Director – Dario Argento (Suspiria, The Card Player)
Starring – Jennifer Connelly (Spider-Man: Homecoming, Labyrinth), Donald Pleasance (Halloween, Escape from New York), and Daria Nicolodi (Inferno, The Mother of Tears)
Release Date – 1985
Rating – 4/5
UHD Release – 4/5
I’ve really became a fan of Dario Argento over the last few years. Way back when I first started collecting movies I watched Suspiria and fucking loved it. I was hooked and watched it countless times that summer. That was our go to flick when we would drink way back before we were actually old enough to buy the stuff.
Over the years my viewing of his films was limited to just that film but recently several amazing companies has been releasing his films on blu. He is one hell of a filmmaker and when compared to the names of Craven and Hooper I stand by the statement that he is underrated. Not too long ago Synapse Films released the Argento flick Phenomena aka Creepers on blu. I watched it and fell in love with it. It was another masterpiece that deserved the much needed attention. Some time had passed since then and Synapse announced the release of the film on UHD. This was the perfect time to revisit this one. I want to thank Synapse for sending this one over!
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows American Jennifer who is sent to a Swiss boarding school. Jennifer suffers from long bouts of sleepwalking. When she first arrives she found herself away from the school and befriends forensic entomologist John McGregor. After a few sleepwalking episodes she discovers that she has a special power and can control insects. At this time there is a murderer killing people nearby and students suspect she is the cause.
She leaves journal entries of her new powers and a snoopy roommate finds it and shares it with the headmistress and other students. They taunt her which forces her to demonstrate her new abilities. The headmistress tries to have her committed to a mental ward but she flees and soon finds herself in the hands of the butcher. She must use her powers to flee the home of the killer or find herself among the others dead.**Spoiler Alert**
Argento’s style is unmatched in the world of horror. His films are often gruesome but there is a beauty that you just can’t find in many other films. His giallos are beautiful with each and every scene carefully thought out and executed. Phenomena was not a giallo. Instead, it was an Americanized Italian horror flick that I absolutely loved.
The acting in this one is great. Labyrinth was one of my first obsessions. Her character is great but she does struggle to show certain emotions. Weird to see how much a year makes in growth. I also enjoyed seeing Donald Pleasance. He will always be Dr. Loomis or the president trapped in New York to me but he still delivered one hell of a performance.
The story for this one is not the typical giallo that we expect from Argento. Instead, the movie flows like a traditional horror film that we see here in the states. The killer is a mystery like most Argento films but you can clearly tell there was many hands on this project outside of Argento’s. What we get is a more linear story that follows an extraordinary girl who is put in peril. The story has great flow and the scenes hold the viewer’s attention very well. Sadly, the trademark beauty seen in most Argento’s films is absent in this one.
Finally, the film has several on screen deaths. Some are great while a few are laugh worthy. One is a nod to The Omen that was not that effective. The effects are solid for what they are but the kills are not that gruesome. Overall, Phenomena is no Suspiria but it is easily one of my favorite Argento flicks. The story is fantastic and different than what we are accustomed to. Check this one out if you haven’t!
Special Features:
4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray™ presentations in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
4K restorations of all three versions of Phenomena, including the original Italian version (116 mins.), the International cut (110 mins.), and the U.S. Creepers cut (83 mins.)
Lossless English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 stereo soundtracks on the international version, derived from the original 4-channel Dolby Stereo elements
Rare alternate DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo mix on the international version, featuring different sound effects and music cues
Lossless Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 stereo soundtracks, derived from the original 4-channel Dolby Stereo elements
Lossless English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 mono and 2.0 ‘stereo music version’ soundtrack on Creepers, mastered from the original 3 track DME magnetic mix
Lossless “hybrid” English/Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
English subtitles for the Italian soundtrack
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the hybrid soundtrack
Original Italian and international theatrical trailers
U.S. theatrical trailer and radio spots for Creepers
Audio commentary by Troy Howarth, author of Murder by Design: The Unsane Cinema of Dario Argento (on Italian Version)
Audio commentary on the international version by Argento scholar and author Derek Botelho and film historian, journalist and radio/television commentator David Del Valle
Of Flies and Maggots, a feature-length 2017 documentary produced by Arrow Films, including interviews with co-writer/producer/director Dario Argento, actors Fiore Argento, Davide Marotta, Daria Nicolodi and others
The Three Sarcophagi, a visual essay by Arrow Films producer Michael Mackenzie comparing the different cuts of Phenomena
“Jennifer” music video, directed by Dario Argento
Slipcover/o-card with beautiful artwork from artist Nick Charge
Reversible cover with original Italian Phenomena artwork
