Alice, Sweet Alice
Alice is a withdrawn 12-year-old who lives with her mother and her younger sister, Karen, who gets most of the attention from her mother, leaving Alice out of the spotlight. When Karen is found brutally murdered in a church, suspicions start to turn toward Alice. But could a 12-year-old girl really be capable of such savagery?
Why it matters
A chilling blend of psychological thriller and giallo-inflected murder mystery, Alice, Sweet Alice delivers eerie atmosphere and unsettling innocence corrupted.
- A masterclass in building dread through mood and mise-en-scène, with a haunting church setting that feels like a character itself.
- Brooke Shields’ unsettling debut as the silent, inscrutable Alice anchors the film’s exploration of childhood trauma and suspicion.
- Practical effects and brutal murder set pieces recall the gritty texture of ‘70s slasher precursors, predating Halloween’s legacy.
- For fans of slow-burn, character-driven horror that uses religious iconography and family dysfunction to ratchet tension.
Director
2 horror films in catalog
Cast
Horror DNA
Gore
14
Slow Burn
50
Psychological
86
Supernatural
0
Creature
0
Disturbing
83
Fun Factor
17
Cerebral
71
Survival
33
