Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > Communion (1976)
Communion
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Communion (1976) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 10 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
6.2/10   1,774 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 28% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Alfred Sole
Writers:
Rosemary Ritvo (original screenplay) &
Alfred Sole (original screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Communion on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
13 November 1976 (USA) more
Tagline:
If You Survive This Night... Nothing Will Scare You Again.
Plot:
After a young girl is brutally murdered during her first communion, her strange and withdrawn older sister becomes the main suspect. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Holy Terror!: 11 Creepy Catholic Horror Films
 (From Icons of Fright. 14 March 2009, 6:25 AM, PDT)

Alice, Sweet Alice
 (From Fangoria. 16 November 2008, 12:17 PM, PST)

User Comments:
Put that knife down. You might as well just use a crucifix. more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Linda Miller ... Catherine Spages
Mildred Clinton ... Mrs. Tredoni
Paula E. Sheppard ... Alice Spages (as Paula Sheppard)
Niles McMaster ... Dominick 'Dom' Spages
Jane Lowry ... Aunt Annie DeLorenze
Rudolph Willrich ... Father Tom
Michael Hardstark ... Detective Spina
Alphonso DeNoble ... Mr. Alphonso
Gary Allen ... Jim DeLorenze

Brooke Shields ... Karen Spages
Louisa Horton ... Dr. Whitman
Tom Signorelli ... Detective Brennan
Lillian Roth ... Pathologist (as Miss Lillian Roth)

Patrick Gorman ... Father Pat
Kathy Rich ... Angela DeLorenze
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Alice Sweet Alice (USA) (reissue title)
Holy Terror (USA) (cut version)
more
Runtime:
98 min | Australia:106 min | USA:108 min (unrated version) | Spain:83 min | Argentina:108 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The knife used in the film was created by Alfred Sole's neighbor, who was an engineer, and was designed with a retractable blade. It was the only knife used in the film; the filmmakers never made any duplicates. more
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: After Alphonso is stabbed he falls down on a coffee table causing it to collapse. A pair of hands is visible as they catch a falling fish bowl. more
Quotes:
Mrs. Tredoni: [accusingly to priest] But you give it to the whore! more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Jawbreaker (1999) more
Soundtrack:
Three Little Fishies more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful:-
Put that knife down. You might as well just use a crucifix., 25 April 2007
9/10
Author: lost-in-limbo from the Mad Hatter's tea party.

When young Karen Spages is strangled and set on fire in a Catholic Church at her first communion, her disturbed older sister Alice is the central suspect, because of her jealously towards her. Her estrange father Dominick arrives in town for the funeral. Catherine her mother and Dominick believe Alice is an innocent victim, but when her Aunt Annie is attacked by someone in a yellow slicker and plastic doll mask, she believes it's Alice. The police take Alice in, where she tries to convince them that Karen is alive and stabbed Annie. And their lie detectors goes on to prove it. Dominick with the help of father Tom try their best to investigate just who might be behind the actual attacks.

Alfred Sole's effectively accomplished direction, atmospheric handling and astutely symbolic, psychological tampered plot really do go real long way to covering the flawed aspects of the commendable production. In what might have damage other films, only goes on to be a minor quibble here because there are so many glowing factors, which are amazingly pulled off for an impressive low-budget effort. This is one of my favourite 70's horror oddities, which breaths a fresh air in its premise's circuitously glum layout, an ominously nasty streak, purposely stinging jolts and being filmed on authentic locations in New Jersey.

What makes the unusually cunning and certainly unpredictable plot compelling, is that so much can be read from it, like it's penetrating thoughts on Catholicism too the prolific character developments involving the hardships of family life, but there's no lying about its true intentions, which did kind of got mingled with the baffling conclusion. Making repeat viewings a must, to pick up on those minor details. Some fundamental devices in the plot show up; the usual police investigation is the glaring one, but it never draws away from the main focus and adjustably installs itself into the material. There are some odd and eccentric characters written in also, which catch onto the emotional ride. Some might think the tension will evaporate, as just after halfway through the killer is unmasked, but the story's slow rising sinisterness early on eventually leads to a brooding intensity that actually seems to fester up, for the thrilling final third with one powerful conclusion to boot.

Sole does a vividly lucid job in the director's chair with moody imagery, creative viewpoints and uneasy composition, backed up by disquietingly stylish jolts timed with utter perfection. However in spots it can drag with it's deliberately slow pace and a densely thorough script, which can labour along. Maybe it was a tad too long. Also illustrating the film's disorienting air and unsettling suspense was John Freeberg's gracefully skilled cinematography and Stephen Lawrence's playfully chilling, but occasionally harrowing musical score, which expertly went hand-to-hand to craft out an overwhelming tenor. The killer goes around in a shiny yellow slicker, white gloves and the chilling doll mask they wear, actually gives me the creeps. The performances are noting to write home about and might be gauche in some cases, but there's no denying that the matchless Paula E. Shepherd is startlingly convincing as the creepy Alice. Linda Miller does exceptionally well as Alice's heart-aching mother Catherine and Niles McMaster brings a solidarity to his performance as Alice's stalwart father Dom. Jane Lowry can get fittingly overbearing as the haughty Aunt Annie and the unforgettable Alphonso DeNoble keeps it all vile as the grubby landlord. Even with the high billing that Brooke Shields receives, her debut performance is efficient and her death memorable, but not worth all the fuzz for only 15 minutes. Mildred Clinton, Rudolph Willrich, Michael Hardstark, Tom Signorelli, Lillian Roth and Gary Allen go on to give able support.

An uncomfortably staggering affair with many dimensions to its story and inspired craftsmanship by Sole and co, which go on to make it a very good unappreciated gem of the 70s.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Communion (1976)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Killer was not who everyone in other thread said. SapphireMind
Any thrillers/horrors that are as good? B_Jtxi
Anyone remember watching this as a kid? greatdeedo
Most Shocking Death Scene(spoilers) Fill1707
So who was the killler? shere73
Weird line: Did you see her tits? xomuchopretty
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Giallo a Venezia Black Christmas Halloween Le corbeau Tenebre
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Horror section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.