Review of Phenomena (1985) by Stephanie F — 14 Sep 2006

I finally found Creepers and Tenebre (Unsane). Two of Dario Argento's more graphic horror films. Creepers stars Jennifer Connelly (Dark Water and A Beautiful Mind), Donald Pleasance (Halloween), and Daria Nicoldi (Asia Argento's mother as well as a frequent in Argento's films).

The movie is about a young woman (Connelly) who can communicate with insects who is sent to a girls' school that is being attacked by a psychotic killer. On the first night she sleep walks and ends up witnessing the killer in action. After a rough episode of sleep walking she ends up at the home of a paralyzed anthropologist (Pleasance) who finds out about the girl's gift and encourages her to use it to help investigate the murders especially when a woman who was helping him was murdered by the same killer. She uses the insects he collects as well as some outside help. Eventually she finds the killers as well as the bodies of the many victims the two killed.

I loved this movie because it was very terrifying. Especially the climax. Pleasance did a really good job playing the sympathetic anthropologist who helps Connelly's character. Connelly was wonderful as her character of Jennifer. It was different from his character of Dr. Loomis in the Halloween series. The atmosphere of the movie was creepy.