Phenomena, Dario Argento's favorite film he made....

[T.ROSS]

I have recentley watched the film Phenomena, it was a great film!! It is actually my first and only Argento film that I have ever seen. One day my little sister bought a VHS tape that she found in a flea market, it was titled Creepers, on the top of the box it said a film by Dario Argento. I had heard of his name and I know of his work, but have never seen any of his films. Well my little sister moved away and she had left the tape behind. I picked it up one day and read the back, it stars Jennifer Connelly and Donald Pleasence (from the Halloween films). It was made in 1984 too. Well I like alot of 80's horror films, and I knew enough about Argento to know that it wouldnt be some cheesy slasher film. So I had to watch it immediatley. The problem I faced was that I didnt have a VHS player, and I wasnt going to buy one just to watch it, so I searched around my city to look for a copy of it on DVD, and I had no luck there, well luckly I have a friend that owns a CD and DVD store, I had him look it up to see if he could order it and we couldnt find anything under Creepers. I looked it up on the lovely internet and found out that it had been released under another titile called Phenomena (which is the original title and I beleive is a much better name for it), So He looked up Phenomena and we found a copy, it was released by Anchor Bay.



After I got it I was very eager to see it, so as soon as I got a chance to watch it I popped it in! Now sense I have watched it let me tell you about it. Phenomena is an amazing film! One of the best films I have ever seen.  It is about a girl named Jennifer (Connelly) that has gone to Europe to go to a very fine boarding school for priveledged young girls. She soon becomes an outcast due to the unwilling of the other students and staff to understand he amazing telepathic powers she has with insects. Insects love her, she has a special type of bond with them, she can control them in a way. There is local man she meets, he is a professor (Donald Pleasence) and he studies in the fields of insects. He starts to realize Jennifer's special connection with insects, he sees the way they act around her, he notices that they are not afraid of her, he makes her realize that she is a very special person with an amazing gift. At the same time there is a psychopathic killer on the loose and he has been killing young girls and is now after Jennifer. The professor helps her harness her gift to try to stop the bloodpath of the killer.

Now thats all I want to say about the plot, I dont want to give away nothing, trust me I didnt ruin anything, this film has so much passion in it, this film is a work of art. Dario Argento is more than just a writer/director/producer, he is an artist. This movie is like a fairy tale, a dark fairy tale. The cast in this movie was great! Everyone in the movie did an amazing job. Jennifer Connelly was only 13 when she did this film. This movie shows how talented she is as an actor, especially at such a young age. Dario gave her characters name Jennifer because he wanted her to indentify her role with herself, and it really shows, its like she isnt even acting, it seems like she is just being herself, and that to me makes up a really good actress/actor. Dario's daughter Fyore Argento is also in the film at the beginning, she puts on an amazing performace as well! Donald Pleasence does an amazing job as well, he always does, he is one of my favorite actors of all time.  Phenomena was Argento's favorite film that he has ever made, even to this day Dario's belives it is he best film. He said that Phenomena is his most personal film, he says that he has the fondest memories of that movie than any of his other ones. Overall this film is EXCELLENT!!! I strongley urge EVERYONE to see this film, I love everything about it. Phenomena is a must see, do whatever you got to do to watch this film, if you have to purchase it, dont worry its a good buy! You will not be disapointed!

Write you thoughts and comments on this piece!!




-T.ROSS PRODUCTIONS

[Sheridan Passell]

I went through a phase watching almost all the Argentos, and really enjoyed it. Phenomena is one of the better ones. The best are Suspiria and Tenebrae. His very recent stuff is frustratingly poor (I never quite understand how directors get worse with time, but they pretty much all seem to).

Anyone looking for logic shouldn't watch Argento's stuff, they are nightmares that just about make enough sense narratively to hang together.

I love the whodunit mystery element you find in a lot of his movies too, some of the twists are really clever.

[T.ROSS]

Yeah I am really siked to see some more of his films, I saw a trailer for Suspria and Tenebrae, they look good!

So which one is your favorite on out of all of them? Which one should I watch first?

[Sheridan Passell]

They're quite different so much as subject matter goes, Tenebrae is about a celebrated author who get caught up with a serial killer, while Suspiria is about a teenage girl and witchcraft. Either could be watched first.

They both have the visual creativity, style and good old fashioned suspense sequences that are so sadly lacking in modern horror.

If you enjoy those two, I would recommend this pair:

Opera (1987)
Sleepless (Europe: English title) (2001)

If you're looking for more after that, then see:

The Stendhal Syndrome
Trauma (1993)

The rest are either crappy or have aged badly.

[T.ROSS]

Is Suspria and Tenebrae in English, voice overed or subtitled?

what about the others if you dont mind me asking?

[Sheridan Passell]

All of those are in English. As far as I can remember. No language barrier.

[Tyler Lovemark]

I actually just saw Suspiria for the first time last week.  I knew it was supposed to be quite a trip, but I was definitely not expecting anything quite like that.  It was so different from any other horror movie I've seen.  The bright colors and exaggerated movements made everything seem almost ethereal.  The music was also really great.

[T.ROSS]

Tyler have you seen Phenomena?

[Tyler Lovemark]

Nope.  My only Argento film under my belt is Suspiria.

[T.ROSS]

Yeah I am in the same boat as you, I've only seen one too, but I am now eager to see more!!  I talked to my friend tonight and he has Suspria, he is going to let me borrow it and I am going to let him borrow Phenomena.

Did you watch the trailer that I posted above?

-T.ROSS PRODUCTIONS

[Christian Sellers]

Being a fan of Argento's, I find Phenomena vastly under-rated.  Sure, it's not perfect, but I actually enjoy it more than Tenebrae!

The films of Argento's that everyone should see are -

The Bird With the Crystal Plumage
Four Flies on Grey Velvet (currently unavailable though bootlegs float around on eBay)
Suspiria
Opera

[T.ROSS]

Yeah Oprea looks good, I just ordered that today from my friends CD/DVD store and they just called me to tell me it was in, so I am excited about that!

-T.ROSS PRODUCTIONS

[Sheridan Passell]

Make sure you don't get his 'Opera' mixed up with his 'Phantom Of The Opera'. The latter is pretty crap.

[T.ROSS]

Yeah I looked into that before I bought it, have you seen Argento's Opera???

The trailer looked good!

-T.ROSS PRODUCTIONS

[Sheridan Passell]

Opera was perhaps the oddest viewing experience I've ever had. While I was watching it on my laptop, I fell asleep and dreamt I was in the finale of the movie I hadn't seen yet - which was absolutely terrifying.

This had a lot to do with the aforementioned dream-like vibe his films have.

[dalmatianjaws]

Usually once a year they play one of this guy's flicks at the Hollywood cemetary screenings ... but I've never made it. I really need to make an effort.

[T.ROSS]

Yeah I just watched Opera last night, it was good, I liked it alot, so much different from other horror films. I really want to watch more of his movies, I really like Phenomena alot!!! It is one of my favorite films of all time!!!! I just ordered Suspira, I hope its a good one!!!





-T.ROSS PRODUCTIONS

[Christian Sellers]

So how was Suspiria then, did you enjoy it?  Opera's bizarre but intriguing.  I always saw the scene where the killer attaches nails to her eyelids so she is forced to watch the violence in front of her a sort of metaphor for Argento's film style - it's very in-your-face and you dare not look away!

[dalmatianjaws]

I've now got three under my belt, Suspiria, Inferno, and Phenomena. And I have to say Phenomena is far and away my favorite.

[T.ROSS]

Mr. Sellers I have not had a chance to watch Suspiria yet, but think I will 2nite. I will defently let you know what i think, have you seen Deep Red, or his Masters of Horror films, Jennifer and Pelts?

Damatianjaws I am glad you liked Phenomena, that movie is so good. Isnt the end crazy? and dont you think Jennifer Connely is a good actor at such a young age? Plus Donald Pleasence is such a great addition to the film! Thanks for getting back at me with your thoughts of the film!

-T.ROSS PRODUCTIONS