“I guess you thought you’d get away with it. Well, you can’t.”
Alex Forrest-Fatal Attraction
I don’t think Brian De Palma is necessarily considered a horror director, but when you look at his filmography, almost half of his films are in the horror genre. I would say that, as a horror director, he’s only been mildly successful. I watched The Fury last year and was disappointed, but I felt that Dressed to Kill sounded intriguing.
Dressed to Kill centers on housewife Kate Miller, whose life spirals after a brief affair leads her into the path of a dangerous stalker. Her psychiatrist, Dr. Elliott (Michael Caine), and a witness, Liz (Nancy Allen), try to unravel the mystery.
The first half of Dressed to Kill plays out like a Hitchcock film, but this film is definitely all about De Palma. The eroticism of the film is activated from the first shot of Angie Dickinson in the shower. We then see her make passionless love to her husband before she leaves to galavant around town. She hits on everyone, from her psychiatrist to a random man in an art gallery. De Palma’s use of eroticism intensifies the psychological tension, blurring the lines between desire and danger. The film’s voyeuristic gaze heightens discomfort and reinforces its suspense-driven narrative.
The first half of Dressed to Kill captivates with Hitchcockian tension and Dickinson’s mesmerizing performance. The second half feels like it was written by a different person. The tension is ground to a halt not because the mystery isn’t intriguing but because Micheal Caine is wasted, the script devolves into silliness, and Nancy Allen delivers a horrible performance.
The last act is not only predictable but terribly executed on every level. On a script level, the idea of a cop sending a citizen on an undercover mission is unrealistic. Technically, shooting through a rainy window in order to hide an obvious twist is sophomoric. Lastly, trying to replicate Dickinson’s palpable sex appeal with Nancy Allen’s stiff acting is laughable.
Dressed to Kill showcases Brian De Palma’s distinctive style, blending suspense, eroticism, and psychological intrigue. While the first half is gripping, with Angie Dickinson’s performance and the film’s Hitchcockian influences standing out, the second half falters due to weak character development and less convincing performances from the supporting cast. The film ultimately feels uneven, with a thrilling start but a disappointing finish. De Palma’s ability to create tense, visually striking moments makes Dressed to Kill a fun but flawed entry in his filmography.
Rating: 5/10
