StageFright Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		3.5

StageFright Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov September 27, 2014

Michele Soavi's "StageFright" a.k.a. "Deliria" (1987) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of independent distributors Blue Underground. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; stills and posters; video interviews with the Italian director, actor David Brandon, actor Giovanni Lombardo Radice, make-up artist Pietro Tenoglio, and composer Simon Boswell. In English, with optional English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free."

What are we going to do now?

A group of young actors are rehearsing a play about a killer in a small theater. Because they are running out of time and some of the key pieces are yet to please the director, everyone is under a lot of pressure.

Around the same time a psychopathic killer escapes from a medical facility and ends up in the theater. After he locks the back door, he quietly begins killing the clueless actors. By the time one of them realizes that the blood all over the theater is real, it is already too late.

Michele Soavi’s directorial debut, StageFright, is a very atmospheric but fairly predictable film which borrows heavily from the visual style the great Dario Argento established during the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. This is hardly surprising, however, as prior to StageFright Soavi worked as an assistant director on Argento’s Tenebrae and Phenomena.

Virtually the entire film takes place inside the theater -- it was shot in a small theater called Vides in the Prima Porta neighborhood of Rome -- where the actors, the director and the producer of the play are doing whatever they can to stay alive. The majority of the action is seen through the eyes of the young and ambitious Alicia (a very beautiful Barbara Cupisti, Dellamorte Dellamore, The Key), but occasionally the victims are also observed as the killer supposedly sees them. When the switch occurs, the camera becomes quite nervous and one can even hear some heavy breathing.

What gives the film its character is the unique lighting. Much like in Argento’s best films, in StageFright there is plenty of filtered light that creates a very tense atmosphere and makes the killings look far more sinister than they really are. Because of the cliched dialog and uneven editing the film still has a very distinctive kitschy vibe, but it does not look or feel amateurish.

The music that is heard throughout the film is fantastic. The soundtrack was created by British composer Simon Boswell, who prior to StageFright had collaborated with Lamberto Bava on Demons 2. It is a mix of soft jazz and early synth-pop and the end result reminds of the lush psychedelic soundtracks the likes of Piero Piccioni and Riz Ortolani created for various Italian genre films. (After StageFright, Boswell continued experimenting with electronica and created some truly spectacular soundtracks. One of his best is used in Richard Stanley’s cult film Hardware).

Cupisti looks a bit shaky in a couple of sequences, but her performance fits the style of the film. David Brandon is very good. The rest of the supporting cast, however, is easily forgettable.

StageFright was produced by the late Joe D'Amato (Porno Holocaust, Hard Sensation), who effectively launched Soavi’s career as a director, and Donatella Donati.

In the United States, StageFright has always been the original title for the film, but elsewhere distributors have used a couple of alternative titles to market it, such as Deliria (early title used in a couple of Eastern European countries), StageFright: Aquarius (international title), Bloody Bird (France), and Sound Stage Massacre (alternative home video title).

StageFright Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, StageFright arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Blue Underground.

The technical characteristics of the high-definition transfer are good. Despite the fact that light is frequently restricted inside the theater where virtually the entire film takes place, clarity is very good. Image depth is also pleasing, though there are areas where some minor fluctuations exist. Needless to say, however, they are inherited. Colors are stable and unmanipulated. There are no traces of compromising degraining or sharpening adjustments. However, the encoding could have been better -- there are parts of the film where the grain could have been better exposed and resolved. Still, the film has a good and stable organic appearance that should satisfy its fans. Finally, there are no large scratches, cuts, debris, or damage marks to report in this review. (Note: This is Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location).

StageFright Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. For the record, Blue Underground have provided optional yellow English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles for he main feature.

I viewed the film with the 2.0 track and later on did some random comparisons with the 5.1 track. The film has an absolutely spectacular soundtrack that is largely responsible for its terrific atmosphere. On the 2.0 track the music sounds lush and clean. It is also wonderfully balanced with the dialog. However, keep in mind that there are many sequences with sudden spikes in dynamic movement (all intended). The dialog is stable, sharp, and free of hiss and pops. The 5.1 track opens up the film slightly better -- mostly by enhancing some important effects -- but in my opinion the film's overall sound design is better supported by the 2.0 track. Still, you should experiment with both and see which track you prefer.

StageFright Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - original trailer for StageFright. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

• Poster & Still Gallery - an excellent collection of archival posters and stills from StageFright. (1080p).

• Theatre Of Delirium - Interview with Director Michele Soavi - in this video interview, Michele Soavi recalls the early days of his career (Mr. Soavi was encouraged to begin shooting his own films by the legendary Joe D'Amato), and discusses StageFright and its unique lighting, his work with Dario Argento, writer George Eastman's contribution to the film, etc. In Italian, with imposed English subtitles. (19 min, 480/60i).

• Head Of The Company - Interview with Star David Brandon - in this video interview, actor David Brandon discusses his contribution to StageFright (with some interesting comments about the chainsaw sequence), Michele Soavi's directing style, his work with Umberto Lenzi, etc. In English, not subtitled. (12 min, 1080p).

• Blood On The Stage Floor - Interview with Star Giovanni Lombardo Radice - in this video interview, actor Giovanni Lombardo Radice (Brett) recalls his initial encounter and friendship with Michele Soavi, his contribution to StageFright (Mr. Radice apparently assisted with the film's script), the visual style of the film, etc. In French, with imposed English subtitles. (14 min, 480/60i).

• The Owl Murders - Interview with Make-up Effects Artist Pietro Tenoglio - in this video interview, make-up artist Pietro Tenoglio discusses his professional relationship with Joe D'Amato, who produced StageFright, his work with Michele Soavi on StageFright (the one and only film the two did together), the lighting and special effects seen in the film, etc. In Italian, with imposed English subtitles. (12 min, 1080p).

• The Sound Of Aquarius - Interview with Composer Simon Boswell - in this video interview, Simon Boswell recalls his first encounter with Dario Argento who launched his career as a film composer, as well as the scoring of StageFright. (The soundtrack for the film was created in London). In English, not subtitled. (19 min, 1080p).

StageFright Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Michele Soavi's StageFright isn't a film I particularly enjoy, but it is scored by Simon Boswell, whose work is quite simply extraordinary. Needless to say, I had to revisit it on Blu-ray. I am happy to report now that in addition to looking good, the film sounds absolutely fantastic. You will also find on the Blu-ray an excellent selection of supplemental features, including a fantastic interview with the British composer. RECOMMENDED.