Phenomena [Blu-ray] [2 Discs]

Director: Dario Argento

Overview

Similar to the theme about the young woman with psychic powers in Stephen King's Carrie, this above-par occult horror film stars Jennifer Connelly as Jennifer Carvino, a fragile-looking waif whose unusual power to control insects comes in handy when she is psychologically brutalized in a nightmarish Swiss boarding school. Two vicious teachers and students who constantly taunt her out of jealousy (her father is a famous movie star), make Jennifer's life at school an inferno. When she calls on her insect friends for help, the school becomes victimized by swarms of nasty flies. But in the meantime, more serious evil is afoot in the mountains: some sort of monster is murdering young girls and the only one who seems even close to catching the killer is a wheelchair-bound scientist who specializes in insects (Donald Pleasance). He has the bright idea of unleashing a "sarcophagus fly" that will find decaying corpses and thereby lead Jennifer to the dead victims and it is assumed, the killer as well. Director Dario Argento's trademark dream/nightmare sequences add their own horrific content to the story, and the few plot holes here and there are offset by some mind-numbing images that are expected by any cognoscenti of this genre.

Product Details

Release Date:	09/12/2017
UPC:	0654930319697
Original Release:	1984
Rating:	NR
Source:	Synapse Films
Region Code:	A
Language:	English
Time:	3:46:00
Sales rank:	10,651

Special Features

Creepers (83 minute U.S. release version); Synapse Films is proud to present the U.S. version of Creepers, now available for the First Time Ever remastered in high definition (1080p); Audio Commentary Track on Phenomena (no version) from Argento scholar and author, Derek Botelho and film historian, journalist and radio television commentary, David Del Valle; Dario Argento's World of Horror - Documentary; A fascinating look at the early films of Director Dario Argento, including Phenomena, Suspiria, Demons, Dawn of the Dead, Inferno ; Containing candid interviews and awesome behind the scenes footage, Dario Argento's World of Horror gives us a look into the mind of Italy's Master of Horror and is an essential viewing experience for all Argento fans; Interview with Andi Sex Gang; Phenomena - International Theatrical Trailer; Creepers - U.S. Theatrical Trailer & Radio Spots

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Jennifer Connelly	Jennifer Corvino
Daria Nicolidi	Mrs. Bruckner
Donald Pleasence	John McGregor
Patrick Bauchau	Inspector Rudolf Geiger
Dalila Di Lazzaro	Headmistress
Fiore Argento	Tourist
Fausta Avelli	Schoolgirl
Marta Biuso	Schoolgirl
Sophie Bourchier	Schoolgirl
Paola Grooper	Schoolgirl
Ninke Hielkema	Schoolgirl
Mitzy Orsini	Schoolgirl
Geraldine Thomas	Schoolgirl
Michele Soavi	Kurt
Federica Mastroianni	Sophie
Mario Donatone	Morris Shapiro
Francesca Ottaviani	Nurse
Franco Trevisi	Real Estate Agent
Fiorenza Tessari	Gisela Sulzer,Actor
Daria Nicolodi	Frau Br?ckner
Alberto Cracco	UBS Bank Teller
Kaspar Capparoni	Karl, Sophie's Boyfriend
Antonio Maimone	EEG Doctor
Davide Marotta	Patua, Bruckner Child
Fulvio Mingozzi	Mr. Sulzer
Eleonora Giorgi	Actor
Tanga the Chimpanzee	Actor
Simon Boswell	Composer
Bill Wyman	Composer
Andy Sex Gang	Composer
Goblin	Composer
Iron Maiden	Composer
Mot?rhead	Composer
Claudio Simonetti	Composer

Technical Credits

Dario Argento

Franco Ferrini

Dario Argento	Producer,Screenwriter
Sergio Stivaletti	Special Effects
Angelo Iacono	Executive Producer
Franco Fraticelli	Sound Effects
Massimo Anzellotti	Sound Effects
Sergio Graziani	Sound Effects
Franco Ferrini	Screenwriter
Angelo Iacono	Producer

Editorial Reviews

Bugs, blood, and rock & roll are the orders of the day in this creepy-crawly shocker from Dario Argento. Jennifer Connelly plays a teenager with a gift for communicating with insects -- a talent that comes in handy when she is sent to a Swiss boarding school where a killer has been slaughtering the students. Definitely not for the squeamish, Phenomena contains a series of bold, bloody special effects that are graphically captured by cinematographer Romano Albini. Among the best is the opening sequence in which a girl is stabbed on the observatory deck of a waterfall. The butchery amidst the natural beauty provides a chilling visual contrast while the camera holds on to a tremendous shot of the girl shattering a glass partition. The story, written by Argento and Franco Ferrini, is basically a twist on the serial killer formula, but it is effective because of the filmmaker's great sense of style and suspense. The revelation of the killer is well done and is just one of many fantastic shocks included in a scary, extended climax that features a pit of decomposed bodies, a decapitation, a monstrous mutant-child, a deadly insect swarm, and a razor-wielding monkey. In true Argento style, many scenes are backed by a heavy metal soundtrack that includes Iron Maiden and Motorhead, among others. Connelly has certainly grown as an actress since Phenomena, but her striking looks help to carry her performance. Donald Pleasence is excellent to watch, as always, although he is murdered in rather boring fashion considering Argento's talent for creative murder scenes. The costumes were done by Giorgio Armani. Version reviewed is the full 110-minute original cut. The bloodless U.S. version is titled Creepers and runs only 82 minutes.