Phenomena(1985).Jennifer Corvino, the daughter of a famous actor, has had trouble with sleepwalking for some time. Her doctor said that it can develop a split personality. She discovers her alternate personality when she stays at a boarding school that was once the home a Richard Wagner. But someone has been killing the students, and it relates only indirectly to the criminal sanitorium nearby. So it's up to "the two greatest detectives the world has ever known, or should I say, unknown" Written byScott Hutchins <scottandrewh@home.com>... Synopsis Phenomena(1985)
Movie Title: Phenomena(1985)
Run Time: 110 min
Rating: 6.8 / 10
Genres: Horror |Mystery
Release Date: 2 August 1985 (USA)
Director: Dario Argento
Writer: Dario Argento ,Dario Argento , ... and other credits
Actor: Jennifer Connelly,Donald Pleasence,Daria Nicolodi
Opinions on Phenomena are divided amongst Argento fans. It's not quite a love it or hate it film, but rather a like it or dislike it one. There's enough of Argento here to ensure that his fans will enjoy it, but it also marks a change of pace for him. While his previous films focused mainly on the mystery in the plot, the focus this time is clearly on the action; and the heavy metal soundtrack shows that Argento wanted to make this more of a thriller than a Giallo, and I think he's succeeded admirably. Argento has said that this movie came about after the great director heard about insects' supposed telepathy, and the fact that the film has stemmed from this sort of idea shows by the way that the plot pans out. First of all, we are bombarded with the idea of insect telepathy, and when we get round to the murders and murderer, it almost feels like something from another film. However, while the plot is messy; it does give Argento lots of room for horror, which he capitalises on at every opportunity. We follow Jennifer Corvino, an actor's daughter who attends a school in Switzerland, which is also having problems with a local murderer. She's not quite like the other girls, however, as she has a strange connection with the insect population...
Dario Argento has piled many ideas into this plot, and it's clear that it's not very well thought out as he seems to drop another idea in every time he feels like the plot needs spicing up a little bit. This is a problem for the movie, as it feels underdone and very messy; but on the other hand, this is also the movie's finest asset as it ensures that the film is always unpredictable and therefore constantly thrilling. The heavy metal music that accompanies the death scenes seems odd in this movie, as we're used to very pungent music scores in Argento films. It does suit the film's mood, however, and it helps give the film that trashy eighties horror movie feel, which is much loved by eighties horror fans like me. The cast is a good one and it features Argento regular, Daria Nicolodi along with established horror actor Donald Pleasance and a very young Jenifer Connelly. None of the cast massively impress, but they come together well as an ensemble and the acting is of a quality that is high enough to carry this sort of film. On the whole, this isn't Argento's best work. It's messy and convoluted, but it's also fun to watch, thrilling and very inventive.
