7.4 | / 10 |
Users | 5.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
A young girl at a boarding school has telepathic power to control insects. Can her unusual capability help solve a string of murders?
Starring: Jennifer Connelly, Daria Nicolodi, Fiore Argento, Federica Mastroianni, Fiorenza TessariHorror | 100% |
Foreign | 51% |
Mystery | 21% |
Psychological thriller | 11% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.67:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.66:1
Italian: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Italian: LPCM 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: LPCM 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: LPCM Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English, English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 0.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
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.
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.
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" 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.
Limited Edition to 3,000
1985
Black Label Exclusive #2 / Quiltface
1985
Black Label Exclusive #2 / Dark Inker
1985
1985
Standard Edition
1985
Standard Edition
1982
Profondo rosso | Special Edition
1975
L'uccello dalle piume di cristallo | Remastered
1970
1980
Il gatto a nove code | Remastered
1971
1977
Sei donne per l'assassino
1964
Le foto di Gioia / Slipcover in Original Pressing
1987
Reazione a catena
1971
Standard Edition
1987
Cosa avete fatto a Solange?
1972
Mil gritos tiene la noche | Remastered | Limited Edition Puzzle to 3000
1982
Special Edition | La morte cammina con i tacchi alti
1971
Special Edition | La morte accarezza a mezzanotte
1972
Quella villa accanto al cimitero
1981
2018
I corpi presentano tracce di violenza carnale / Carnal Violence
1973
The Next Victim / Lo strano vizio della signora Wardh
1971
Un gatto nel cervello | Glow in the Dark Cover & Mini Portrait of Lucio Fulci Limited Edition to 3000
1990
Non ho sonno | Standard Edition
2001