Basket Case | Anatomy of a Franchise

In today's video we are looking at the history of Frank Henenlotter's trilogy of horror stories, the Basket Case movies. Thank you for watching.
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Twitter: @praise_shadows
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[@InPraiseofShadows]

Hey everyone, thanks for watching the new video! This one was a lot of fun for me to revisit because I've always enjoyed these movies, what other different franchises would you like to see me cover here is this style? Hope you all have a great rest of your weekend and I'll see you again soon.

[@davidpatrick7576]

I would be interested to hear your thoughts on the Texas chainsaw massacre. Also love your work, whatever you want to do I am here for it.

[@azfk]

Hey I love your work. I know this may not be your traditional MO, but I'd like to see your perspective on some more children's horror/ dark comedy. (Grim adventures of Billy and Mandy, Courage the Cowardly dog, etc.)

[@iamtheliontammingcabbage945]

I'd be happy to see any series, but I'd especially love Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes and Pumpkinhead

[@NothingCanKilltheGrimace]

What a great series. I’m always hopeful of Return of the Living Dead , Hammer Frankenstein, Universal Frankenstein or Romero’s dead films.

[@MrAlpha624]

I gotta second Pumpkinhead or Return of the Living Dead.

[@OrdinaryThings]

This is perfect because it's a series i never want to watch, but i really want to understand. having said that - i'm totally gonna watch Frankenhooker

[@palix5925]

Might I suggest Maniac Cop, sir? Robert Zdar is a legend.

[@just-mees]

holy crap it is normal objects form the famous youtube channel regular stuff

[@tawdryhepburn4686]

Frankenhooker is an out and out masterpiece of the genre. And it manages to work as a brilliant deconstruction of toxic masculinity, two generations before the phrase came to prominence.

[@Otis_.]

I'm surprised to see you here, when's the next Internet Historian collab?

[@samuelsolomon7330]

Good to see you, Mr. Things, old chap!

[@davidhanson4909]

I think the talk show sequence was a product of the time. That was when daytime talk shows were really starting to slide into "Hey, check out these freaks!" sideshow acts.

[@bustedkeaton]

Like how there was that jerry springer bit in one of the austin powers movies

[@Aeimos]

"The time" was only 3 years ago. The show was running into 2018.

[@normaharlean4457]

like Alex Winter’s (Bill of ‘Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure’) 1993 classic, ‘Freaked‘, starts off as a guest on a talk show is “recanting/reminiscing “about his Hollywood actor status downgrade. it’s not as boring as I am making it sound ~ Mr T., Bobcat Goldthwait and Keanu are in it :3 ¡All Hail E.E.S. Corp.!

[@suchibee3879]

I think it might have been more interesting that instead of Eve birthing so many children that it ends up being a characteristic of animals, that she birthed a normal human child. I would've loved to see that child grow up within that unique family and having him come to terms with his parents not being the stereotypical suburban family he'd see on television or in the media.

[@meatlemonade9938]

I feel like it would've made more sense medically as well, not that this movie was exactly going for that sort of thing

[@catgrrrl5666]

I would love to watch that take on it!

[@DeadAngel14]

I thought the same thing as well.

[@pillowguyproductions7422]

Can't wait for the next one. This series never disappoints

[@lonelygoat2716]

This franchise

[@SickOfItAll1988]

this channel*

[@pawlpoche8736]

As the Christians say “Amen, brother!”

[@GasmaskAvenger]

honestly I think it would've been more interesting had Belial and Eve conceived a perfectly normal human child rather than 12 xeroxed mini Belials

[@casanovafunkenstein5090]

Probably far more accurate as well. Conjoined twins aren't genetically predetermined to have offspring with the same condition as far as I'm aware.

[@thiagoabdo3370]

This

[@knightjedi666]

What a absolutely pleasant surprise, I love this film and I needed something to watch as I make lunch. Thank you.

[@liulfrmcshane]

This franchise, particularly the first entry, is so sadly underrated. It's gritty-yet-dreamlike and just... Such a trip. As you brought up "It's Alive," I really think an Anatomy of a Franchise covering those films could be just swell. There's a weird, sick sort of reason behind them.

[@pablobratcat]

As a disabled person I appreciate the opportunity to delve into agency, self actualisation and relationships

[@pinchebruha405]

Interesting

[@fakeshemp9599]

Here's one for the algorithm. I love everything you cover man.

[@RedGirl006]

I love that you can change my mind about movies like these because you always see the human side of them and break it down extremely well in your videos. You truly are a fan of horror.

[@ashleycook6025]

Tbh: pregnancy IS it's own body horror. There's beauty in it, absolutely, But for a LOT of ppl that go through it it's a process that is intense and scary and dangerous and for a time, until the fetus begins developing mostly on their own, they are additional flesh growing attached to the insides of another bc, until the brain is developed enough, the contraction of cardiac muscles (the earliest detection of fetal heartbeat), limbs growing, new organs etc., Are all done by the endocrine system and brain stem of (this can also cause a severe brain fog in one that is experiencing pregnancy) that person willing or not. After that there's an entire stranger feeding off of you developing under their own power with the aid of *your* body until their and your body determine 'its time'. This is NOT a healthy way of viewing pregnancy by any means if you happen to experience these intense, disturbing sensations during it and I definitely needed and received help, but for me for a long moment it felt like that, sort of 'out there', like my body was alien and not my own. *{pls if you know someone or ARE someone experiencing this, talk with your doc}* And that can be a major influence of the terror and appeal of body horror, your body 'doing' and 'becoming' in an out of control manner and our minds sentient and present to feel every minute and inch and unable to stop it.

[@gabriellemadrid2831]

Ashley. You should post this everywhere! Let them all know! Everywhere!!! 👑

[@sideways5153]

Speaking on behalf of my partner, who got her tubes tied over this, pregnancy as body horror is a very real and valid fear, especially in conjunction with all the ways people try to strip a woman’s agency away once she’s pregnant, and the ways her agency may have been violated in causing the pregnancy. From the description, it sounds like the movie was just making Family Guy-level cracks about women not looking “normal” during pregnancy or the process of giving birth, which I would agree is a misogynistic presentation. Very much feel that this is a poorly developed lens for discussing Rosemary’s Baby, which I am convinced is a story about the ways pregnancy can be horrifying, but overall agree that there are less cruel ways to approach the subject

[@vindicator2470]

cracker moment 😂

[@antiquebeast]

A while back in NYC, an actress who was in Basket Case (I think the first movie), created a play about her life with the monster in the present day. I went because a sister of a friend was in it. It was, um, interesting? No monster, just growling and a basket.

[@bustedkeaton]

They touch on her play 45:45

[@tawdryhepburn4686]

That’s awesome! I would love Ltd to have seen that.

[@palix5925]

The Phantasm series became my favorite horror/ road trip series.

[@harleylaufeyson6136]

As someone who found this from Dead Meat,it was one of the greatest suggestions I got from James A. Janisse himself. I grew up knowing about New York City being that of a place of lights,shows and Broadway yet when I watched Basket Case,it showed the other side of both New York I never knew and horror movie I never knew existed. Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh-Belial

[@movedchannels1543]

I haven’t even seen this franchise or the video yet but I agree with everything you say.

[@FloAkaGott]

I know you just wanna be nice and give him the praise he deserved with his previous content but that kind of blind following of someone's opinion based on past events is not a good thing..

[@movedchannels1543]

@@FloAkaGott yeah I know, I was just making a joke. But I will actually watch the video first before forming my own opinion

[@mathieuleader8601]

Basket Case really highlights how difficult it can be when you have a disabled sibling and you have to care for them

[@pinchebruha405]

We dont talk about this enough, i am sorry. Siblings dont have a choice as to how their life will change forever when a child is born with disabilities, you dont really get to be a child

[@DeadAngel14]

Exactly :")

[@GooeyGremlin]

Yessssss! Man, really fond of these long analysis videos! Can't wait to see which films you cover next!

[@eybeetee]

I really appreciate these long, well-researched videos. I write and illustrate comics for a living, and your scripts are perfect for creative work. Really good flow and wonderfully interesting on the first couple watches, then amazing for background noise. I play this Anatomy series on a loop all the time; great work, and I can't wait to see what comes next.

[@unluckytourist]

The footage re-use in Part 2 was also owing to the relative rarity of the first movie at the time. Part's 2 and 3 were stocked on Blockbuster shelves, while Part 1 was a here-or-there find at independent stores.

[@purplehaze2358]

Fun fact, the ingrown twin’s name, “Belial”, is actually taken straight from a demon.

[@grundlehunter69]

obviously

[@thegurch7313]

It’s actually also a Hebrew word that means worthless, I remember that as I had a nasty hard corn callus growth on my foot and I named it Belial as it prevented me from running and made me feel useless. 😩

[@thuranz2773]

I mean, they could pass as Chaos Spawn.

[@SPFLDAngler]

Thank you, captain obvious... it's not like 80% of the world is christian or anything, and most other people just know about angels and demons through passing interest..

[@beththegreen]

Never!!? Next you’ll be telling me the little known fact that the idea of a twin born attracted to their brother is taken from a real life condition called conjoined twins

[@austinj.decareaux8830]

Another banger

[@nope1018]

Basket Case is one of my favorite films of all time, thank you for making this.

[@hoibsh21]

Thank you for recognizing the pain of Belial.

[@matheusarruda6462]

The ending of the second one (involving the "freakification" of the reporter) and the movie as a whole (about newcomers into a community of freaks) feels very reminiscent of Tod Browning's "Freaks". There are some interesting parallels between Freaks and Basket Case (films said to be "horrible exploitation" that got vindicated).

[@johansmallberries9874]

In a world where American horror story exists, I can easily see a basket case movie finding an audience again.

[@k9vendettathewolfofmordor529]

Favorite part in the series is in 2 where the housemates are looking around the house. But they're just having freakouts around the house lol. It's just so bizarre

[@QuesadillaWizard]

I'd never heard of Basket Case before. I really love how thoughtful your videos are and the music you use in them!

[@trashcanonabench7199]

Perfect timing! Was just watching these movies yesterday!

[@jessicasmith6056]

33:00: You mentioned the lack of road trip movies in the Horror genre. Remember "Natural Born Killers", with Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis? Most of that excellent horror flick was one long road trip of carnage and mayhem.

[@WASDLeftClick]

I remember learning about this franchise's existence from the internet and watching the first one out of curiosity several years ago. It almost seems like a fever dream in my memory, and it was mildly traumatizing in just how grotesque it was. Good thing I was a teenager or I probably would be bringing this stuff up in therapy. Watching that movie was like watching a 2 hour long slow-motion passenger train wreck where the majority of the passengers are turned into chunky salsa. You can't look away despite the horrific things you're seeing

[@handznet]

Haha. Quite accurate

[@noahsample525]

I don’t know where you find your music but these videos always feel like memoirs or documentaries to lost media

[@thiagoabdo3370]

Great as usual. I love this series

[@kingmclaughlin5988]

This video makes the series, at least the first two installments, seem very similar to Charles Burns's comic, Black Hole, which was all about an STD that caused monstrous deformities in those it was affected by. The comic oftentimes starts with yearbook photos wherein all the high schoolers have monstrous physical traits. I have not much to say but this mutual topic of humanity within that which does not look human seems quite interesting.

[@mattgilbert7347]

I love that book

[@unluckytourist]

I love that book and the first two films. The director of Snow White & The Huntsmen made a short film based on Black Hole as a pitch for a feature that never happened. Thematically they are all quite similar.

[@winraw6113]

Thank you for covering these films they deserve more attention, they're captivating on every rewatch :)

[@teejay9189]

Thank you for exposing me to amazing films I've never heard of.

[@lucienlodger]

i absolutely adore this series and can’t wait for a nightmare on elm street one, or hellraiser! but mostly i’m so interested in a dissection of “new nightmare” from you. i love the way these films feel like they’re from the era of the films they’re covering.

[@mr.e8561]

I don't know when in your life the darker corners of the hidden or intentionally ignored world claimed your attention but thank you so much for sharing what you've found and obviously love.

[@owenanderson1798]

I Just realized that you used the soundtrack for "Legend of Dinosaurs and Monster Birds" for this video and I love it!

[@noone8785]

This is one of those things I didn't know I needed.

[@pinchebruha405]

Yeah you cant unsee this movie

[@crod9905]

Love these series!! Even though they're long, I always make time to watch them!

[@sp-te6xi]

i seriously get giddy wen i see u in my subscription feed. u have been my fav youtuber for awhile now. gud shit homie

[@dgulag3733]

fantastic review. I love all 3 Basket Case films

[@0therun1t21]

Wow, I saw this on a college campus back in the 80s, still have the flyer, it the most black ink you could possibly cram on to a piece of paper so I have to keep it in plastic. Good movie!

[@aidanfarnan4683]

I love the first film and yet I was not even aware of the third one, thank you for this video.

[@tawdryhepburn4686]

I LOVE BASKET CASE!!!! Especially part 2. One of the greatest creature features ever made.

[@this_is_an_outrage]

Growing up, these schlocky '80's horror movies/franchises (Basket Case, Street Trash, House, Puppet Master, Troll (rat burgerrrrrrs), CHUD, etc) were always the highlight of our visit to the local dollar movie rental store. I was obsessed with the odd grimy pseudo depression that they left on me, and how dirty and cheap, yet completely enthralling they seemed to me at the time. Now it's hard to not appreciate how much someone can affect imaginations and psyches on barely more than creativity and enthusiasm. I really appreciate this synopsis and feel like you really see the same value in these gems that I have since I was barely old enough to look over a counter. Never play a metal record backwards unless you have access to a hobby rocket kit and always look where you pee or you may end up on the back of a school bus holding a wiener. 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

[@rhondawentzell6959]

The themes are great. Just because it isn’t flashy CGI etc doesn’t mean it isn’t professional. Glad they had fun with it

[@garysscaryfaeries3046]

I loved Basket case!

[@DeltasArbiter]

Thank you for treating the films you analyze intelligently and with the proper respect… i’ve always thought there was a lot more artistic value in these films than most people normally comprehend, and it’s always good to see someone who can critique them in an intellectual way. Keep up the good work

[@victoriousvampire]

As someone who has never seen this series, hearing your opinion on Little Hale and his mother was interesting. In my own experiences, it’s much more common for someone to dislike their own children for their difference, but accept others for the same. I believe it’s something to do with it coming back to the parents, like they’re to blame for the difference/“deformity”, when it’s just a fact of life. If you were to read this aspect as something to do with gender/sexuality or expression, I think it would be easier to understand.

[@Acsilverfish360]

Wait one second, why are you using the soundtrack of "Legend of Dinosaurs and Monster Birds"? After watching enough Brandon Tenold, I know it at a moments notice.

[@TheRealNormanBates]

I had the same reaction for the same reason. 😎👍

[@Acsilverfish360]

@@TheRealNormanBates Eyyyyyyy!

[@SwaggyG_2102]

Basket Case 1 feels like the Taxi Driver of early 1980s horror films, In a way, both this and Taxi Driver are movies that show the gritty and grimy parts of New York during the mid 1970s to early 1980s.

[@camerondodge2070]

The second Basket Case really reminds me a lot of a kinder, less mean-spirited version of that Alex Winter film, "Freaked". Also, to anyone who hasn't seen Frankenhooker yet, do it. If my word doesn't convince you, maybe Bill Murray's will, as it's apparently his favorite movie.

[@nattmazzoni]

Frank Henenlotter is one of my favorite directors, I genuinely love Basket Case, Brain Damage and Frankenhooker, I can rewatch them endlessly. But I admit I didn't really like the basket case sequels, so your video did really give me a new perspective on them. Thank you!

[@mosesinvests]

I was a production assistant on "Basket Case 2" 🤣 Never got to see it.

[@ailsalillywhite2018]

I was hoping you'd do Basketcase, this was a joy to watch! Really loved getting all the background and insights. I squealed at the mention of Psycho Goreman. That one was such a fun time too.

[@handznet]

I love this movie. Beautiful low budget treat with an awesome atmosphere of good old NY

[@CasperTheGhost64]

You have the best channel on KZbin. I can't wait for the next video.

[@naftalibendavid]

The way you see the beauty in this movie is very moving in a way that mirrors some of the relevant themes.

[@renatocorvaro6924]

Great video. I never got around to seeing these movies but now I want to see at least the first one.

[@davidchavez7242]

usually when i watch video essays about films i only retain the name of the movie and maybe one fact but after watching a 50 min video about a franchise i remember multiple movies and at least 3 facts :) maybe that says more about me than the videos but i’m just glad there’s still honest youtubers putting out remarkable content

[@elmerfuddpt2]

Ive always loved this franchise.. thanks for a video on this ❤️❤️👍

[@lisaaffect5872]

When I was a kid I use to rent movies like this all the time. I'm glad young people like you are able to appreciate these movies as much as I do. Excellent 😁👍

[@Al3xtheMeh]

I love how KZbin is promoting the movie Stuck On You in my recommended now.

[@davidhanson4909]

I'm getting "Q - The Winged Serpent". New York monster connection, I guess.

[@thereisnosanctuary6184]

The real horror is how Times Square looks like a Best Buy now.

[@stephenpmurphy591]

Back then Times Square smelled like a triple X theater floor. The Disneyification of cities across America is alarming what would Divine say?

[@elythys1472]

Your work is always so well-researched and unique

[@AdrianStoneisdead]

I've loved these films since I first saw them at a triple feature at a midnight drive-in the early 2000s.

[@31webseries]

You should do the Human Centipede, because I have absolutely no idea how that one became a franchise.

[@brucewish7137]

God i love this franchise, thank you praiser of shadows

[@adamwatson2914]

There was an old horror comic story once called The Basket where a man always carried a wicker basket on his shoulder and some kids who are curious grip him up one day and discover that he had a second head on his shoulder of his Siamese twin!! True. Hefty similarity to the movie don’t ya think

[@googleoogle]

i loved ur commentary on this! you have such a goldmine of a series and i love the longer videos on films i've never even heard of but have so many themes you could talk endlessly

[@guishenStreetB]

I like how Dwayne becomes Jon Arbuckle in the last 2 films

[@KnightLightXL]

I've been looking forward to this

[@kellicline5336]

Joy ride does the road trip thing great. The horror is a killer big rig trucker that follows them and it's awesome. I mean it's chock full of every late 90s teen/young adult cliché but that's why I love it.

[@AngelCruz-pd1hc]

Another great video! You have a great talent telling history behind horror movies, comics, and media. Good job. I'm sorry that youtube treats you bad by age restricting your videos or blocking your videos because one video I enjoyed and learned was the history of witches #3. Still amazing work!

[@leadingblind1629]

Im here to support the channel stats!!! But I've never seen basket case. Knowing about it, I don't understand it's appeal. I look forward to this whole video. The images are already deeply unnerving and unsettling.

[@retsz]

This video has genuinely made me interested in a franchise i honestly have actively avoided since i first learned about it in the mid to late 90s. I think I'll finally give it a try.

[@adamwallace7353]

Devil's Rejects is a prettty solid horror road movie imo, albeit from the killers' perspective.

[@user-ur8hl8lr7q]

Yea, they could have made She-Belials birth scene into a really beautiful and touching scene lol. Is this basket cases problem of a problem with your expectations of the third movie in a low budget horror movie franchise?

[@Azucar752]

Your channel is awesome man. Real nice vibe. Keep it up!

[@KHWADI]

this is the movie I started to think about while watching Malignant

[@mlghitler251]

Love the video! great work as always

[@stavmusic]

Your videos are SO good, thank you!

[@jaymenjanssens720]

Incredible thanks for makin this

[@bioman1295]

This video is great but I can’t get over the fact the theme from the legend of the dinosaur and monster bird is playing during part of it Gotta love that funky beat

[@EarJuice]

The personality song 🎵 is catchy at least. And then he's like a robot with robot leggles. 🤖 I remember my horror bible which was a qaurter sized book that came with a horror magazine and had the top 50 horror movies (or 100??) with descriptions, info & ratings. Basketcase trilogy was in there and the pictures of all the freaks made it so interesting that I had to watch them. Took a few years to finally find them though. Wasn't that easy in Australia as there didn't seem to be a wide release of all 3 movies.

[@azfk]

YAY NEW VID

[@smacksalad]

Bad Biology is pure unhinged genius. I cannot recommend it enough.

[@augustawickmanart]

Thanks for making another truly excellent video. Basket Case is one of those films I have been aware of for many years but never had the urge to watch it and your video definitely makes me want to watch at least the first one. I really appreciate your love of horror, your in depth analysis and really professional quality videos. The editing and narration is also so well done! I'm going to become a patron too. :)

[@KanesTheName]

Love these films! So exciting to see you cover them!!

[@Jupiters_Moonz]

just the fact that you mentioned maniac cop means i'm going to watch this video several times

[@youthfulcurmudgeon3627]

The first one is a classic that we all have fond memories of renting and re-renting back in the good ol' days. The sequels, at least to me, leave alot to be desired.

[@theskoolmustard00]

I've only seen the first one but I immensely appreciate the messages and themes this series tackles on

[@raimywinter2309]

Great work as always.🤘🏻🎱🤘🏻.

[@Supermariorpg6]

I mean... You want a horror film road-trip film with a Cat and Mouse like chase going on, than you should go watch The Hitcher (Both the original and the remake). It's a very good horror film, prolly one of many that had me on my feet.

[@pointynoodle]

The fake credits, cash roll, jolt cola, and all the other wacky asides are really cute and funny

[@Pipsatrip]

Pumpkinhead would be great here.

[@sourdust6558]

You’ve perfectly summed up how I feel towards every Basket Case movie Thank you, these movies mean allot to me

[@OctoberLotus]

I love you deep analysis videos.