Frank Henenlotter doesn't have the longest or most illustrious filmography, but he managed to fit as much gore and depravity as he could into every frame of film. His first film, Basket Case, is as low budget as it gets, but luckily came out just as home video was starting to take off in the early eighties. It's one of the pioneers of the "Video Nasty" generation and a must see for any fan of crappy trash movies.
Basket Case revolves around a young man named Duane Bradley (Kevin Van Hentenryck) who is the owner of a old, rickety basket with mysterious and dangerous contents. Once other people discover what inhabits the confines of the basket, that is when all hell breaks loose. Most low-budget horror flicks are light on substantial story elements, and this one is no exception. Things just kinda...happen for...reasons. This isn't too much of an issue though, because the result is people dying in hilarious and bloody ways which is exactly the entire point of watching a film like this! There is a thin plot that does end up being interesting in a demented sort of way, and things move along at a brisk pace. Just don't expect any intricate characterization or deep themes and you will be fine.
When Henenlotter first released this film, he didn't have much control over the final processing. It was filmed in 16mm but blown up to a different aspect ratio when it was shown in theaters. The special effects in the film are low-budget but still quite effective. They used a lot of puppet work for the monster augmented with some rad stop-motion scenes--yeah, it's dated but it still holds a lot of charm. The puppet they used has a lot of detail, but moves around in that herky-jerky way that puppets are know for. Truth be told, it's hilarious looking and adds to the overall fun and cheesy atmosphere. Don't let that fool you though, it's still stomach-wrenchingly gory and at times disturbing. There are the requisite naked lady scenes, so if bloody killings aren't your thang, there are still boobs to look at to keep you occupied. For the most part, the acting is godawful, but it doesn't matter in sleazy films like this, and arguably adds to the fun factor. Side note: Hentenryck's glorious white boy afro should have been credited as a supporting actor.
If this is your first foray into Frank Henenlotter's menagerie of schlock, then you are in for a treat. He ended up making three films in the Basket Case series and each one was more insane than the last. The third film in particular is just off its rocker and should be experienced by any fan of cult cinema.
4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
- 4K restoration from the original 16mm negative by MoMA
- 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
- Original uncompressed PCM mono audio
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Audio commentary with writer/director Frank Henenlotter and star Kevin VanHentenryck
- Archival audio commentary with Frank Henenlotter, producer Edgar Ievins, actor Beverly Bonner and filmmaker Scooter McRae
- Basket Case 3-1/2: An Interview with Duane Bradley - short film by Frank Henenlotter
- Me and the Bradley Boys - interview with actor Kevin VanHentenryck
- A Brief Interview with Director Frank Henenlotter - a strange 2017 interview with the director
- Seeing Double: The Basket Case Twins - interview with actors Florence and Maryellen Schultz
- Blood, Basket and Beyond - interview with actor Beverly Bonner
- The Latvian Connection - featurette including interviews with producer Edgar Ievins, casting person/actor Ilze Balodis, associate producer/special effects artist Ugis Nigals and Belial performer Kika Nigals
- Belial Goes to the Drive-In - interview with film critic Joe Bob Briggs
- Basket Case at MoMA - footage from the 2017 restoration premiere
- What's in the Basket? - feature-length documentary covering the three films in the Basket Case series
- In Search of the Hotel Broslin - archival location featurette
- The Frisson of Fission: Basket Case, Conjoined Twins, and 'Freaks' in Cinema - video essay by Travis Crawford
- Slash of the Knife (1976, 30 mins) - short made by Frank Henenlotter featuring many of the same actors from Basket Case, including optional audio commentary with Frank Henenlotter and playwright Mike Bencivenga
- Basket Case and Slash of the Knife outtakes
- Belial's Dream (2017, 5 mins) - animated short by filmmaker Robert Morgan
- Extensive image galleries
- Trailers, TV & radio spots
- Limited edition slipcover featuring artwork by Graham Humphreys
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sara Deck
- Double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sara Deck
- Collector's booklet featuring writing on the film by Michael Gingold and a Basket Case comic strip by artist Martin Trafford
- Michelle Kisner