In Writer, Producer, Director Brian De Palma's BODY DOUBLE, Jake Scully (Greg Wasson), an actor, finds himself in a sudden tailspin after catching his girlfriend (Barbara Crampton) in bed with another man.
Enter Sam (Gregg Henry), who gets Jake a place to stay. It's a place like no other, an enormous, ultra-modern "treehouse", with a panoramic view, overlooking the Hollywood hills. There's also a telescope through which Jake is introduced to a particularly beautiful female neighbor (Deborah Shelton).
Jake has landed in paradise. Or, so he thinks.
As things go increasingly south in Jake's life, he becomes all the more obsessed with the woman at the other end of the telescope. When he witnesses a crime being committed, it all gets complicated. Even deadly.
BODY DOUBLE is Mr. De Palma's voyeuristic tribute to Alfred Hitchcock's REAR WINDOW. He's never denied his love of Hitchcock's work, and pays homage to him at every opportunity. Never as blatantly as he does here! Hell, he even throws in a bit of VERTIGO for good measure! For others, this might be considered a ripoff, but De Palma makes it look so damned good!
This is another play on duality for De Palma. It's also one of the Director's most sexually charged efforts, rivalling his DRESSED TO KILL.
Wasson is believable as the everyman thrust into a situation beyond his control. His obsession won't allow him to just let it go. The amazing Melanie Griffith co-stars as the amazing Holly Body!
Another satisfying thriller from Brian De Palma...
