| "When was the last time you were REALLY SCARED?" |
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| aka PROFONDO ROSSO DEEP RED HATCHET MURDERS DRIPPING DEEP RED THE HATCHET MURDERS THE SABRE TOOTH TIGER SUSPIRIA 2 (1975) 120 mins SEDA SPETTACOLI ; ITALY |
| [video - laserdisc - dvd] | [artwork][fotobusa][info][photo][trailer] |
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| Profondo Rosso is the first Argento film to show signs of the direction that his work would take him in the future, lots of set pieces, joined together by a plot that does not bear great scrutiny. However, storylines are not what makes his films special, it is the look and feel of the finished product that are more important. The jump editing and roving camera, the stylistic flourishes, the disturbingly haunting melodies that accompany all of his films and the sense of unease as the pace meanders and then bursts into sudden scenes of violent action. |  |
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There are two versions of this film. The original US release was trimmed by around 20 minutes to speed things up. The complete version contains many scenes between Hemmings and Nicolodi in which the relationship between the two is explored more thoroughly with some delightfully comic moments. After the death of a medium (Meril) who 'saw' the event shortly before the axe wielding killer burst through the door, Hemmings and journalist Nicolodi - Argento's wife - become involved in, and start to investigate, a series of murders which lead them to a psychotic piano player (Lavia) and his demented mother (Calamai). The quest starts as Hemmings witnesses a murder and Calamai is decapitated by an elevator. |
| Along the way, a body has been found bricked up and a fresco depicting a strange murder, a nursery rhyme and teeth being knocked out has taken the plot into the world of childhood fantasy. All the now traditional Argento trademarks are present, the wonderfully tense atmosphere, the use of colour and imagery, the roving camera, close ups and of course plenty of blood. The music, by Argento stalwarts 'Goblin', deserves a special mention being highly memorable and fitting the film perfectly. This was the start of a long partnership. Hemmings and Nicolodi put in well balanced performances and are totally believable. See this film and find out why he is one of the greatest horror film directors of all time. |
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reviewed by NJD |
| credits | |
| cast: | David Hemmings, Daria Nicolodi, Gabriele Lavia, Macha Meril, Clara Calamai, Glauco Mauri, Eros Pagni, Giuliana Calandria, Nicoletta Elmi |
| director: | Dario Argento |
| producer: | Claudio Argento, Salvatore Argento |
| screenplay: | Dario Argento, Bernardino Zapponi |
| cinematography: | Luigi Kuveiller |
| music: | Goblin |
| sfx: | Germano Natali, Carlo Rambaldi |
| technical information | |
| negative: | 35mm |
| print: | 35mm |
| aspect ratio: | 2.35:1 |
| format: | Techniscope |
| [artwork][fotobusa][info][photo][trailer] |
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