psychotic transsexual bobbi murder the patient ( angie dickinson ) of a prominent doctor ( michael caine ) and then pursue the high price prostitute ( nancy allen ) who catch a glimpse of bobbi in the elevator . liz ( allen ) come under suspicion of the crime and team up with the patient son ( keith gordon ) to catch the killer . it can be sum up in a couple of word represent it very sexy ( dickinson and allen look great ) and it very bloody with the kind of gore usually reserve for splatter movie and and boy be it well craft . writer or director de palma script be ok but it really take a backseat to the man film make ability . it be highly successful on a visceral level and i actually get involved or interested with these character . i can notice the standard de palma homage to or ripoffs of hitchcock at least from one of the master picture . and to top it all off and it have a professional and believable cast . this be de palma third movie with ex wife nancy allen ( after carrie and home movie . ) by the way and dancer turn actress rachel ticotin be one of the production assistant . there a bit of trivia for you . i wouldn not think a thriller could be classy and bloody at the same time but this picture pull it off . one of the best thing about it be a typically striking pino donaggio music score . positive .