Rating: 
Summary: An entertaining, occasionally very suspenseful thriller.
Review: Director Brian De Palma has never helmed an original film his entire career, but let's face it, he's just as good as anybody else when it comes to creating palpable suspense, which is what makes his more blatant rip-offs immensely watchable. Dressed to Kill is one such example. Taking a few cues from Alfred Hitchcock, the film is an erotic thriller that certainly features its sexy moments, and also has the power to disturb as well.Angie Dickinson stars as Kate Miller, a sexually dissatisfied wife (though quite loving mother) who needs some things to spice up her personal life. She relates her problems to her psychiatrist, Dr. Robert Elliot (Michael Caine), to the point of almost prodding him to sleep with her, but he refuses. On a random day in an art museum, she encounters a mysterious man with whom she plays a little game of cat-and-mouse. Following him to a cab, they enage in a tryst inside the taxi, all the way to his apartment, where they proceed to go at it for several more hours. Then as she awakens to leave, she finds out (through a little note by the health department) he's got STD's! In a panicked state, she runs to the elevator, but is then brutally murdered by a tall, blonde woman brandishing a razor blade. The rest of the film focuses on Miller's son, Peter (Keith Gordon), who teams up with a gold-hearted prostitute (Nancy Allen) to find his mother's killer. Dressed to Kill doesn't get off to the best start. For the first half-hour, the sexual frustrations of this middle-aged woman are far less than captivating, and until the elevator scene, this is a snoozer. But let me tell you, the remaining 2/3's or so of the picture is often first-rate entertainment, delivering a lot of suspenseful moments and shocking violence. The film grew more interesting when it focused on the relationship between Gordon and Allen. Both deliver good performances, and there's a sort-of non-sexual chemistry between them that works superbly. Too bad De Palma doesn't really focus on this interesting couple until the last half-hour. The last five or so minutes are among the film's most suspenseful (and you get to see Allen naked!), though I think we're all in a little agreement when we say that the final shock is a bit gratuitous. Also excessive is the film's resemblance to a certain Hitchcock film. Even without that resemblance, though, Dressed to Kill would still have been predictable. I mean, come on, I knew the identity of the killer in a heartbeart. You'll figure it out just as fast, too. As an erotic thriller, Dressed to Kill isn't as fluffy as films like Wild Things, Color of Night, or Basic Instinct, though it also happens to be less steamy and sexy than the latter two. Actually, as I said before, the focus here is to disturb, and the movie doesn't do such a bad job of that. Pino Dinaggio's score is chilling and among his better works. De Palma goes with his usual camera work, meaning there are a lot of uninterrupted shots and split-screens, the latter of which fails to build suspense as it's meant to. A lot of people see Dressed to Kill as a "have safe sex" message, which I could kind of agree with, even though Dickinson's character would still have been offed in a horrible manner even without that tryst. The first of De Palma's two erotic thrillers, Dressed to Kill happens to be the weaker of the two. Yeah, it's often suspenseful and entertaining, but Body Double stands out more, as that film's suspense sometimes reaches heights of exhilaration. My advice, take a look at both and decide for yourself.
Rating: 
Summary: The Latest Fashion...In Murder!
Review: DRESSED TO KILL (1980) is definetly one of Brian De Palma's masterpieces (the other is CARRIE) for sure! As much as this movie is compared to the great Alfred Hitchcock's best movies (PSYCHO, VERTIGO), this movie also reminds me of Dario Argento's DEEP RED and Mario Bava's BLOOD AND BLACK LACE! The visual style is just awesome with its camerawork, especially in the museum scene and the subway chase! The music by Pino Donnagio (THE HOWLING, TWO EVIL EYES) is perfect and creates the appropriate atmosphere, especially during the elevator scene! But the acting by all involved, especially Michael Caine, Nancy Allen, Angie Dickinson (brilliantly playing against type), Dennis Franz, and Keith Gordon, is truly what makes this film so much fun! A real standout in the slasher wave of 1980!
MGM truly gave us the definitive release of DRESSED TO KILL on DVD! First off, you get the option of watching it in the theatrical version or the UNRATED version, both in 16x9 widescreen and looking fabulous (I saw the unrated version, which is what I always vouch for)! Secondly, there are some great documentaries on the making of this movie, including the way it was censored to earn theatrical release; they even go as far as to compare scenes from the theatrical, unrated and the NETWORK TELEVISION versions! There's also an animated photo gallery with the music from the museum scene in the background and an enlightening advertising gallery. Note that I haven't summarized this movie because DRESSED TO KILL is that good; you simply have to see it for yourself if you haven't seen it already! Make sure you see it unrated, and tell 'em Bobbi sent ya!
Rating:
Summary: Interesting!
Review: I saw Dressed to Kill when I was a teenager and I think it is an interesting murder mystery that has a great cast that includes Michael Caine, Angie Dickinson and Nancy Allen. Angie Dickinson plays the first victim of a psychotic killer and the identity of the killer at the end of the movie is a real surprise, the person you would least expect to be the psychotic killer.
Rating:
Summary: Under Dressed
Review: Director Brian De Palma's early film career is noted for a series of thrillers, some of which are among my favorites in the genre. Dressed To Kill--while it's not his best--is solid enough and worth a look. Kate Miller (Angie Dickenson) is a lonely wife bored with her life. After a visit with Dr. Elliot (Michael Caine), her psychiatrist, she follows his bold advice and seeks comfort in a stranger. After a seductive, dangerous encounter, Kate meets a shocking end. A prostitute named Liz, (Nancy Allen) who discovered Kate's body, finds herself teaming with the victim's son Peter (Keith Gordon) to track the killer. The pair thinks that the police, led by detective Marino (Dennis Franz), are not doing enough to look for the prime suspect, a blonde woman in a trenchcoat. I've heard some people complain that all De Palma really does here is rip off the struture of a few of Hitchcock's better film's and paste them together. I don't think that's the film's main problem though. Certainly, one can't deny that he pays strong homage to "the master of suspense" in this and other films, he does it with a clear respect. The problem I have with Dressed, has to do with the fact that, the script's twists are easy to spot and or figure out. The acting is good enough. Things are so well stylized that you can't help but watch, and go along for the ride, despite any issues The special edition DVD has both the controversial unrated and R-rated versions of the film on the disc. There's only about a 2 minute difference between the cuts. I applaud the powers that be for including both versions. The 45 minute documentary "The Making of a Thriller", along with three additional featurettes, give you a sense of what things were like behind the scenes. Produced by film documentarian extrodanaire, Laurent Bouzerau, these well produced programs cover most aspects of how things came to be. De Palma, Dickinson, Allen, Franz, and others all contribute their recollections. My only regret is not hearing anything from Caine and his take anywhere--his abscence is noticed and regrettable. You will also see an animated photo and advertising gallery, as well as a couple of theatrical trailers, rounding out the disc. Oh, dare I forget to mention the fact that, you also get MGM's typical "collectible" production trivia booklet as well. It is for fans of the genre, that Dressed To Kill will work best. And despite my feelings about aspects of its script, I can recommended the disc with a *** and half star rating
Rating: 
Summary: Deluxe DVD treatment for one of De Palma's best
Review: Brian De Palma's superb "Dressed to Kill" (1980) borrows the plot structure of "Psycho" (1960) to tell a completely original story in a manner which Hitchcock would surely have admired. The 'Pure Cinema' approach deployed here also evokes the best work of Dario Argento, though De Palma clearly has his own agenda. His script attends the fall-out from a terrifying attack on a frustrated housewife (Angie Dickinson) by a razor-wielding maniac who then turns his/her attentions to the sole witness, a streetwise hooker (Nancy Allen) who teams up with Dickinson's teenage son (Keith Gordon) when she becomes a suspect in the case. A masterful example of visual storytelling, "Dressed to Kill" employs constantly roving camerawork to propel complex characters through a series of bravura set-pieces (the museum, the elevator, the subway, etc.), filmed in breathtaking Panavision by the late cinematographer Ralf Bode. At a time when most current scope movies are designed primarily for TV - which rather defeats the whole purpose of scope photography! - it's a revelation to see the entire width of the 2.35:1 frame being used to define characters and advance the plot through an accumulation of visual tricks and counterpoints. Pino Donaggio's memorable score provides an often thunderous accompaniment to the on-screen horrors, and it's refreshing to find a grown-up cast (including a restrained Michael Caine) making the most of a scenario which addresses mature themes in an intelligent manner. This intense thriller refuses to sacrifice integrity for the sake of cheap shocks, but it still manages to scale the dizzying heights of genuine horror. De Palma and the film's principal contributors chart the film's production in a number of documentary extras included on this 'special collector's edition' from MGM, and while some of their comments may seem a little too self-congratulatory, they also provide fascinating insights into De Palma's working methods and the motivation behind some of the devices employed by the director to tell his story. In a special section detailing his collision with the MPAA, De Palma wearily defends the film from charges of misogyny and explicit violence, and his views are supported by the likes of Angie Dickinson, amongst others. Besides, anyone who thinks THIS is misogynist obviously hasn't seen the likes of "The New York Ripper" (Lo Squartatore di New York, 1982), "Red to Kill" (Yeuk Saat, 1994), or some of the more squalid dregs from the Japanese sex-and-torture subgenre. Now THERE'S misogyny for you!! Anyway, viewers of MGM's excellent anamorphic transfer of "Dressed to Kill" can judge for themselves, because the disc contains both the R-rated print (104m 23s) and the unrated director's cut (104m 50s). The former has suffered a number of subliminal edits which make very little difference to the overall effect, rendering them pointless, except for the elevator sequence which loses some of its visceral impact due to the alterations. As such, the unrated print is definitely the way to go! Amusingly, the disc's supplemental section also allows you to compare scenes from these two versions with the network TV edition, which is a travesty. Elsewhere, De Palma convincingly rejects the argument that he's a mere Hitchcock imitator - after all, Hitchcock rarely aimed for the kind of sustained visual flamboyance demonstrated here, though it's clear he would have employed a greater level of explicit detail if he hadn't been restricted by censorship throughout his career ("Frenzy" [1972] was a belated example of this). MGM's region 1 disc presents the film in 5.1 surround, but this unnecessary revision merely subdues the score and adds an unnatural 'reverb' to the sound effects. Thankfully, the original (two-channel) mono track is also included, and provides a much stronger audio presentation. Closed captions are provided, but there are no 'open' English captions available via the menu, which is unfortunate. Isn't it about time that DVD technology consigned the idea of 'closed' captions to the trashcan of history?! That small caveat aside, this disc represents the definitive version of "Dressed to Kill" on home video, and is therefore wholeheartedly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: one of my all time favorites!
Review: One of my top ten favorite movies along with Carrie also by Depalma. i won't say too much about the story without giving too much away. basically it is about a mother, her son,a hooker, a psychiatrist, and a woman in sunglasses. These people all get caught up in a murder mystery where all is not as it seems. several scenes will have you leaping from your seat. it is interesting that in this movie and carrie depalma closes with a dream sequence. and both movies have beautiful music as well. Angie Dickenson, Nancy allen, Michael CAine all do a great job here. highly recommended. and i am not kidding that sometimes when i get on elevators i get a chill thinking about this movie. im sure i am not the only one.
Rating:
Summary: Classic thriller that out-hitches Hitchcock!
Review: 'Dressed to Kill', best described by New Yorker critic Pauline Kael as a 'suspense comedy about sex and fear' and 'one of the most sheerly enjoyable movies of the 80s' is finally available in its wide-screen, uncensored and unrated version. Director Brian De Palma employs the entire screen to tell his lurid, scary, and often amusing tale of sex and slashers in Manhattan, using many almost subliminal images of menace as well as some humorous sight gags that were completely lost in the pan and scan version. Thus viewing this movie in wide-screen is essential for getting the full effect of a visually dazzling thriller, especially during the museum and subway cat-and-mouse sequences, several split-screen moments, the final restaurant scene, and, of course, the infamous elevator ride (DTK does for elevators what 'Psycho' did for showers). Also includes one of the best scores I've ever heard composed for a thriller (from Pino Donaggio). A classic!
Rating:
Summary: At last! The unrated wide-screen version of an 80s classic!
Review: 'Dressed to Kill', best described by Pauline Kael as a 'suspense comedy about sex and fear' and 'one of the most sheerly enjoyable movies of the 80s' is finally available on VHS in its wide-screen, uncensored version. Director Brian De Palma employs the entire screen to tell his lurid, scary, and often amusing tale of sex and slashers in Manhattan, using many almost subliminal images of menace as well as some humorous sight gags that were completely lost in the formatted version. Thus viewing this movie in wide-screen is essential for getting the full effect of a visually dazzling thriller, especially during the museum and subway cat-and-mouse sequences, the final restaurant scene, and, of course, the infamous elevator ride (DTK does for elevators what 'Psycho' did for showers). I have one complaint (hence the 4 star rating): the picture quality of this video can be grainy at times, and the sound isn't anything stellar either. Why would GoodTimes treat this film to a wide-screen release but skimp on basic picture and sound quality? (At times it feels like a bootleg recording). And where the heck is the DVD? Still, I am happy to finally view an old favorite of mine in its full-screen glory. It's like seeing it for the first time!
Rating:
Summary: Fool me once, fool me twice¿
Review: This is an obscure little film that is both a fraud and a gem. Dressed to Kill is a blatant imitation that rips everything from Hitchcock's Psycho, right down to the final last act of a psychiatrist explaining the serial killer's psychological problems in its mystery stage theatre grass roots sort of way. It is still a wonder why De Palma made this because he really didn't have too and certainly the motivation came from the profit spinners in the higher echelons of the industry who knew they could do it all again and make another buck. The strange thing is that this film manages to still pull off a great twist, even though the viewers has seen this thing one hundred times before - which really makes you feel dumb more than anything else, but you still have to give credit to the fact that De Palma manages to do it to you. The premise is simple. Woman in black coat and dark sun glasses slashes up a female patient that belongs to Michael Caine and the proceeds to hunt down a witness to the murder who happens to be a prostitute. This has all the flair you will expect from De Palma and his style is all over the place here. However the film is flawed and does not make any sense, especially on repeat viewings, but this does not detract from the fact that there is still lots of trademark De Palma camera shots and suspense work. So it is a little bit like a De Palma movie without the brains, but all the De Palma suspense. If you are still asking "Well what exactly is a De Palma movie like without the brains but all the suspense?" then you will probably have to see it to understand what I mean. Originally this movie was cut but has been restored to its full uncut version. In the opening shower sequence, the following changes were made to avoid an X rating in the USA release. Two close-ups of Kate's fingers caressing her pubic hair were replaced with one shot of her caressing her belly, and the other shot being her breast. Two shots of the man raping Kate, showing the two bodies around the waist moving, were cut. A shot of the man's hand covering Kate's own hand over her pubic area was also cut. These have been restored here. In the scene where Kate is brutally slashed to death with a straight razor by Bobbi in the elevator, the scene was also "cut" to meet with the MPAA's requirements. In the original version, there were 2 extreme close-ups showing the razor slashing Kate on her right cheek and then gashing her neck. These shots were substituted with long shots of the killer assaulting Kate and one quick close up of her neck, immediately followed by another long shot, in order to avoid an X rating. These have been restored. In the last scene of the film, where Bobbi slashes Liz's throat with a razor was cut, but also has been restored here. Some of the sexual dialogue had also been changed but is restored here but not entirely. There is still some dialogue that remains cut or changed, but this probably doesn't worry anyone much because the acting at times is quite dismal in this little slasher flick. Overall the cuts have mostly been restored here with a few still missing but this is not really that much of an issue because its not a great film anyway and certainly the restored cuts do not really add anything new accept maybe a tiny bit more sexual and violent content that does not increase or reduce the films impact. With or without the cuts it is still the same vehicle which is not really something you can say about all cut films. Truth be told, I have seen it more than once and maybe you will too. The only problem is that it is not original and the acting can be more than a little bad even at the best of times. Still an enjoyable old romp in a popcorn fodder sort of way, but that is about it.
Rating:
Summary: Bobbi is the perfect girl for the job: homicide.
Review: Meet Bobbi. She's just the kind of woman who can get insanely jealous at the flick of a switch. And then she'll turn deadly. She's one of therapist Dr Elliot's clients. Meet Liz Blake. She has clients of her own. She's a hooker and a key witness to the murder of one of Elliot's clients. A mother and a woman who likes to sleep around. The son of the murdered woman and Liz team up to hunt for the killer Bobbi and put a stop to all the madness and confusion...that is if they know who they're really dealing with... I really really liked DTK....it had something more. It feels like atmospere but most likely it's because of the story line. It may feel like a nasty rip-off od PSYCHO but in fact, it's much more. You see, in PSYCHO there is the whole backstory told at the end. But in DTK the story is told little by little until the last scene... RECCOMENDED TO FANS OF:
Psycho (1960)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Basic Instinct (1992) CAST
Michael Caine .....Doctor Robert Elliott
Angie Dickinson ..Kate Miller
Nancy Allen .........Liz Blake
Keith Gordon ......Peter Miller THE MOVIE: 4/4 THE PICTURE QUALITY: 10/10 Fantastic! 2.35:1 Anamorphic widescreen is just how I like it. With little grain. THE AUDIO QUALITY: 10/10 Here we have an option of either 5.1 surround or 2.0 mono. I perfer the 5.1 and so will you. There is a French language track presented in 2.0 mono. THE SPECIAL FEATURES: Unrated version option (a minute or so longer than the theratical version), SEVERAL featurettes, a fantastic documentary, "Unrated Vs. R-Rated Vs. TV Rated comparison featurette, menu-based ad-gallery, booklet, trailer and another gallery (animated) SUBTITLES: French and Spanish
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