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Synapse Collector’s Edition of Dario Argento’s PHENOMENA: Phenomenal!

Published

7 years ago

November 13, 2016

If there’s been one saving grace to the home video market, it’s been boutique and collector’s releases of usually cult or genre films. Scream Factory, Vestron, and Grindhouse Releasing have been at the forefront with a variety of titles, but Synapse Films has certainly been giving them a run with their limited edition, blu-ray, steel book collector’s editions. Previous releases including DEMONS, DEMONS 2, and TENEBRE at limited qualities of 3,000 units. Needless to say, when I heard they were doing a collector’s edition of my personal favorite Dario Argento movie, PHENOMENA, I had to look into it!

PHENOMENA was Argento’s cinematic return post-TENEBRE and in many ways served as a distillation of his works. The forboding fantasy and female gaze of SUSPIRIA and INFERNO, the giallo murder mystery of DEEP RED and TENEBRE, and the animal focus of FOUR FLIES ON GREY VELVET and THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE. It is a chimera of all of Argento’s signatures in one story. Though not his most well regarded of his filmography, it still holds a special place for many fans.

The plot follows young Jennifer Corvino (Played by pre-Labyrinth Jennifer Connelly), who has been sent to a Swiss boarding school for girls following her parent’s separation. She suffers from sleepwalking and the uncanny ability to communicate with insects… which leads her to accidentally witnessing one of her peers being murdered by a serial killer stalking the Alps! Now, with the assistance of the kindly, wheelchair bound, entomologist John McGregor, (Played by Donald Pleasance!) his helper monkey, and the insect world, she must find out the true identity of the killer before she too is silenced.

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It’s a strange story, sure, but what Argento movie isn’t? And all that strangeness creates that wonderful surreality that is common to Argento.

The Collector’s Edition Blu-Ray comes with three discs with three separate cuts of the movie on two blu-rays and the soundtrack on a CD. The first is a brand new 116 minute version remix of the international 110 minute version created in-house by Synapse. Making it the longest cut of PHENOMENA yet! The 110 minute international version is also included, as well as the heavily cut American version that was released under the alternate title of CREEPERS. All versions have merit in their own right… though CREEPERS isn’t quite as fun due to being so deeply edited.

The transfers on all versions are simply astounding. Every cut in crystal clear clarity high definition. Quality so high that after showing the release to a friend, he actually thought it could have been a movie from last year! Synapse truly outdid themselves with this one, the sound quality being equally top-notch. As per usual, they have delivered nothing short but the best from a technical standpoint.

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The special features are few, but well made. First off, there’s a full-length, vintage Dario Argento documentary DARIO ARGENTO’S WORLD OF HORROR which covers the productions of the horror maestro’s work from the late 70’s up through PHENOMENA. As well as commentary from Argento scholar and author of The Argento Syndrome, Derek Botelho along with film historian David Del Valle for further insight into the mind of the director. Aside from that, there’s a candid interview with one o the musicians behind the soundtrack, Andi Sex Gang, and trailers/radio spots. One of the best inclusions is a complete soundtrack CD that contains 16 tracks from GOBLIN as well as 4 from Andi sex Gang and Simon Boswell, creating the most definitive release of the haunting soundtrack yet! Lastly, the release comes with a comprehensive booklet featuring commentary on the film and production by writer Michael Gingold, former New Line Cinema publicist Gary Hertz, and technical specific notes from disc co-producer Vincent Pereira on the hard work that went into this release.

While lacking a few memorable special features from the Anchor Bay DVD release from 2008 such as Argento’s own commentary and some making of features, this is by far the most definitive release of PHENOMENA yet. Most especially on the technical quality front. Were m y TV any larger, it’d be like seeing it back in the cinema! I would highly recommend this Collector’s Edition to any fan of PHENOMENA, Argento, or just really crazy and fun horror.

The Collector’s Edition is available on Synapse and Diabolik DVD, buy fast, as there’s only 3,000 units in existence!

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Netflix Releases First BTS ‘Fear Street: Prom Queen’ Footage

Published

3 hours ago

April 30, 2024

Timothy Rawles

It’s been three long years since Netflix unleashed the bloody, but enjoyable Fear Street on its platform. Released in a tryptic fashion, the streamer broke up the story into three episodes, each taking place in a different decade which by the finale were all tied together.

Now, the streamer is in production for its sequel Fear Street: Prom Queen which brings the story into the 80s. Netflix gives a synopsis of what to expect from Prom Queen on their blog site Tudum:

“Welcome back to Shadyside. In this next installment of the blood-soaked Fear Street franchise, prom season at Shadyside High is underway and the school’s wolfpack of It Girls is busy with its usual sweet and vicious campaigns for the crown. But when a gutsy outsider is unexpectedly nominated to the court, and the other girls start mysteriously disappearing, the class of ’88 is suddenly in for one hell of a prom night.”

Based on R.L. Stine’s massive series of Fear Street novels and spin-offs, this chapter is number 15 in the series and was published in 1992.

FEAR STREET: PROM QUEEN IS NOW IN PRODUCTION 🩸 Welcome to Shadyside High. We're gonna have a killer time. pic.twitter.com/jDl0zRa2CH
— Netflix (@netflix) April 30, 2024

Fear Street: Prom Queen features a killer ensemble cast, including India Fowler (The Nevers, Insomnia), Suzanna Son (Red Rocket, The Idol), Fina Strazza (Paper Girls, Above the Shadows), David Iacono (The Summer I Turned Pretty, Cinnamon), Ella Rubin (The Idea of You), Chris Klein (Sweet Magnolias, American Pie), Lili Taylor (Outer Range, Manhunt) and Katherine Waterston (The End We Start From, Perry Mason).

No word on when Netflix will drop the series into its catalog.

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Live Action Scooby-Doo Reboot Series In Works at Netflix

Published

4 hours ago

April 30, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The ghosthunting Great Dane with an anxiety problem, Scooby-Doo, is getting a reboot and Netflix is picking up the tab. Variety is reporting that the iconic show is becoming an hour-long series for the streamer although no details have been confirmed. In fact, Netflix execs declined to comment.

If the project is a go, this would be the first live-action movie based on the Hanna-Barbera cartoon since 2018’s Daphne & Velma. Before that, there were two theatrical live-action movies, Scooby-Doo (2002) and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004), then two sequels that premiered on The Cartoon Network.

Currently, the adult-oriented Velma is streaming on Max.

Scooby-Doo originated in 1969 under the creative team Hanna-Barbera. The cartoon follows a group of teenagers who investigate supernatural happenings. Known as Mystery Inc., the crew consists of Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley, and Shaggy Rogers, and his best friend, a talking dog named Scooby-Doo.

Normally the episodes revealed the hauntings they encountered were hoaxes developed by land-owners or other nefarious characters hoping to scare people away from their properties. The original TV series named Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! ran from 1969 to 1986. It was so successful that movie stars and pop culture icons would make guest appearances as themselves in the series.

Celebrities such as Sonny & Cher, KISS, Don Knotts, and The Harlem Globetrotters made cameos as did Vincent Price who portrayed Vincent Van Ghoul in a few episodes.

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BET Releasing New Original Thriller: The Deadly Getaway

Published

4 hours ago

April 30, 2024

Cameron McFarland

BET will soon be offering horror fans a rare treat. The studio has announced the official release date for their new original thriller, The Deadly Getaway. Directed by Charles Long (The Trophy Wife), this thriller sets up a heart racing game of cat and mouse for audiences to sink their teeth into.

Wanting to break up the monotony of their routine, Hope and Jacob set off to spend their vacation at a simple cabin in the woods. However, things go sideways when Hope’s ex-boyfriend shows up with a new girl at the same campsite. Things soon spiral out of control. Hope and Jacob must now work together to escape the woods with their lives.

The Deadly Getaway is written by Eric Dickens (Makeup X Breakup) and Chad Quinn (Reflections of US). The Film stars, Yandy Smith-Harris (Two Days in Harlem), Jason Weaver (The Jacksons: An American Dream), and Jeff Logan (My Valentine Wedding).

Showrunner Tressa Azarel Smallwood had the following to say about the project. “The Deadly Getaway is the perfect reintroduction to classic thrillers, which encompass dramatic twists, and spine-chilling moments. It showcases the range and diversity of emerging Black writers across genres of film and television.”

The Deadly Getaway will premiere on 5.9.2024, exclusively ion BET+.