Best movie ever!

A waste of 90 minutes of my life

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

I had, probably still have somewhere, an ex-rental video of a much truncated version of this under the title, Creepers, and a chimp on the cover. The tape was in a wretched state and whenever I peeped at it, it always seemed to catch Donald Pleasance chatting in a vaguely Scottish accent. It would seems I was put off watching the film because a Blu-ray viewing now had me completely blown away. It is similar in tone to Suspiria and if not quite as rounded and utterly convincing there are compensations. For a start, here Argento has the young girls he wasn't allowed to use in the earlier film and a big difference it makes is that the 14 year old Jennifer Connelly is believably naive and worried yet aware of her affinity with insects. It makes the bullying aspect of the school more realistic as well. If the film doesn't always flow perfectly, move it certainly doe. As before there are terrifying chases to the sound of Goblin, but here other heavy metal outfits and I certainly heard the voice of Lemmy. All in all this is a great to look at thrilling film with a thunderously good soundtrack and a wonderful performance from young Connelly.

Argento has over the years made some bizarre horror movies (Deep Red, Suspiria and Inferno), but 'Phenomena' might be his most bizarre yet. The movie being a mix of both Giallo and Supernatural horror it might leave most people with a bad taste in their mouth. But this hybrid horror movie is phenomenally made. From its bizarre story and plot, to the macabre special-effects and settings, to Argento's direction and the strange mix of facts and fairy tale logic it somehow manages to blend movies such as 'Deep Red' and 'Suspiria' into one movie. Mixing genres is risky, since there is no guarantee to make the movie coherent and will probably alienate most of the audience. But I must say that Argento succeeded in making a brilliant movie. His bravery of mixing the genres he has had success in was nothing short of phenomenal and it makes 'Phenomena' stand out among the many bizarre 80's horror movies. First of all, the plot is the typical "whodunnit" plot. But it has a supernatural twist: our main character Jennifer Corvino can communicate with insects. Anyone remember when Argento refused - at first - to use the "image caught in the retina" plot device since he thought it would be too fantastic for the Giallo genre?Well, making the Giallo story and plot too supernatural is a no-no. That's why 'Suspiria' is not a Giallo, but a supernatural horror movie. A misconception many genre fans often commit. So our main character has the supernatural ability to communicate with insects. But it is not completely based on hokum, because, the main inspiration for the movie is Forensic Entomology. But the idea behind insects being able to communicate through telepathy is pure hokum. That is why I am saying 'Phenomena' is a hybrid, a mix of Giallo and Supernatural horror. It was a brave move by the Maestro of Horror. Another strange fact mixed in the movie is the Patau Syndrome, in which the killer's child has Patau Syndrome. It goes back to the Freudian psychology of bad people's behavior can be traced back to the childhood or trauma. Frau Brückner was raped by an institutionalized criminal and, it led to her giving birth to a child with Patau Syndrome. She hated her child and he is the reminder of her trauma, but her motherly instinct was strong enough to want to care for her child. Her repressed emotions of trauma and her child led to her becoming insane and murdering girls for the sake of making her child feel good. This behavior leads back to mankind's possessive nature and jealousy, in which people we hold dearly must be protected at all cost.Anyway, I'm making the review too long. Let's wrap it up: Jennifer Connelly, Daria Nicolodi and Donald Pleasence gave good performances. Dario's direction was spot on. The plot and story was a great mix Giallo and Supernatural. The special effects and sets were macabre but eerily beautiful. The ending was a mix of black humor and horror. 8/10

This is one of my regret in movies hobby that i couldn't watch Jenny movies chronologically ! This one is her second oldest so for sure, she has changed, gained maturity, became a wife and a mother and also the world and movies production were different ! This one could be a relative of Etoile as it's a strange paranormal movie set in Europe around international cast… It begins like Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets (murders in a private school and Jenny gets bullied because of her abilities) with a feeling of Twin Peaks (mountains, forest, wind and dark forces).. The story is original because insects are not really used in movies ; Pleasance brings his touch of seriousness and integrity (as in Carpenter movies) and the tension is well done. However, the last reel is a bit disappointing as it's really gore and a bit too much which explains i don't give 10. At the end, for any Jenny fans or those who look for restrained paranormal movie, this movie stays however a excellent recommendation !

I've watched this one a few times, and always primarily start thinking that it's going to turn out like one of Argento's inferior films (like Trauma). It's the usual giallo staple initially. Victim being stalked and killed. An introduction to a girl's school and an outsider. Various red herrings and allies.But then things start going slightly askew. One character is paralysed and has to rely on a really intelligent chimp to help out. Another has a psychic connection with insects and can use them to perhaps discover who is killing local girls. This is where the normal giallo conventions start to decay.However, at first it's like Argento is kind of playing it safe even with these weird elements, but gladly the last third of the film rises above everything else and it almost becomes an Argento classic, but not quite. We do have a vengeful chimp with a razor blade, a pit of gore, some tension a'la the Sergio Martino film 'Torso' and (let's be honest) a hideously misplaced Iron Maiden track.Don't dismiss this one, however! My favourite Argento films are Deep Red, Suspiria and Tenebrae, but I'd lump this one in with the 'Animal' trilogy, which are all worth a watch, Inferno, and Mother of Tears.In the background of this film are: Michele Soavi (Stagefright and the awesome Dellamore Dellamorte), Luigi Cozzi (Starcrash and the indescribably great Hercules films), and the guy who did the effects for Zombie Flesh Eaters.