| DEEP RED SEDA SPETTACOLI ; ITALY dvd specification |
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| [video][sound][extras][conclusion] |
| During a conference on parapsychology, a noted physic (Macha Méril) picks up the thoughts of a murderer in the audience. Later at home she picks up these same thoughts outside of her door and someone bursts into her apartment and tries to kill her with a hatchet. Marc Daly (Hemmings) is walking home late at night and witnesses the woman's head being pushed through her apartment window by the killer. He also lives in the same building and so rushes inside to try and help. He finds nothing except the dead woman but sees a figure walking away from the building through the window. The police immediately start treating him as a suspect. When newspaper reporter Gianna Brezzi (Nicolodi) arrives, Marcus tells her that he is sure that there is a picture now missing from the apartment that was there when he first entered. Together they start to mount their own investigation into the murder... This is a truly great film and perhaps the best giallo of all time. Argento uses his style and skill to create a unique cinematic experience that is not to be missed. This DVD is the full 126 minute version and is presented in it's original 2.35:1 aspect ratio. This is of vital importance as Argento uses the full available area and if it were cropped a lot of the films impact would be destroyed. |
| video |
| This non anamorphic release is based on the Anchor Bay Entertainment 2000 transfer of Argento's 1975 classic murder mystery tour de force. If you've seen the AB version you have a fair idea of what to expect. This release from DFW sports a very good picture quality, the transfer is clear and no digital artefacts are visable. The colours are well separated and the reds are well, deep, so to say. The only thing to complain about is the fact that it is a non-anamorphic release. A word of caution though, collectors thinking of getting this release should be aware of the fact that this DVD is based on Anchor Bay's transfer and because of that the end credits are the same freeze framed ugliness. In other words we DO NOT get to see David Hemmings making his marvelous "faces of disgust" as he gazes into the Deep Red pool of blood as on the original version. |
| sound |
| Unfortunately DFW only includes the Italian soundtrack (Dolby Digital 2.0), which I personally think is at times horrible. This is most likely because of the fact that the extra scenes in this long version did not get any English dubbing recorded to them. However the sound is clear and no cracks or hiss can be heard. Of course being a stereo track we don't get much deep bass or punch in the soundtrack. Goblins masterful music would have greatly benefited from that. However it sounds OK, not more and not less then that. |
| extras |
| There are NO features what so ever on this release. If you call subtitles a feature, well, then you have the option to have or not to have Dutch subtitles. On the backside of the cover you'll find some linernotes about Mr Argento. |
| conclusion |
| A fairly poor release from DFW. Image wise, they do deliver the goods (non anamorphic though...). BUT with the soundtrack only in Italian D.D. 2.0 and NO features at all I can't recomend this DVD to anyone but the die hard collector. In otherwords Anchor Bay's release is still the king of the hill. |
| reviewed by Mattias Borgh |
| cover artwork |
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