I finally got around to watching this. I bought it ages ago for about ten bucks, but it just sat in the cabinet with the rest of my movies until Arrow (yes arrow again) piqued my interest in it with a bitchin' review. And although I didn't find this film as phenomenal as a lot of people did, I can truly appreciate that it was a great film, and very far ahead of its time.

It dragged a little, and I thought it was far too long, and the movie went on for another good 20 minutes after the killer was revealed. You would think that that would be a good logical closure point for a film wouldn't you? There were a lot of surprises and plot twists (so many things that just totally threw me). I think that this film, much like Suspiria will affect me more and more as I think about it. It definitely had a "Made in the 70's" feel to it along with a really complex plot with lots of different things adding to the story. Stuff just flyin' at you from all directions!

12 year old Alice (played by 19 year old Paula Sheppard - the depth in her voice and boobs give it away somewhat), is the grumpy, jealous, and mentally unstable eldest child of Catherine and Dom who are separated. The focus of everyone's attention (it seems) is her younger sister Karen (Brooke Shields) who is about to have her first Holy Communion, but before she can make it, she is brutally murdered in the church - strangled by a rosary and stuffed into a box with a lit candle. The result isn't pretty. Alice was seen coming into the church late, so all fingers are pointed at her. Alice is quite the disturbed child, and would probably be capable of murder, but did she do it? More and more members of Alices family and of the Catholic Community are targeted, and a chilling story begins to unravel.

I honestly cant say that there is anything in this film left unexplained. it is filmed well, the story is tight, the characters grossly unlike-able (and that seems to be the way its meant to be) and Alice would have to be one of the most unlikely heroines ever in a horror movie. Its just that bizarre.

There was also much more blood than I expected with the film being so old and all. But it was definitely up there.

The murders were extremely graphic and left you with a sick feeling in your stomach a lot of the time. The end sequence is just chilling. It is clear that this movie would have ruffled a few feathers in its time with its Catholic themes and seemingly anti-Catholicism messages (well not exactly anti, but this film sure does breach the so called sanctity of the Catholic Church on multiple levels). Throw in all the violence, and Alice's somewhat sluttish behaviour towards her landlord and others, despite her young age is quite unnerving.

Filmed in New Jersey, and released under three titles: Communion (1978), Alice Sweet Alice (1979) and finally a heavily censored American version Holy Terror (1981). Australia is one of the few countries to have had the film released in 1979 completely uncut.

Just a note for people looking for a Region 4 disc - it appears to be out of print, but it was available at some time. Budget priced too!