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.

You can watch this only for the fresh beauty of Jennifer Connelly, she is very young and absolutely unique. Also, the young girl murdered in the first minutes of the film is very beautiful. You can watch it also for the charm of Donald Pleasence, a very special actor. The music too is beautiful. And the cinematography. But, the story, the whole film, is totally stupid, complete waste of time. Disgusting scenes after disgusting scenes, very bad!

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.

31 Days Of Horror: Day 3Ahh, Dario Argento. Never has a director been such a genius at setting atmosphere, picking perfect music and visually drawing the viewer in, and so tragically challenged with pacing, story beats and especially directing actors. His films always look and sound like something from a surreal nightmare, and always have some level of ineptitude in other areas. If you go in knowing this your first time with an Argento flick, it lessens the blow of shock. Phenomena isn't AS extreme of an example, but there's still some...moments. That being said, it's got a musical and visual element unlike any other, and is downright intoxicating. Youthful Jennifer Connelly plays Jennifer Corvino, an American girl arriving at a remote boarding school in the picturesque Swiss Alps. As per usual in Argento's films, there's an unseen murderer on the loose, killing girls from a relentless POV perspective. The opening sequence is a stunning ride through the countryside, set to the warbling, eerie tones of Goblin and Claudio Simonetti's time capsule worthy soundtrack. It soon turns violent and we see where the film intends to take us. It's a startling opening sequence to rival Argento's classic opening murder in Suspiria. Jennifer fits in well enough at the school, but starts having hypnotic sleepwalking episodes (again set to the striking soundtrack) that put her dangerously close to the path of the killer. She meets charming entomologist McGregor in town, played by the incomparable Donald Pleasence, and his pet chimpanzee🙉. Together they attempt to find the killer, aided by a local cop (Patrick Bachau) and Jennifer's strange, random ability to communicate with insects via telekinesis. Weird enough for you yet? There's a trick I use to get past the semi real, often detaching nature of some of the acting and fractured, bizarre storyline in his work: Let the experience wash over you in an almost subconscious way, and don't take everything at face value. It's more of an emotional state, a tone poem rather than a logical, rational narrative. Don't watch the movie, dream it. And what a dream this one is. Moments of stark, sheer ugliness are woven together with interludes of hazy passages of fairytale storytelling and music. Not everyone's thing, but one of my favourites.