Basket Case

Frank Henenlotter
1982

This cult classic deserves it's reputation by maintaining a pleasing balance between low-budget sleaze sensibility and a terrific monster spilling buckets of red stuff. Duane Bradley hits the city with his monstrously deformed parasitic twin riding shotgun in a large basket. Seeking vengeance on the doctors that would have annihilated the less photogenic twin, the brothers Bradley check into a Times Square flophouse and stalk their enemies. Henenlotter wastes little time showing off the beastie in the basket and gives it plenty of screentime, which thanks to the excellent special effects, it handles splendidly. Forget killer's POV shots and close-ups of corpses after the fact, this potato-shaped blob-monster tears throats with fangs and claws, whether the victim deserves it or not. The schlocky premise is treated with a light touch and lots of local New York color, with a grumbling hotel manager, old coot guests, and a genial street walker.