only De Palma could pull off.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/03/25

Full Review

Shooty B

De Palma has always been kind of a low rent Hitchcock, and this movie is probably the best example - because it feels like he's trying to copy multiple Hitchcock movies at once - mostly Vertigo and Rear Window. The whole thing feels very cheap and has sloppy execution. The premise is absurd. If you've seen all the good thrillers and ran out of new ones to see, then this one is watchable, but only barely.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

05/25/25

Full Review

Bruce M

Maybe DePalma most stylized film, and probably his most humorous and playful, but not his best; Wasson is miscast, wooden acting all around, incoherent script. But the in-jokes re: moviemaking throughout the film are terrific.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/02/25

Full Review

Christian K

This was a big time and major vibe, mostly for the setting and the way its framed.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/09/25

Full Review

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Brian De Palma

Director

Craig Wasson

Jake Scully

Melanie Griffith

Holly Body

Gregg Henry

Sam Bouchard

Deborah Shelton

Gloria Revelle

Guy Boyd

Det. Jim McLean

Body Double: Official Clip - Porn Star vs. Hollywood Actress

1:41

Body Double: Official Clip - Relax, P*rno Scene

1:53

Body Double: Official Clip - Who's The Creepy Stalker?

2:59

Body Double: Official Clip - Buried Alive

4:42

Body Double: Official Clip - Spying on the Sexy Neighbor

1:51

Body Double: Official Clip - How to Flirt With a Porn Star

2:59

Body Double: Official Clip - Wild Make-Out Sesh

3:17

Body Double: Official Clip - Purse Thief Chase

2:51

Body Double: Official Clip - Brutal Open Grave Fight

1:49

Body Double: Official Clip - Bloody Power Drill Kill

2:36

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Synopsis

After losing an acting role and his girlfriend, Jake Scully (Craig Wasson) finally catches a break: he gets offered a gig house-sitting in the Hollywood Hills. While peering through the beautiful home's telescope one night, he spies a gorgeous blonde (Deborah Shelton) dancing in her window. But when he witnesses the girl's murder, it leads Scully through the netherworld of the adult entertainment industry on a search for answers -- with porn actress Holly Body (Melanie Griffith) as his guide.

Director: Brian De Palma
Producer: Brian De Palma
Screenwriter: Robert J. Avrech, Brian De Palma
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Delphi II, Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 26, 1984, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 3, 2010
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sound Mix: Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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