The 4K UHD release by Synapse is, of course, gorgeous. There’s some interesting story ideas here, particularly Jennifer’s relationship with insects and how the particular insects aid their investigation, but it just never gathers much steam. She befriends entomologist John McGregor (Pleasence), and the two try to help investigate the killings. Jennifer starts experiencing psychic phenomena - visions and the ability to control insects. Unfortunately, it’s where there have been many local murders of young women. Jennifer (Jennifer Connelly) is the daughter of a famous actor, and she’s sent to an academy for girls in Switzerland. It just takes a long, plodding time to get there, regurgitating a lot of Argento’s favorite story beats in lesser forms. The ending, though, is a pretty extraordinary exercise in insanity. Not even the great score by Claudio Simonetti plays frequently enough, supplanted by contemporary rock music that never quite captures the right atmosphere for the film. It’s frustrating to admit that Phenomena doesn’t work for me given all of its delicious ingredients: A young Jennifer Connelly in the ingénue role? A devious Daria Nicolodi? Donald Pleasence using a wheelchair in a supporting role, accompanied by an awesome chimpanzee assistant? Bugs, gore and even an offensively grotesque monster-child finale? It all sounds so damn good and yet the film as a whole feels like the start of Argento’s slide into his lesser, later era.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |