Made in 1972, ‘Sisters‘ is one of Brian De Palma‘s few ‘Hitchcockian’ films in the first stages of his long and prolific film career. Arguably the best in this category. It is interesting that De Palma had become a Hitchcock fan due to his admiration for the directors of the French New Wave, whose techniques and creative philosophy he had adopted in his first experimental underground films. If his idols Truffaut and Melville had made films in the thriller and horror genres, why would not try Brian De Palma to do the same, especially since such films were much more popular with viewers and were easier to find funding for? ‘Sisters‘ is a quote-rich reverence to Hitchcock, but is also an interesting film by itself as it develops some themes beyond the self-censored limits of the master, and expands the dream elements in a way that predicts David Lynch.
The first part of the film begins in the classic Hitchcock style. A New York young couple meet at a TV contest and start a relationship that can last one night or maybe more. Spectators will immediately notice that something strange is happening about the woman and their suspicions will be confirmed by the crime that will not be long in coming. Both the huge knife that is the murder weapon and the fact that there was a witness watching the crime through her window from the neighboring building seem familiar. From here, however, the story takes a different trajectory and, of course, I will not tell more so as not to spoil the joy of those who will be interested and will seek to watch ‘Sisters‘.
Unlike other films of the genre, the main witness in this case is a woman, an investigative reporter, who is in a rather tense relationship with the police. A little-known or forgotten actress named Jennifer Salt undertook this role. Her acting performance is excellent, reminding me of the roles that Sandra Bullock will play 20-30 years later. The other main female role is played (also very well) by Margot Kidder who in a few years will become Lois, Superman’s girlfriend. I also noticed the acting creation of character actor William Finley as a memorable bad guy. If the soundtrack also reminds of Hitchcock‘s films, it is not surprising, because its author is Bernard Herrmann, the author of the music for ‘Psycho’ but also for other well-known films from ‘Citizen Kane’ to ‘Taxi Driver’. However, the most powerful scenes of the film are the dream ones. Wait, watch and prepare to be scared. With ‘Sisters‘, Brian De Palma entered decisively the period of his box office successes and created a cinematographic link between the period of’ discreet horror ‘of the 50s-60s and the post-’70s extremes.