Body Double opens across the U.S. in 1984. The Brian De Palma thriller is an homage to Hitchcock, combining elements of Rear Window, Vertigo, and Dial M for Murder, but also a wry satire of Hollywood and media culture. Though not a success on its release, Melanie Griffith’s performance is praised. The film is later referenced heavily in Bret Easton Ellis’ American Psycho, is given an Indian remake, and now considered a cult classic.
This Day in Halloween: Brian De Palma's provocative homage to Hitchcock, "Body Double" opens across the U.S. in 1984. / Illustration by Mads Torres