Brian De Palma's controversial thriller is a lurid, hyper-sexual adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho – and then some!

When call girl Liz Blake (Nancy Allen) is the sole witness to the murder of unfulfilled homemaker Kate Miller (Angie Dickinson) in an elevator, she unintentionally becomes police suspect number one; pursued by the real killer while attempting to clear her name.

With the cast dressed in vivid colour palettes and performing to campy excess, the film has aged better in aesthetic than its problematic narrative. But contemporary screenings afford audiences the vital opportunity to consider its issues – especially representations of gender – with deeper understanding and fresh viewpoints.

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