Alice, Sweet Alice (originally titled Communion) is a chilling 1976 American horror mystery that masterfully blends religious anxiety with family trauma. Set in 1961, the film follows the Spages family, whose youngest daughter Karen is brutally murdered during her First Holy Communion ceremony. The immediate suspicion falls upon her troubled older sister Alice, who displays unsettling behavior and wears a creepy translucent mask. As more stabbings occur, the community descends into paranoia, questioning whether Alice is the killer or another sinister force is at work.

Director Alfred Sole creates an atmosphere of palpable dread through meticulous period detail and unsettling Catholic iconography. The film's power lies in its ambiguity—viewers constantly question Alice's guilt while confronting themes of sin, guilt, and familial disintegration. Brooke Shields makes her film debut as young Karen, while Paula Sheppard delivers a memorably disturbing performance as Alice, perfectly balancing vulnerability and menace.

What makes Alice, Sweet Alice essential viewing is its unique position as both a gritty independent horror and a sophisticated psychological thriller. The film explores how religious ritual can mask deep-seated family dysfunction, creating genuine scares through atmosphere rather than gore. Its influence can be seen in later horror classics dealing with religious trauma and ambiguous evil. For fans of atmospheric 70s horror, complex mysteries, and films that linger in the mind long after viewing, this cult classic offers a uniquely disturbing experience that continues to unsettle audiences decades later.