Cubussoli Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Vashirdfel Simply A Masterpiece

Curapedi I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

InformationRap This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Michael_Elliott Murder à la Mod (1968)* 1/2 (out of 4) Brian De Palma's feature debut has a woman (Margo Norton) trying to raise money so that her boyfriend (Jared Martin) can continue shooting a movie. The only problem is that the girlfriend is brutally murdered but who committed the crime? MURDER A LA MOD is a film worth watching if you're a fan of De Palma and must see everything that he's done. It's certainly much better than THE WEDDING PARTY but that's not really saying too much considering how bad that one is. This film here offers up a few interesting ideas and it's clear to see a few things that the director would use in later movies.There are several homages here to Hitchcock including some obvious ones to PSYCHO. These are mildly entertaining but the biggest problem with this movie is the fact that the story itself is just boring and it's quite confusing. Some would say that the director was already showing his "more style than substance" here. As far as the actual style goes, there's some of that on display here but it's easy to see this was a director learning his trade.The young cast were good for the most part and we also get William Finley in a small role. As I said there are several bits here that will appear in later De Palma movie including the sped up action (like in CARRIE when the boys are trying their suits on) as well as a woman being directed by the director (later seen in BLOW OUT). This film is a bit too boring for its own good but De Palma die hards will want to check it out.

Coventry Isn't it strangely fascinating how a talented and visionary filmmaker will always distinguish him/herself from the others, regardless of how ridiculously little financial means he/she has to work with? "Murder à la Mod" got released on the Something Weird label in America and on similar Grindhouse-type of DVD label here in the Dutch speaking countries, but it's almost too good to get associated with the usual stuff these labels throw on the market. Numerous of the Something Weird films were made by young and aspiring directors with lots of ambition and occasionally even some good ideas, but without any money or professional cast and crew members, and that is why they usually look poor and sleazy instead of good. But with his debut Brian De Palma proves that blaming the lack of budget is all too easy. With an intriguing narrative structure, eccentric character drawings and ingenious visual gimmicks, De Palma neatly camouflages the lack of funds and even the complete absence of story! Also, the director's later obsession with the work of Alfred Hitchcock is already noticeable here, through a variation of subtle references and downright open homages. The plot, revolving on a young girl falling for an amateur filmmaker with dubious and questionable intentions, is actually of minor importance. The slightly psychedelic atmosphere, the irresistible title song and the crazed characters (William Finley is superb as Otto) keep the film entertaining even if the screenplay ceases to make sense. Particularly the extended sub plot where one event is shown from three different perspectives is very accurately done and undeniably far ahead of its time. Obviously, De Palma's first born also suffers from copious defects, like dreadfully boring padding scenes (the conversation between Tracey and her bank manager…oh my God!) and a confusingly abrupt ending.

tieman64 "To photograph people is to violate them, by seeing them as they never see themselves, by having knowledge of them that they can never have; the act turns people into objects that can be symbolically possessed. Just as a camera is a sublimation of the gun, to photograph someone is a subliminal murder - a soft murder, appropriate to a sad, frightened time." ― Susan SontagBrian De Palma's first thriller, "Murder a la Mod" opens with screen tests, the familiar hash marks of a camera viewfinder imprinted over two nervous young women. We then watch as the duo are coerced into removing their clothes by an unseen speaker, a scene which recalls the voyeuristic violence of similar sequences in subsequent De Palma films (and Michael Powell's "Peeping Tom").A fairly simple plot then unfolds: Karen, a naive young woman, desperately wants to help Christopher, an "artist" who is working the porno beat in an attempt to raise enough money to divorce his wife. When Karen sees her best friend Tracy pull some jewels out of a bank, she hatches a plan to finance Christopher's freedom. All too grateful, Christopher beds Karen on his porn set. Moments later the girl is killed with an ice pick. In the eye, naturally.The rest of the film replays the events surrounding this murder from each character's perspective. De Palma handles the story with customary flair (split screens, slow motion, lots of dazzling camera work etc), but at times he's hampered by inexperience and the film's low budget.7/10 - Worth one viewing.

maccauleyjoseph Just finished watching this early De Palma, and I am glad that I was finally able to see it. I have seen almost all his early films and this one certainly was not boring, in fact there were a few thrills and chills. I found the story confusing but it still kept my attention. It featured some good DePalma stylish moments,as well as clumsy comedy. I was reminded of some of his later works, and when you watch this film it is apparent that DePalma really knew how to get the right thriller feel, even way back in his black and white days.....this film, in its own way is about as good as "The black dahila", but you gotta be a DePalma fan.......