Body Double (1984) Review: Hitchcockian Masterpiece or Trashy 80s Thriller? Plot, Ending, and Analysis

Body Double, directed by the legendary Brian De Palma (Scarface, Carrie), is one of the most divisive thrillers of the 1980s. Upon its release, it was bombed by critics and failed at the box office, with many labeling it "filth." However, time has been kind to this neon-soaked mystery. Today, it is hailed as a cult classic—a meta-commentary on Hollywood, voyeurism, and the art of filmmaking itself.

Is Body Double worth watching today? Why was it so controversial? This comprehensive review breaks down the plot, the famous "drill scene," the Hitchcock connections, and that mind-bending ending.

Plot Summary: The Voyeur in the Hollywood Hills

The story follows Jake Scully (Craig Wasson), a claustrophobic B-movie actor who is having a terrible week. He loses his role in a vampire movie because he can't handle being in a coffin, and he catches his girlfriend cheating on him. Homeless and jobless, he meets a slick fellow actor named Sam Bouchard (Gregg Henry), who offers him a dream gig: house-sitting at a futuristic, ultra-modern mansion in the Hollywood Hills (the famous Chemosphere house).

The Obsession

The house comes with a perk: a telescope aimed directly at the bedroom of a wealthy neighbor, Gloria Revelle (Deborah Shelton). Sam tells Jake that Gloria performs a striptease dance every night at the same time. Jake becomes obsessed with watching her.

However, his voyeurism turns into a nightmare when he notices a creepy, disfigured man (referred to as "The Indian") stalking Gloria. Jake begins following her to protect her, trailing her through malls and beaches in sequences directly lifted from Hitchcock’s Vertigo. His obsession culminates when he witnesses "The Indian" brutally murder Gloria with a power drill while he watches helplessly through the telescope.

The Hitchcock Connection: Rear Window Meets MTV

If you are searching for "movies like Rear Window," Body Double is the ultimate answer. Brian De Palma is famous for "borrowing" from Alfred Hitchcock, and this film is his most blatant homage.

• Rear Window: The entire first act is a modern retelling of Hitchcock’s classic. Instead of a wheelchair-bound photographer, we have a house-sitting actor. Instead of a courtyard, we have the sprawling Hollywood Hills.

• Vertigo: Jake’s obsession with a blonde woman, his trailing of her through Los Angeles, and his crippling phobia (claustrophobia instead of acrophobia) are direct nods to Vertigo.

• The Twist: De Palma updates these tropes for the MTV generation. The film features music video aesthetics, including the famous sequence set to Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s "Relax," which takes place on a porn set.

The Controversy: Why Was It Hated?

When people ask, "Why is Body Double rated R?" or "Is Body Double banned?", they are usually referring to its graphic content.

The Drill Scene

The film contains one of the most infamous murder weapons in cinema history: a massive power drill. The murder of Gloria is prolonged, bloody, and sexualized, leading critics like Roger Ebert to defend the film while others called it "misogynistic trash." De Palma was accused of hating women, a charge he denied, arguing he was satirizing the thriller genre itself.

The X-Rating Battle

De Palma originally wanted the film to be rated X (the precursor to NC-17). He famously said, "I'm going to give them everything they hate and more of it than they've ever seen." The MPAA forced him to make cuts to avoid the X rating, specifically toning down the violence and the sexual content in the porn industry subplot.

Cast and Performances

• Craig Wasson as Jake Scully: Wasson plays the "everyman" hero. He isn't a typical macho action star; he is vulnerable, a bit creepy, and relatable.

• Melanie Griffith as Holly Body: This was the breakout role for Griffith. She plays a porn star with a heart of gold (and a brain for business). Her line delivery and comedic timing steal the show in the second half.

• Gregg Henry as Sam: Henry delivers a delightfully unhinged performance that perfectly fits the film's heightened reality.

The Ending Explained: A Meta-Twist

Warning: Spoilers for the ending of Body Double follow below.

The climax of Body Double reveals that the entire mystery was a set-up, but not in the way you might expect.

The Villain Revealed

Jake discovers that "The Indian" was actually Sam Bouchard in a mask. Sam was not just a fellow actor; he was Gloria’s husband (using a fake name). He wanted to kill his wife for her money but needed a witness to confirm that a "burglar" did it. He hired Jake—a claustrophobe who he knew would be unable to help—to watch the murder.

Even more twisted? The woman Jake was watching dance in the window wasn't Gloria. It was Holly Body, a porn star hired by Sam to impersonate Gloria and perform the routine, ensuring Jake would be glued to the telescope.

The Final Showdown

Jake tracks Sam to a reservoir. A fight ensues, and Jake is thrown into a grave, triggering his claustrophobia. In a moment of triumph, he overcomes his fear, climbs out, and defeats Sam, who falls into the aqueduct and is likely killed by the very dog he used to terrorize Gloria.

The "Movie Within a Movie"

The film ends with a meta-joke. After the final confrontation, the camera pulls back to reveal Jake is actually on a movie set, filming the role of the vampire he was fired from at the beginning of the movie. He finally "gets the scene right," kissing the leading lady (who is Holly Body). This leaves the audience questioning: Was the entire movie just a film Jake was starring in? Or did his real-life trauma help him become a better actor? De Palma suggests that in Hollywood, the line between reality and fiction is meaningless.

Is Body Double a Good Movie? (Final Verdict)

Score: 4/5 Stars

Body Double is a masterpiece of style over substance. The plot holes are massive (Why would Sam hire a witness?), but they don't matter. The movie is a ride—a sleazy, neon-colored nightmare that explores how movies manipulate us.

Watch it if:

• You love 80s aesthetic and synth-pop music.

• You enjoy erotic thrillers like Basic Instinct or Dressed to Kill.

• You are a film student interested in editing and camera work.

Skip it if:

• You are sensitive to violence against women.

• You prefer realistic, grounded dramas.

• You dislike nudity and sexual content (there is a lot of it).