Fear Fashion Tribute: ALICE, SWEET ALICE
A Review of the Horror Villain Outfit That Freaked Me Out as a Kid
The recent sad passing of director Alfred Sole had me reflecting on his 1976 cult horror classic ALICE, SWEET ALICE. Often referred to as an American “Giallo” –a genre of stylish, erotic, and violent Italian mystery-thriller or horror films– ALICE, SWEET ALICE is actually a Hitchcockian love letter that is part anti-Catholic, part whodunit proto-slasher, and a film that gives prominence to one of horror’s most undeniably creepy villain attire.
I first saw ALICE, SWEET ALICE less than a year after it had been originally released under the title, ”COMMUNION”. Years later, the film was re-titled and re-released a third time, as “HOLY TERROR” (it was even titled THE MASK MURDERS at some point), mainly to capitalize on the immense popularity of teen model & actress Brooke Shields, who played the part of Alice’s kid sister, Karen. Sole’s debut horror gets the credit for being the film that seduced me away from my “animal attack” phase and sent me headlong into slasher territory. The poster was intriguing but the trailer was what sold me. It included a scene from the opening credits of the movie; an ominous silhouette of a young girl standing alone in a hazy atmosphere, clutching a large gold crucifix, her face shrouded by a tiara-topped veil. When the camera pans over to her, she is whispering a slew of hail-marys under her breath, ultimately raising the crucifix, and revealing it to be a sharp, gleaming dagger. This was incredible stuff for a then 11-year-old. I hit my dad up to take me to a screening and he agreed (my eagerness to see the film turned to regret at around the 15-minute mark). I had been expecting a malevolent female shape, cloaked in white tulle & lace and shanking people with a crucifix knife, but what I got was a more frightening executioner; a sinister figure dressed in a yellow Catholic-school-logoed raincoat, attacking their victims with a common wood-handled chef’s knife and wearing the most nightmarish face mask that I had ever laid eyes on.
DISSECTING THE LOOK (Think “Nautical meets First Communion”)
The Yellow Rain Coat
ALICE, SWEET ALICE is far from being the first horror movie to feature a villain rocking yellow rain gear. Similarly-hued rain slickers can also be seen on the celluloid killers of THE BAD SEED, HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, CHILD IN THE NIGHT, MILO, and MISCHIEF NIGHT. According to Sole, the inspiration behind the ALICE, SWEET ALICE killer’s costume design came from the early ’70s psychological horror film, DON’T LOOK NOW, where the appearance of a child’s red raincoat is an omen of disaster; a herald of the impending bloodshed to come.
ALICE, SWEET ALICE’s fictional, school-issued slicker is a classic take on the trademark fisherman yellow raincoat. The school’s moniker, St. Michael’s, is stamped in black over the coat’s glossy left breast. The brightly colored coat is a recurring prop that can be seen in the movie sporadically; worn by various St. Michael’s schoolchildren, carelessly slung over a church pew or a parent’s arm, or casually lying on the floor. Peppering the film with yellow hooded raincoat sightings could be an attempt to brighten the gloomy setting. The sun-kissed yellow and stark white outfit color combination –with the introduction of some red blood spatter during the final act– gives the film the color shot in the arm it needs against the autumnal and mostly drab palette of the 60’s-era Paterson, New Jersey backdrop.
The Mask
“A certain mask worn in several scenes looks pretty disturbing.” — IMDb Parents Guide, under “Frightening & Intense Scenes”.
The pièce de résistance of the killer’s disguise is their freaky false face mask. This particular style of mask originated in the ’50s, remained popular with kids during the ensuing Halloween seasons, and lasted into the ’60s, the era in which the story of ALICE, SWEET ALICE takes place. (There is no doubt that Alice wore her frightful mask year-round, pranking and tormenting those around her.)
Made of semi-transparent plastic material, with an elastic band to hold it in place, the killer’s fake visage flaunts an extravagant makeup job; vacant eye sockets are lined with gold; garish silvery, blue-tinted eye shadow covers the brow bone; cheeks are blushing in rosy pink; and two red slashes of lipstick border an unnerving row of white upper teeth, forming a chilling, crimson smile. The result is pure nightmare fuel.
White Communion Dress & Accessories
Beneath the yellow surface, the killer is clad entirely in the standard white garb of the First Holy Communion. Their concealed dress –mostly visible by the hemline– appears to the viewer as knee-length and made of ivory lace. Covering the killer’s hands are a pair of white nylon gloves with flared, gauntlet cuffs, that are in contrast to the conventional black gloves usually associated with Giallos. Buffed patent leather Mary Jane block heel shoes in shiny alabaster finalize the eerie, evangelical outfit.
***************GET READY FOR COSTUME SPOILERS*****************
****A big clue that Alice is not the killer is in the way both she and the killer wear their hoods. The killer protects their coif by pulling their hood drawstrings tight, while Alice wears hers in a more loose, carefree manner. Also note that the killer carries a large brown paper shopping bag around, presumably to carry a change of clothes and a butcher knife. Alice is never seen with the shopping bag until the final scene after the killer has been revealed.****
ALICE, SWEET ALICE’s killer costumery –designed by Michelle Cohen– isn’t as celebrated as Freddy Krueger’s fedora-striped-sweater-glove getup, Michael Myers’ blue mechanic’s jumpsuit and Captain Kirk mask combo, or Candyman’s Shearling trench coat and hook hand. Still, even though it may be underappreciated, the ALICE, SWEET ALICE villain’s outfit deserves to be recognized as one of the all-time great horror movie costumes.
