ARGENTO'S PHENOMENAL FILM

One of Dario Argento's lesser-recognized films, PHENOMENA, is getting the V.I.P. treatment from Synapse Films. Releasing as a two-disc, 4K UHD edition, it stars a pretty 15-year-old Jennifer Connelly (in her first leading role), Donald Pleasance and Argento's one-time partner, Daria Nicolodi.

PHENOMENA (TWO-DISC 4K UHD EDITION REVIEW)

March 2, 2023 | CrypticRock.com

Dario Argento is a legend in the world of Horror cinema. A director who influenced the Horror genre in an extraordinary way during the ’70s and ’80s, his filmography is full of compelling titles. Of course, there is a most celebrated film, 1977’s Suspiria, but astute fans are well aware there is plenty more within the archives of Argento. To name a few, you have early classics such as 1971’s Four Flies on Grey Velvet, 1975’s Deep Red, 1980’s Inferno, and 1982’s Tenebrae. Then, a little later into the ’80s decade, Argento put out the less recognized Phenomena.

Originally released in Italy back in 1985, Phenomena featured a memorable cast headlined by American Actress Jennifer Connelly (Labyrinth 1986, A Beautiful Mind 2001), beloved English Actor Donald Pleasence (Halloween 1978, Halloween II 1981), but also former Argento partner, the late, great Daria Nicolodi (Deep Red, Suspiria). Together they united in a film that utilized the unmistakable, artistic filming style of Argento, matched along with a killer soundtrack that featured sounds from regular contributor Goblin, but tracks like Iron Maiden’s “Flash of the Blade.” In the end, the film was panned by critics… but is still appreciated by fans. 

In the North American market some may have seen the film renamed as Creepers; released under this name after being purchased for distribution in the United States by New Line Cinema, but also edited down over 20 minutes from the original cut. That said, since the dawn of home video, the film was first released on Beta as Creepers in ’86, but then made available on DVD as Phenomena in the early 2000s, and Blu-ray in as well. In truth, there are quite a few releases of Phenomena floating around the DVD/Blu-Ray market. Adding to it all, Phenomena made its way to 4K thanks to Arrow Video February of 2022. A limited edition set, you can probably pick up a copy on eBay, but by and large, it is pretty hard to find at this point, plus rather pricey. However, if you are interested in acquiring Phenomena in 4K, now is your chance, because Synapse Films brings it to format on March 14, 2023. 

Some are probably thinking – wait, so there are now two 4K editions of Phenomena out there from two separate distributors… which one do I buy? Well, that is really up to the individual, but based on looking at all the specs, the transfers are pretty much identical. Yes, the Arrow Video release packaging is more compelling, and it features some nice photographs, but comparing apples to apples, there is not all too much of a difference here. So, unless you are really itching for the limited Arrow Films edition, you are no less of an Argento lover if you pick up the currently more accessible forthcoming Synapse Films release in its place.

This dilemma resolved, let us dig right into what the Synapse Films edition offers. You either have the standard Two-Disc 4K UHD Edition of Phenomena, or the 6000-piece limited edition boxed set with poster, lobby carts, and linear notes. These extra in mind, when you pop open the case you get two 4K UHD discs – disc one the original 116-minute Italian version of Phenomena; disc two the edited, international version, plus the US version under the title Creepers. Nice to see they are separated into two separate discs; all three versions of the film are transferred into 4K and look quite lovely. In fact, you would receive no argument that these are the best transfer of Phenomena on any format to date. 

Which leads us to the bonus material on each disc. For disc one you get a list of interviews with cast as well as crew. For disc two you get audio commentaries associated with the international version, as well as a visual essay from Arrow Films Producer Michael Mackenzie comparing the different cuts of Phenomena. Both fitting bonuses, all in all, it completes the set nicely. In the end, the 4K release of Phenomena is a win in terms of transfer quality and combining all the versions of the film into one nice, neat package. That is why Cryptic Rock gives each edition, including the standard Two-Disc 4K UHD Edition of Phenomena from Synapse Films, 4 out of 5 stars. 

From Synapse Films:

Phenomena [Two-Disc 4K UHD Standard Edition]

Director: Dario Argento

Starring: Jennifer Connelly, Donald Pleasence, Daria Nicolodi, Patrick Bauchau, Dalila Di Lazzaro

Runtime: 116/110/83 minutes

Release Date: March 14, 2023

Language: English & Italian DTS-HD MA 5.1/2.0/1.0

Aspect Ratio: 4K (2160p) Ultra High Definition (1.66:1) Presentations

Formats: 4K UHD Discs only (No 1080p Blu-rays or DVDs included in package)

Region: All Region

From Italian master of the macabre Dario Argento (Suspiria, Tenebrae), comes Phenomena – one of his most beautifully designed horror films – now remastered in 4K Ultra HD and Dolby Vision in a two-disc set!

The young Jennifer Corvino, played by Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Connelly (Labyrinth, Top Gun: Maverick), is sent to a private Swiss academy for girls where a vicious killer is on the loose. Jennifer has the unique ability to telepathically communicate with insects and an entomologist, Dr. John McGregor (Donald Pleasence, Halloween, Escape from New York), enlists her help in locating the murderer. As the mystery unfolds, they find themselves in a bizarre murder plot with maggots, telepathic insects and a razor-wielding chimpanzee! Can Jennifer uncover the killer’s identity before becoming a victim herself?

Phenomena features a fantastic soundtrack from progressive-rock gods Goblin, British heavy metal masters Motörhead, Iron Maiden, Andi Sex Gang, Bill Wyman and Simon Boswell. Dalila Di Lazarro (Andy Warhol’s Frankenstein), Daria Nicolodi (Tenebrae), Patrick Bauchau (Clear and Present Danger) and Fiore Argento (Demons) also star in this truly unique, gory and unsettling thriller.

Special Features:

• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray™ presentations in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• 4K restorations of all three versions of Phenomena, including the original Italian version (116 mins.), the International cut (110 mins.), and the U.S. Creepers cut (83 mins.)
• Lossless English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 stereo soundtracks on the international version, derived from the original 4-channel Dolby Stereo elements
• Rare alternate DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo mix on the international version, featuring different sound effects and music cues
• Lossless Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 stereo soundtracks, derived from the original 4-channel Dolby Stereo elements
• Lossless English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 mono and 2.0 'stereo music version' soundtrack on Creepers, mastered from the original 3 track DME magnetic mix
• Lossless “hybrid” English/Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• English subtitles for the Italian soundtrack
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the hybrid soundtrack
• Original Italian and international theatrical trailers
• U.S. theatrical trailer and radio spots for Creepers
• Audio commentary by Troy Howarth, author of Murder by Design: The Unsane Cinema of Dario Argento (on Italian Version)
• Audio commentary on the international version by Argento scholar and author Derek Botelho and film historian, journalist and radio/television commentator David Del Valle
• Of Flies and Maggots, a feature-length 2017 documentary produced by Arrow Films, including interviews with co-writer/producer/director Dario Argento, actors Fiore Argento, Davide Marotta, Daria Nicolodi and others
• The Three Sarcophagi, a visual essay by Arrow Films producer Michael Mackenzie comparing the different cuts of Phenomena
• “Jennifer” music video, directed by Dario Argento
• Slipcover/o-card with beautiful artwork from artist Nick Charge
• Reversible cover with original Italian Phenomena artwork

And here's news of a rare Argento sequel in the works:

Dario Argento Horror Classic to Get Sequel After Nearly 40 Years

By Brennan Klein | October 16, 2022 | ScreenRant.com

The Italian company Titanus is ramping up their film department once more, starting with a modern, U.S.-set sequel to Dario Argento's Phenomena.

A sequel to the Dario Argento classic Phenomena is now in development, nearly 40 years after the film's original release. Argento is an Italian director renowned for his classic horror films of the 1970s and 1980s, which are best known for their lurid color and graphic violence. Although he began his career as a writer, having provided the story for Once Upon a Time in the West, he burst onto the scene as a director with the giallo film The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, which he followed with several more animal-themed gialli before starting to lean in a more supernatural direction in films like his 1977 hit Suspiria.

His run of supernatural horrors continued through the 1980s and included Phenomena, which was released in Italy on January 31, 1985. The film featured future Labyrinth star Jennifer Connelly as Jennifer Corvino, a young woman who is the daughter of a Hollywood star and has been sent to a remote boarding school in Switzerland. When she witnesses a murder, she realizes that she has a telepathic link with the killer. This kicks off an adventure that includes Iron Maiden music, a chimpanzee named Inga, and Jennifer telepathically summoning swarms of bugs. In addition to Connelly, the cast includes frequent Argento collaborator Daria Nicolodi and Donald Pleasence, who is best known to horror fans as Dr. Loomis in the Halloween franchise.

Per Variety, the Italian production company Titanus - which was created in 1904 and was involved in works by legendary directors including Luchino Visconti and Federico Fellini - is making a big step back into film production after many years at lowered capacity. They will begin with a film loosely based on Phenomena, though they claim it will be a sequel rather than a reboot. The film will be set in the United States and produced with the U.S. company The Exchange. They are currently on the hunt for a U.S. director to helm the project, which they will cast with both American and international performers.

It is entirely uncommon for Argento's films to be rebooted or followed up in any way. Other than Luca Guadagnino's 2018 Suspiria remake and Argento's own loose Three Mothers trilogy (which comprises 1977's Suspiria, 1980's Inferno, and 2007's Mother of Tears), there is not much franchising in the horror master's history. Because of this, there isn't much precedent for what this Phenomena sequel could look like.

Most Argento fans would hope that whatever U.S. director Titanus lands is able to capture the lush visuals that made the director such an international sensation. Phenomena's U.S. setting will make it much more familiar to global audiences who have been exposed to Hollywood films, so they will have to work hard to capture a more surreal tone. The final touch will be casting. While it is more likely that they are creating an in-name-only sequel, they are also likely going to approach Connelly to reprise her role in some capacity, which would certainly please fans of the original if they can manage to get her.