Trauma – Vinegar Syndrome (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy/USA, 1993
Director: Dario Argento
Writers: Franco Ferrini, Gianni Romoli, Dario Argento, T.E.D. Klein, Ruth Jessup, Alister Berry
Cast: Christopher Rydell, Asia Argento, Piper Laurie, Frederic Forrest, Laura Johnson, Dominique Serrand, James Russo, Ira Belgrade, Brad Dourif

Release Date: November 26th, 2021
Approximate Running Time: 109 Minutes 37 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Stereo English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $39.98

"Aura is a young Romanian who, while on the run from her parents, is rescued by journalist and recovering drug addict, David Parsons. After being returned to her home, Aura’s parents are murdered by a vicious serial killer known as The Headhunter, sending Aura back on the run, to David. With no one to turn to for help, the unlikely pair launch their own investigation into the killings, discovering shocking and long hidden revelations that connect the continuing murders ever closer to Aura and a terrifying secret from her past…" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Newly scanned & restored in 4k from its 35mm interpositive."

Trauma comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 46.2 GB

Feature: 30.4 GB

The bulk of the source used for this transfer looks excellent. It should be noted that there are some brief moments that were sourced from an older HD master. That said, this new transfer from Vinegar Syndrome is vastly superior to Anchor Bay’s DVD release. Colors, image clarity, shadow detail, and black levels are solid throughout, and grain looks organic.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD stereo mix in English, and included with this release are removable English subtitles. The audio sounds excellent, the dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include reversible cover art, English language trailer #1 (2 minutes 4 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), English language trailer #2 (1 minute 41 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), Italian language trailer (1 minute 42 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian, no subtitles), video workprint version of Trauma featuring several extended scenes (112 minutes 48 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival electronic press kit (8 minutes 25 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival behind the scenes featurette titled On Set with Tom Savini (8 minutes 2 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an interview with actress Sharon Barr (5 minutes 53 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an interview with actor/casting director Ira Belgrade (6 minutes 30 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an interview with actor James Russo (3 minutes 49 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an interview with actress Piper Laurie (5 minutes 7 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an interview with first assistant director Rod Smith (8 minutes 46 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an interview with cinematographer Raffaele Mertes titled When the Lightning Strikes (34 minutes 23 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with composer Pino Donaggio titled Ruby Rain (14 minutes 54 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with writer Franco Ferrini titled Female Hamlet (17 minutes 11 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with special effects artist Tom Savini titled Heads Above the Rest (18 minutes 2 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an interview with director Dario Argento titled Beheaded (23 minutes 41 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with The Hysteria Continues!, an audio commentary with film historian and author Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and an embossed slipcover limited to 10,000 units.

Summary:

By the 1990's, the Italian film industry was a former shelf of what it once was, with most filmmakers making the shift to television. During this time, Dario Argento remained active not only as a director, but also as a producer. Three years before Trauma, he co-directed Two Evil Eyes with George A. Romero, his first film in America.

Trauma’s location is what sets it apart from everything that Dario Argento has ever directed. Where virtually everything he directed was set somewhere in Italy, setting Trauma in America, more specifically in a place like Minneapolis, Minnesota, is an inspired choice that greatly enhances the story at hand.

But there are many Giallo elements in Trauma. The result is something that is closer to a psychological thriller, with the premise revolving around a traumatic event. Also, most of Dario Argento’s post-Animal Trilogy films are known for their style over substance. Trauma’s narrative is one of Dario Argento’s strongest.

When one thinks about a Dario Argento film, his virtuosity with the camera is what immediately springs to mind. And in this regard, Trauma does not disappoint. With the murder set pieces having the visual flair that’s synonymous with Dario Argento,

Another thing that is synonymous with Dario Argento’s films is his casting. And with Trauma is a virtual cast of who’s who that includes Piper Laurie (Carrie), Frederic Forrest (Apocalypse Now) and Brad Dourif (Color of Night). The strongest performance is Asia Argento’s (The Stendhal Syndrome) nuanced portrayal of a troubled teenager named Aura Petrescu.

From a production standpoint, Dario Argento takes full advantage of his resources. His direction is rock solid, and he gets great performances from the cast. Another area where Trauma gets high marks is Tom Savini’s (Dawn of the Dead) special effects.

Criticism of Dario Argento’s post-opera films is mostly justified due to their inconsistency. That said, an argument can be made for Trauma, a film that is arguably Dario Argento’s most unfairly maligned film.

Trauma makes its way to Blu-ray via a definitive release from Vinegar Syndrome, and it comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a wealth of insightful extra content. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer