Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		0.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Phenomena 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 23, 2022

Few filmmakers have enjoyed a creative streak like Dario Argento, who found his footing with 1975’s “Deep Red” and tore through a series of murder mysteries, supernatural horror, and surreal freak-outs for the next 12 years, creating movies with incredible visual power and genre authority. 1985’s “Phenomena” arrives just before Argento lost his way, acting a potent reminder of his talents during his heyday, merging growing Americanization with his Italian filmmaking instincts, coming up with a completely bizarre but terrifically nutso chiller that somehow incorporates insect friendship, heavy metal, family woes, and a knife-wielding chimpanzee without falling apart. It’s the Argento way, and he scores with this intensely atmospheric and brazenly bananas serial killer story.

Jennifer (Jennifer Connelly) is an American teenager sent to live at the Richard Wagner School for Girls in Switzerland while her famous father is away at work, ignoring his daughter’s concerns. Jennifer is stuck in a strange place with a mean staff and students, and she struggles with sleepwalking issues sending her out of her room, where she witnesses the murder of a local girl. The victim is one of many, with Professor McGregor (Donald Pleasence), a respected entomologist, helping the police figure out what’s going on, aided by his caretaker chimpanzee, Inga. During one of her evening events, Jennifer finds her way to McGregor, who notices something unique about the young woman, who has a special relationship with insects. Utilizing this power, McGregor sends Jennifer off to discover the identity of the killer, exposing the teen to horrors she’s not prepared to fight.

Argento sets the tone of “Phenomena” with an introductory murder sequence, following a teenage girl as she navigates the open world, making her way to a seemingly abandoned house, where she’s promptly stalked and killed in a most gruesome fashion. She loses her head, and her body is taken, putting the police on edge as they recognize the severity of the crime, which is joined by a few more during the run time. Jennifer eventually joins the story, trying to make the best of a disappointing situation, removed from family and friends, though she has a special relationship with insects, which floors McGregor. That “Phenomena” actually pursues this revelation is part of the picture’s charm, with Jennifer weaponizing her command over bugs to deal with bullies and evil, and she literally partners with a special fly at McGregor’s request, with the pair searching for the house featured in the opening scene.

It's all so ridiculous, but Argento miraculously doesn’t break the mood, committing to wilder ideas with his usual style and dark earnestness, creating a fantasy that sometime gets procedural and unreal, including visits to the dreamscapes Jennifer occasionally resides in. She’s not exactly working in a nice area of the country, which is dubbed “The Swiss Transylvania,” keeping Argento busy cooking up murder sequences, adding some heavy metal to the mix, powering the endeavor with cuts from Iron Maiden and Motorhead. “Phenomena” doesn’t feature a riveting tale of death and discovery, but the filmmaking prowess is undeniable, with Argento fixated on the strangest ideas, including Inga, a protective chimpanzee with a fully realized appetite for revenge. Credit must be paid to Pleasance, who has to act opposite the creature, remaining committed to drama while his co-star gnaws on his wheelchair.

Three versions of “Phenomena” are included in this set: the “Italian Version” (115:54), the “International Cut” (110:03), and the “Creepers” cut (83:05).

Phenomena 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are collected from the Blu-ray release of "Phenomena."

Synapse Films originally released "Phenomena" on Blu-ray in 2016, and they return to the title in 2022 with a 4K Dolby Vision presentation. The viewing event is wonderful, offering superb skin surfaces, examining displays of age and makeup design. Textures are found everywhere, including costuming and animal antics. Dimension is found with deep Switzerland locations, highlighting grand mountains and large fields. Interiors retain ideal clarity, exploring school decoration and grislier imagery. "Phenomena" makes wonderful use of color, and the UHD experience secures such cinematographic nuance, with moody hues and more stylized shots with hotter reds and deeper blues. Greenery is stunning. Skintones are natural. Blacks are precise, maintaining evening pursuits and shadow play. Highlights are tasteful, with bright skies and comfortable light sources. Grain is nicely resolved, fine and film-like. Source is in excellent condition.

Phenomena 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For the "Italian Version," a 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix is one of three selections available for the cut, and the only English language offering, with a few moments switching to "hybrid" Italian with English subtitles. Synapse Films appears to do the best they can with the feature and its multiple sources, offering clear dialogue exchanges, managing performances provided on-set and through dubbing. Some mild sibilance is encountered during the listening experience. Scoring cues sound fresh and full, with crisp instrumentation, and soundtrack selections bring some heavy metal volume and low- end beat. Atmospherics are active, offering a circular presence with insect movement and changes in weather.

Phenomena 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet contains essays by Mikel J. Koven, Rachael Nisbet, and Leonard Jacobs. Information about the cast and crew and the 4K restoration is also included.

Disc 1

• Commentary features film historian Troy Howarth.

• "Of Flies and Maggots" (120:13, HD) is a 2017 making-of documentary on "Phenomena," featuring interviews with director Dario Argento, screenwriter Franco Ferrini, executive producer Angelo Iacono, special optical effects artist Luigi Cozzi, cinematographer Romano Albani, special FX artist Sergio Stivaletti, makeup artist Pierantonio Mecacci, underwater camera operator Gianlorenzo Battaglia, assistant director Michele Soavi, composers Simon Boswell and Claudio Simonetti, and actors Davide Marotta, Fiore Argento, and Daria Nicolodi.

• "Jennifer" (4:11, SD) is a music video from composer Claudio Simonetti.

• Japanese Pressbook pages are collected.

• And an Italian Theatrical Trailer (2:36, HD) and an International Theatrical Trailer (2:36, HD) are included.

Disc 2

• Commentary on the "International Version" features film historian David Del Valle and author Derek Botelho.

• "The Three Sarcophagi" (31:02, HD) is a video essay by Michael MacKenzie, exploring the differences among the three versions of "Phenomena" included on this release.

• U.S. Radio Spots (1:03) offer two commercials for "Creepers."

• And a U.S. Theatrical Trailer (1:27, HD) for "Creepers" is included.

Phenomena 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Phenomena" is dreamy and supremely violent, and the tale goes into some odd directions. However, Argento is the glue that keeps it together, working to realize Jennifer's hazy world of sleepwalking and abandonment issues with sharp technical achievements. He also has a capable star in Connelly (who was just 14 years old during principal photography), who sells panic and confusion well, also making the whole insect connection concept credible. As with every Argento offering, the movie is definitely screwball at times, going to some weird areas of behavior and motivation, but the helmer doesn't get lost with the material, on a mission to continue his inspection of the bizarre and menacing. "Phenomena" exudes creative confidence, or at least stylistic control, adding another exciting offering to the director's currently-messy-but-once-mighty oeuvre.