Review of Phenomena (1985) by Jason G — 10 Jan 2011

PHENOMENA is a cinematic example of why I continue to have faith in Dario Argento. Admittedly, his last handful of films have teetered more towards style, over substance... but all it takes is throwing on one of his classics and you're suddenly reminded why he (still) has the following that he has.

PHENOMENA is one of those films.

That isn't to say that PHENOMENA lacks style. There's plenty of style to spare... it's just that the film also has the equal parts, substance that's so necessary to a successful Argento project.

PHENOMENA has a bit of an unfortunate history. Argento shot miles and miles of film and much of it ended up on the editing floor. The result was a number of different versions shipped out to various countries all over the world. I can tell you that I've seen the so-called "INTEGRAL EDITION" of the film which clocks in at 110min. It's the most common version available these days and it's a huge improvement over the butchered, 82min version released to the viewing public back in 1984, under the name: CREEPERS.

You should make every effort to watch the 110min "PHENOMENA - INTEGRAL EDITION" version... you're really are missing out with the 82min "CREEPERS"... and I have to say, a film with as many twisted, crazy, (almost) ridiculous ideas in it really, really suffers hen cut down from 110min to 82min.

Apparently, the most "complete" version of the film is available in Germany and Japan only... and clocks in at a whopping 116min. I have never seen it and often wonder why these old films can't just be released in their entirety, as the director originally intended. 6 additional minutes of unseen footage might not sound like a big deal.... but if you think that, you don't know Dario Argento.

6 minutes is a lifetime in Argento's world.

PHENOMENA stars a young, Jennifer Connelly in one of her first films ever, along with one of my favourite, underused actors, Donald Pleasance. Connelly plays a young girl in an exclusive Swiss boarding school that is under seige from a maniacal serial killer. Connelly turns out to have some very special powers that enable her to control insects telepathically, which is an ability she happens to discover through an encounter with a forensics investigator (Pleasance) who is helping to investigate the murders at the school.

If this all sounds a bit far-fetched, well.. add to it - - incredibly graphic violence... truckloads of maggot-infested severed limbs... decomposing corpses... a hideously disfigured killer... death by flesh-eating insects... and a straight-razor weilding maniacal monkey. All of this shot in the gorgeous, inimitable style of Argento against the beautifuly framed majesty of the Swiss Alps!

Finally... you get a blisteringly effective soundtrack by Argento mainstays, GOBLIN thrown in the mix. Every GOBLIN soundtrack in any film they've ever done is absolutely perfect in every way. PHENOMENA is no exception.

Look... when you think about it... it shouldn't work. It sounds like a complete and total mess, but I assure you.... if you are a fan of obscure, early to late 80's Horror, PHENOMENA is a great film for you. It's equal parts substance AND style and a great big gory slab of fun to watch if you're looking for an excellent, high-concept horror flick.