I think this is one of the best american thrillers ever. Yes i said it. It captures perfectly the atmosphere of the 1980s slasher craze, but De Palma bathes his film in a beautiful light which makes everything look smooth and sensual. Much in contrast to many other cheap looking slasher films of this period De palma has always been compared to Hitchcock, and it is obvious in parts of the construction of this film, but what a lot of reviewers miss is his obvious debt to the Italian thrillers of the 60s and 70s. Like Mario Bava and Dario Argento. with fluid camera movements, straight from Bavas Blood an Black Lace and black clad killers like that of Argentos The Bird With the Crystal Plumage 1971. Dressed to Kill is very stylish and is ajoy to watch. Great actors ,great music, sets camera action slash slash slash. Tenebrae by Dario Argento has some similarities to this film. So De Palma and Argento obviously have a close eye on each other. Ciao for now.

First of all, kudos to MGM/UA for a great disc that gives a lot of bang for buck. As on the 'Carrie' disc, they have gone out of their way in the extras department. And this is the first really satisfying visual presentation I have seen, restoring the film's lucious widescreen cinematography to its uncut version - which was around on VHS for a lot of years, but mutilated by the extreme cropping.

A lot has been said about this film's relationship to 'Psycho'. With it's bookend shower scenes and borrowed structure, it is clear that DePalma wants us to know who he is referencing.

But the style comes straight from Italy, and the actual experience is much closer to watching a giallo than a Hitchcock picture. The slinky stalking camerawork, heightened atmosphere, perverse visual fetishism, copious sex and bloodletting... This movie owes at least as much to Mario Bava (and probably Argento) as it does to Hitchcock. Bava's seminal giallo (inspired by 'Psycho') 'Blood and Black Lace' established all of these elements back in the sixties - but the influence of the Italian thrillers didn't hit American movies until the late seventies/early eighties with 'Eyes of Laura Mars', 'Halloween', 'Alien' and 'Friday the 13th'. All of these movies have direct ties to Italian thrillers and horror films - and I think we can add 'Dressed to Kill' to the list.

For my money, this is the best of that bunch, although I wouldn't sniff at 'Alien' or 'Halloween' - solid enough pictures to be sure. But 'Dressed to Kill' captures the intoxicating feel of the best gialli and localizes it. Its also a lot wittier than the others - and head and shoulders above the timid Hollywood 'thrillers' of today, that are afraid of alienating anyone in the audience by actually thrilling them.

DePalma has no such qualms - a flash here, a goose there, the dialogue is littered with little surprises... This one is elegant and juicy.

Don't bother with the cajones-free R rated version. The disc thankfully gives us a choice between that 'gotta-have-it-to-get-into-Blockbuster' cut and the down-and-dirty real deal.

A helluva movie.

to understand exactly why it's so purely mediocre (hint: the acting. Allen and Dickinson aren't capable of better and Caine needed the bucks, apparently), or you can just read some of the "reviews" below that give the whole film away, and save the time.

First-class entertainment with a great cast, superb direction, a classy script, great suspense and a beautiful music score. Angie Dickonson, Michael Caine and Nancy Allen are the main cast members and are also the main highlights of the film. The elevator scene is absolutely chilling. In the vein of "Psycho," this is one of Brian De Palma's best in the entertainment and shock department. Highly recommended. See the uncensored version if possible.

With shrinks like these, it's no wonder Norman Bates, Jame Gumb and the mysterious 'Bobbi' went nuts...

Annihoo, here's another 'seminal' and 'classic' and 'cult' de Palma thriller from the golden-age of Hollywood Nudity. Isn't it amazing what a dull filter and a body-double can do for middle-aged Angie Dickinson's nipples, ladies and gentlemen?

Grrr.

Tawdry faded-star vehicle for Dickinson, vacation-from-taste for Michael Caine, aspirationally good for hapless Nancy Allen, 'Dressed to Kill' is one of those so-called classics that time and technology has been very unkind to. Lacking almost any tension in its predictability (though there are two worthwhile 'jump' moments'), de Palma's trademark extreme suspense is also negated here thanks to lousy performances from Allen and Dickinson, and Caine just looks bored. Glossy and over-awed, the movie goes from bad to worse with the gift of retrospect - the 'crazy transsexual' motif having been done far better many times both before and after this release.

Lurid and voyeuristic (but not in a good, thought-provoking way a la 'Psycho' or 'Pulp Fiction'), 'Dressed to Kill' isn't interesting or fun to watch anymore, and can only be recommended to the most undemanding of film fans. It could have been great, but sadly, the 'quality' of the performances and the agedness of the premise leave it planted firmly in the bargain bin Has-Beens.