Premise: Sisters (released as Blood Sisters in the United Kingdom) is a 1972 American psychological slasher film[4] directed by Brian De Palma and starring Margot Kidder, Jennifer Salt, and Charles Durning. The plot focuses on a French Canadian model whose separated conjoined twin is suspected of a brutal murder witnessed by a newspaper reporter in Staten Island, New York City. (Wikipedia)
What I Liked: Before Brain De Palma gave us Carrie (1976 – the original),there was Sisters. Similar to Carrie there is this false sense of calm and normalcy. Two singles have a spontaneous date. As they flee Danielle’s (Kidder) possessive ex, they head to her apartment. There’s chemistry between them. It could possibly building up to something more. As they make love on her couch, Danielle turns her nude back towards us to reveal a hideous scar.
It’s the stylistic things that keeps the suspense. Danielle was gifted knives…which all good slasher films have. There’s big windows into the apartment that other’s can see into as well. And as our male love interest buys a cake to celebrate Danielle’s birthday, we know its only a matter of time before it all goes to hell.
The suspense is nice for a film of this age.
I especially love the liberal reporter, played by Jennifer Salt, who witnesses the murder from her apartment across the street. She seeks truth no matter what shape or color. She agitates police with her stories. She sleuths around. She’s the prototype for Lois Lane, before Margot Kidder plays her on screen. She’s the kind of female protagonist that I don’t image was seen often. She doesn’t have or need a love interest, despite her mother’s protests.
De Palma called this his feminist movie, which I can see why.
Not only that there’s a subplot about racial horror. Our Love Interest (Lisle Wilson) is gentlemanly, middle class, black man. He has to put up with microaggression early in the film, but he remains stoic in the face of it. He is sweet and considerate of Danielle’s feelings and then he gets killed by a white woman for all his troubles. His death could be swept under the rug. With Jennifer Salt’s character, there is no champion for figuring out the truth behind his murder.
How many times for black men dying been ignored? Truly frightening.
What I Disliked: For such a strong build up, it boggles my mind, how this all ends. There’s alot of telling, rather than showing, coincidental moments that are too heavy handed for my liking. Expositional dialogue complete with a video montage, which might have been a typical film tactic, but still lazy.
And the ending cheapens everything about the feminist story De Palma though he was telling. There’s no justice for our black male lead. Our fearless journalist is a hypnotized mess.
Verdict: Yes I spoiled the ending, but everything else about the film is still worth the watch even if it does make you scratch your head. Sisters is streaming now on HBOMax.