Brian De Palma directed Body Double, sharing screenplay credit with Robert J. Avrech. The film features Craig Wasson, Melanie Griffith, Gregg Henry, Deborah Shelton, Guy Boyd and Dennis Franz, with music composed by Pino Donaggio and cinematography by Stephen H. Burum. De Palma continued his practice of challenging audiences while paying tribute to Alfred Hitchcock, creating this playful, flashy, and somewhat sleazy thriller. Even after the impact of Scarface in 1983, critics questioned whether returning to suspenseful thrillers would stabilize De Palma’s career. It didn't! The response to Body Double was surprisingly extreme; some considered it a misogynistic tribute to pornography, adding exploitation gore for good (or bad) measure. Critics labeled the film as something wicked, but audiences responded positively—it proved to be successful at the box office. Looking back now, the content seems mild, where even simulated killings don't stir viewers and frank sexual dialogue or nudity no longer causes embarrassment. It’s easy to see De Palma’s movie now as an innovative work, a film subtly mocking Hollywood and the MPAA. As was typical of his films from the 70s and 80s, he consistently provoked reactions from audiences, and with his impressive collection of cinematic techniques—before they became overused—Body Double offers a fascinatingly lurid viewing experience. The influence of Vertigo and Rear Window is obvious, but that doesn’t make it a poor film, and it undeniably carries De Palma's signature style. The story follows Jake Scully (Wasson), an actor struggling with claustrophobia, who finds himself in a world filled with murder, obsession, deception, and paranoia when he house sits for a friend and observes a beautiful woman through a telescope seemingly being pursued by a strange Native American man. Providing more details would ruin the experience for first-time viewers, but it's clear that Jake has entered a realm where neo-noir characters wander around wondering how they got into their predicament. The film is pulpy and simple, but in a good way, and unlike many other movies by directors who explored similar themes, it’s never dull (unlike Sliver). The cast delivers appropriately exaggerated or animated performances; the plot twists are enjoyable if predictable; and De Palma's visual flair complements Donaggio's musical score nicely. Body Double is enjoyable entertainment from a director with a mischievous look in his eye. It earns an 8/10.

Source on TMDB