Alice, Sweet Alice (originally titled Communion) is a disturbing 1976 American horror mystery that masterfully blends religious trauma with family dysfunction. Set in 1961 New Jersey, the film follows the Spages family after their younger daughter Karen is brutally murdered during her First Holy Communion ceremony. The immediate suspicion falls on her troubled older sister Alice, who displays unsettling behavior and wears a creepy translucent mask, creating one of horror's most memorable visual motifs.

Director Alfred Sole crafts an atmosphere of palpable dread, using Catholic iconography and ritual to explore themes of guilt, innocence, and familial breakdown. The film's strength lies in its ambiguous characterizations—particularly young Brooke Shields in her film debut as Karen, and Paula Sheppard's haunting performance as the enigmatic Alice. The supporting cast, including Linda Miller and Mildred Clinton, adds layers to this complex portrait of a community unraveling.

What makes Alice, Sweet Alice essential viewing is its unique position as both a gritty regional horror film and a sophisticated psychological thriller. The murder mystery unfolds with genuine tension, while the religious symbolism adds disturbing subtext about faith and corruption. The practical effects remain effectively gruesome decades later, and Ennio Morricone's uncredited score contribution elevates the atmospheric terror. For horror enthusiasts seeking intelligent, character-driven terror rather than cheap jumpscares, this cult classic delivers a profoundly unsettling experience that lingers long after the final frame.