Great Collection of Modern Italian Gialli From Dario Argento
I've always loved a good mystery. Last year I became a diehard fan of Italian gialli. They usually involve an unknown assailant, dressed in black, who is killing his/her victims in uniquely gruesome manners while accompanied by a great soundtrack. Dario Argento revolutionized the giallo with his highly successful directorial debut, "The Bird with the Crystal Plumage." What followed was the Italian giallo craze where every popular film director such as Lucio Fulci, Umberto Lenzi, and Emilio P. Miraglia imitated Argento's work. Many of them went so far as to give their gialli animal titles such as "A Lizard in a Woman's Skin" and "The Bloodstained Butterfly."
In the mid to late seventies, Argento directed supernatural horror such as his masterpiece, "Suspiria." eventually, Argento returned to his giallo roots. (Praise the Lord!) What follows is a compilation of his more recent gialli. I will review them in the order of which they were released.
Tenebre...
Solid collection, thanks to Phenomena and Tenebre
These are not, by any means, the five essential Argento films; of them, the only ones that may make a top five list are Tenebre and Phenomena. However, all five are given first class treatment in terms of presentation, and Tenebre and Phenomena are both the special edition discs released individually at the same time as this collection. The features are acceptable, but the films speak for themselves: Argento is one of the essential progenitors of modern horror, speaking with a unique style and voice. His work is pulp, yes, but it's elegant pulp, placing him in league with Carpenter, Romero, and Craven. They're genre films, but they're good ones.
Special note: Phenomena is far and away the best of these five. It is notable as an Argento classic, as an early Jennifer Connelly film, as a non-Halloween Donald Pleasence picture, and as one of the most delightfully (and most twisted) unpredictable thrillers I've ever seen. It's a slasher flick, a supernatural fantasy, and...
Must have for Argento Fans!!
This is a great 5 dvd collection of Dario Argento's films. It comes in a very nice slim tin holder. This could be a primer for new Argento fans. If you love Italian cinema Argento films are a must!! Tenebre and Phenomena are the headliners here. Tenebre was unavailable on dvd for quite a few years and demanded top dollar on eBay ( I paid $35.00). Tenebre and Phenomena are my favorite films in this collection and Tenebre is my favorite Argento film next to Suspiria. Trauma is decent and boasts some great performances. The Card Player is tense and well-made. Do You Like Hitchcock? is very good considering it was made for Italian TV. All have been remastered and cool extras. Oh and I have to mention Argento has a penchant for having some of the best soundtrack music too!! Pick this set up you will not be disappointed. Then pick up all of his other films too!!!
Can't wait for his newer one to hit dvd, Mother Of Tears! I get to see it in the theatres late June : )
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