40 years ago this erotic thriller by Brian De Palma caused a scandal

Double bodysuit by Brian De Palma: an erotic-comic rereading of Rear window AND Vertigo

Today considered one of the greatest directors of American cinema, Brian DePalma has not always received the same consideration. The director has often seen his films dismissed by critics or shunned by the public. The same works have become classics over time. Scarface (1984), for example, became a film anchored in pop culture, taken from the hip hop world. Double bodysuit (1985) it’s also an interesting case. Certainly less known than Scarfacethis deliberately grotesque erotic thriller remains one of the director’s best films. However, upon its release, the film was a failure punctuated by a nomination for Brian De Palma at the 1985 Razzie Awards in the Worst Director category.

As a reminder, the film plays with and draws inspiration from several Hitchcockian concepts Rear window AND Vertigo. We follow Jake Scully (Craig Wasson), an actor from the Z series who suffers from an attack of claustrophobia during filming. Forced to return home to rest, he discovers his girlfriend there with another man. Sam (Gregg Henry), another actor he meets during an audition, then offers to host him at the house of a rich friend who is currently traveling.

As well as being a great place for Jake, so is the view. Because every night, a woman (Deborah Shelton) who lives across the street starts doing it dancing sensually in his underwear in front of the window before masturbating. Jake will observe her, develop an obsession with her and even follow her, but he will be powerless to do anything when faced with a strange Indian. Witnessing the murder of his neighbor, Jake will then understand that he was manipulated from the beginning.

The practice killing that gets people talking and a persistent rumor

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Double bodysuit, Vulture spoke with Brian De Palma. During this interview, the director explained the failure of his film believing that analyzing a film with the style of the moment is not always right:

We are always judged by the style of the day, but sometimes the style of the day is not the right way to evaluate something innovative.

Proof that times have changed, Double bodysuit he was attracted at that moment the wrath of critics and feminist associations. Mainly due to the murder sequence believed to be misogynistic. During this, the victim is pierced with a drill. The scene takes place in the young woman’s room, while Jake, present on the lower floor, sees a hole forming in the ceiling and blood flowing. Some have seen this tool as a phallic substituteemphasizing the blow of the drill between the assassin’s legs.

This scene, which sparked so much indignation, was justified by Brian De Palma, particularly during his interviews with Samuel Blumenfeld and Laurent Vachaud. For the director, this staging has no particular symbolism, but is simply constructed with the aim of representing the shot of a murder from the ceiling and from the point of view of Jake stuck below. Added to this is the involvement of the pornographic actress Annette Haven (initially considered for the role of Melanie Griffith) and a voice that the director had he invited women to masturbate at his houseand there are the ingredients for a scandal.

Oddly enough, Annette wasn’t that attractive. But I used her as an advisor on set. Only then word spread that I was inviting women to masturbate at my house, and this rumor lasted for decades. It was ridiculous! The only girl who actually came to my house was Annette, who we worked with. And Melanie, who was working with Annette on the window masturbation routine. I went out with a camera and let Melanie follow the choreography Annette had taught her.

Brian De Palma’s irony behind the scenes of the industry

Brian De Palma often had fun with erotic symbolism. So he’s definitely not harmless enough to insist on the drill that appears to be coming out of the killer’s underwear. Only, irony and the second degree of Double bodysuit are to be taken into consideration. There is an alleged ridiculous side to this scene, and to the feature film in general, which plays with the codes of erotic horror of the time and porn.

This is demonstrated by the meeting between Jake and Holly Body (Melanie Griffith). What should essentially be the sex scene of a pornographic film (we see the film crew appear in the reflection of a mirror) becomes a truly carnal and kitsch moment between the two protagonists. Let us also remember that the sequence that precedes and introduces this sex scene was originally supposed to be just the clip of the song Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywoodbut it was eventually incorporated into Double bodysuit.

The director doesn’t like the ending of his film

All of Brian De Palma’s irony is also found in the last shot and in the credits of the film. We find Jake filming his Z series, appearing as a vampire in a young girl’s shower. Again the director shows behind the scenes and tricks. The audience finds out how the actress is replaced a covering of the body (double bodysuit) with a much more imposing chest for a brilliantly “bold” close-up. Brian De Palma, however, was not satisfied with this ending. Originally the scene was supposed to be placed at the beginning.

The ending didn’t go exactly as I planned. We show and demonstrate what a body covering actually is. I planned this at the beginning of the film. Somehow I felt like it betrayed the whole idea from the start. So I put this scene at the end. But it’s not a good ending.

Despite the journalist’s attempts to defend himself the end of Double bodysuitBrian De Palma remained in place. He also insisted on the improvised and unstructured side of this choice of ending.

Again, the film is called Body Double. You’re trying to educate the viewer about a certain cinematic technique. You’re showing him something he doesn’t know or has never seen before. So it works piecemeal, but it wasn’t something preconceived. This has been added. For some crazy reason, it seems to work. But things have to be structured very carefully. Blow Out has a great ending. And The Untouchables too, just like Carrie.

Source: Cine Serie

Ray

Ray Ortiz is a journalist at Gossipify, known for his coverage of trending news and current events. He is committed to providing readers with accurate and unbiased reporting, and is respected for his ability to keep readers informed on the latest news and issues.