Undeclared War – Vinegar Syndrome Archive (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1990
Director: Ringo Lam
Writer: Nam Yin, Timothy R. Long, Louis Roth, Deborah Grant
Cast: Danny Lee, Olivia Hussey, Peter Liapis, Vernon Wells, Rosamund Kwan, Kwong-Leung Wong, Victor Hon, David Hedison

Release Date: January 31st, 2023
Approximate Running Time: 106 Minutes 52 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Cantonese/English/Polish/Russian, DTS-HD Mono Mandarin/English/Polish/Russian
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $44.98

"After a Polish diplomat and his family are murdered by a radical terrorist organization, CIA agent Gary Redner tracks the violent extremist group to Hong Kong on a personal mission of revenge. Once in Hong Kong, the "rough-and-ready" Gary is reluctantly partnered with "by the book" Special Branch Inspector Bong, in order to track down the terrorists before their next horrific attack. While the two men do not see eye to eye professionally nor culturally, they must put aside their personal differences and work together in order to take down the terrorist organization as well as the group's mysterious and ruthless leader, known only as Hannibal." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Newly scanned & restored in 2K from its 35mm original camera negative."

Undeclared War comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 37.6 GB

Feature: 30.2 GB

The source used for this transfer is in excellent shape. Colors and flesh tones look correct, image clarity, black levels and compression are solid.

Audio: 4.5/5 (DTS-HD Mono Cantonese/English/Polish/Russian), 4.25/5 (DTS-HD Mono Mandarin/English/Polish/Russian)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese, English, Polish, and Russian, and a DTS-HD mono mix in Mandarin, English, Polish, and Russian. Both audio tracks sound clean, clear, balanced, and robust when they should. Included are removable English subtitles for all dialog that is not in English and removable English SDH subtitles for all of the dialog.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an interview with actor Vernon Wells titled  The Business of Revolution (23 minutes 31 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an interview with composer Noel Quinlan tilted Undeclared Score (17 minutes 27 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an audio commentary track with film historian and author Samm Deighan, reversible cover art, a double-sided poster, and a slipcase limited to 5,000 units.

Summary:

Undeclared War was directed by Ringo Lam, whose other notable films include City on Fire, Twin Dragons, Wild Search, Full Contact, and Burning Paradise. Where most of Ringo Lam’s films up to that point in his career were confined to Hong Kong Undeclared War is an international production that takes place in Warsaw, Poland, and Hong Kong. Also, the cast is a mix of international and Hong Kong actors.

Though Undeclared War has many of the elements that are associated with late 1980s Hong Kong crime films, the result is a film that is unlike anything that Ringo Lam has directed before or since. And nowhere is this more evident than with the criminals in Undeclared War, who are a different breed than those seen in Hong Kong films.

The narrative revolves around a terrorist organization that the CIA has been tracking around the globe. From there, the various law enforcement agencies join forces to capture the head of the terrorist organization. Now in Hong Kong, authorities are in a race against time to capture the head of the terrorist organization before he strikes again.

Undeclared War has a strong cast that features several recognizable faces. Notably, Vernon Wells (The Road Warrior) played Hannibal, the head of a terrorist organization, and Olivia Hussey (Black Christmas) played Rebecca Eche, a woman who is key to him pulling off his plans in Hong Kong. Vernon Wells oozes the qualities of a cold-blooded bad guy as he steals every moment he is in, while Olivia Hussey’s character is not much more than a secondary one. Other standout actors are Danny Lee (The Killer) in the role of Inspector Bong and Rosamund Kwan (Once Upon a Time in China) in the role of a reporter named Ann Chang.

Ringo Lam was one of Hong Kong cinema’s premier action directors. And though he more than proves he is up to the task with the action sequences, he also more than delivers when it comes to the dramatic moments. Ultimately, Undeclared War is a solid action film that fans of Neo-Noir cinema should thoroughly enjoy.

Undeclared War gets an excellent release from Vinegar Syndrome Archive that comes with a solid/video presentation and a pair of informative extras, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Texas Chainsaw Mascara – Grimoire of Exalted Deeds (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 2022
Director: Bill Zebub
Writer: Bill Zebub
Cast: Heather Beck, Dani Bliss, Colvin Burnett, Aaron Marquez, Cheyenne Mobbs, Marc Pearce, Andrew L. Thomas, Maya Waters, Rusty Wikked, Bill Zebub

Release Date: March 14th, 2023
Approximate Running Time: 72 Minutes 34 seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo English
Subtitles: N/A
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $17.95

"A group of New Yorkers take a road trip to Texas, intent on seeing the locations of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. They never make it. Their car breaks down and they trust a local woman to lead them toward help. Their northern attitudes anger the wrong people, and a series of gruesome events follow." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.5/5

Texas Chainsaw Mascara comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 21.8 GB

Feature: 9.7 GB (Texas Chainsaw Mascara), 9.7 GB (Dirtbags)

The source used for this transfer is in great shape. Colors and flesh tones look correct, the image looks crisp, black levels are very good, and any compression-related issues are minor.

Audio: 4/5

This release comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital stereo mix in English. The audio sounds clear and balanced, and range-wise, ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include the Painful Meow music video (5 minutes 11 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a bonus film titled Dirtbags, also directed by Bill Zebub (119 minutes 22 seconds, 1.78:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an extra titled Gaylord that appears to be related to the film Dirtbags (25 minutes 47 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles).

Summary:

Going into Texas Chainsaw Mascara I had never seen a film directed by Bill Zebub. So after a brief internet search about Bill Zebub and the films he directed, I had a good idea of what to expect from Texas Chainsaw Mascara.

Bill Zebub is a do-it-yourself filmmaker who not only directs but also writes, photographs, edits, and composes the score for most of his films. Content-wise, his films are known for their politically incorrect humor and social commentary via the lens of satire. And with a film like Texas Chainsaw Mascara, it has all of these elements in spades.

The narrative revolves around a group of friends who are fans of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. They go on a road trip to Texas to visit locations from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Along the way, their car breaks down, so they enlist the help of the locals, who show them the meaning of Texas hospitality.

Texas Chainsaw Mascara is a textbook example of microbudget filmmaking. The result is a film that often exceeds its limited resources. And at just over seventy-two minutes, Texas Chainsaw Mascara is a film that does not overstay its welcome.

Anyone going into Texas Chainsaw Mascara expecting a horror film will be disappointed. Onscreen carnage is minimal, with the goriest moment being saved for the finale. That said, Texas Chainsaw Mascara is a dialogue-heavy film; fortunately, humor plays a significant role in the story at hand. Ultimately, if you're a fan of politically incorrect humor, then Texas Chainsaw Mascara is a film you should thoroughly enjoy. Those who are easily offended by this film are not for you.

Texas Chainsaw Mascara gets a good release that comes with a strong audio/video presentation.

 Written by Michael Den Boer

Eugenie... The Story of Her Journey Into Perversion – Blue Underground (4k UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: Spain/West Germany, 1970
Director: Jesús Franco
Writer: Harry Alan Towers
Cast: Maria Rohm, Marie Liljedahl, Jack Taylor, Christopher Lee, Paul Muller

Release Date: February 21st, 2023
Approximate Running Time: 87 Minutes
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / Dolby Vision HDR10
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English, DTS-HD Mono French
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $49.95

"Marie Liljedahl (the luscious star of INGA) is Eugenie, an innocent young woman taken to an island paradise where she is initiated into a world of pleasure and pain controlled by the sinister Dolmance (the legendary Christopher Lee). But when she surrenders to her own forbidden fantasies, Eugenie becomes trapped in a frenzy of drugs, sadomasochism and murder. Can a frightened girl in the grip of carnal perversion find sanctuary in the orgies of the depraved?" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5 (4K UHD), 4.5/5 (Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "brand-new 4K restoration from the uncensored original camera negative."

Eugenie... The Story of Her Journey Into Perversion comes on a 66 GB dual layer 4K UHD

Disc Size: 59.6 GB

Feature: 54.6 GB

Those who were dissatisfied with Blue Underground's 2015 transfer should be very pleased with this brand new 4K restoration. Colors are nicely saturated and at times vivid; flesh tones look healthy, and the image looks crisp (there are some intentional soft focus shots that are not as crisp). Also, black levels and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Eugenie... The Story of Her Journey Into Perversion comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 31.4 GB

Feature: 20.5 GB

The Blu-ray included as part of this release uses the same source that was used for the 4K UHD’s transfer.

Audio: 4.5/5 (DTS-HD Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in English and a DTS-HD mono mix in French. For this review, I only listened to the English language track. There are no issues with distortion or background noise; the dialog comes through clearly; everything sounds balanced; and the score sounds appropriately robust. This release comes with three subtitle options: English SDH, French, and Spanish.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a poster & still gallery (148 images), a English language theatrical trailer (3 minutes 25 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), an archival featurette titled Perversion Stories (17 minutes 32 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English and French with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with Stephen Thrower, author of Murderous Passions: The Delirious Cinema of Jesus Franco (18 minutes 9 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with actor Jack Taylor titled Jack Taylor in the Francoverse (24 minutes 43 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Spanish with non-removable English subtitles), an audio Commentary with film hHistorians Nathaniel Thompson and Troy Howarth, and a slipcover (limited to first pressing).

Summary:

Over the course of three years, Jess Franco would collaborate with producer Harry Allen Towers on a total of nine films. With Eugenie... the Story of Her Journey into Perversion is their seventh collaboration and their second adaption of the literary works of the Marquise de Sade. And once again, the screenplay would be written by Harry Allan Towers under the pseudonym Peter Welbeck.

Whereas their previous Marquise de Sade adaptation, Justine, was an epic in scope, this one is a costume drama set in the 18th century. This time around, they would set the story at hand during the present and give it a more intimate setting. Fortunately, these changes greatly added to Jess Franco's vision and not a more sanitized version for the masses like its predecessor. That said, Eugenie... the Story of Her Journey into Perversion is clearly the superior of the two Jess Franco/Harry Allen Towers-De Sade adaptions.

The first thing that strikes you about Eugenie... the Story of Her Journey into Perversion in comparison to Marquis de Sade's Justine is how much more explicit of an adaptation it is. And nowhere is this more evident than in its graphic deception of sexuality and sadness. Eugenie: The Story of Her Journey into Perversion's key moment of depravity is a scene where Eugenie's will is finally broken by Madame Saint Ange and her stepbrother. Also, while watching Eugenie... the Story of Her Journey into Perversion, one can clearly see themes which would dominate Jess Franco's cinema from the 1970's and beyond.

From a production standpoint, Eugenie... the Story of Her Journey into Perversion is filled with gorgeous visuals and many moments that are filled with a tremendous amount of atmosphere. And when it comes to this film's two leading ladies, Jess Franco does not waste a moment to showcase their more than ample assets. One of the best moments in this regard is a scene where Madame Saint Ange helps Eugenie as she is taking a bath. Another strength of Eugenie... the Story of Her Journey into Perversion is that when it comes to pacing, it is never an issue as things are always moving forward.

From a casting perspective, Eugenie... the Story of Her Journey into Perversion features another strong ensemble cast and, more importantly, a more inspired choice in regards to the casting of Marie Liljedahl (Inga) in the role of the protagonist Eugenie. She delivers a captivating performance that finds just the right balance between naivety and decadent behavior. Another remarkable performance includes Maria Rohm (Venus in Furs) in the role of Madame Saint Ange. She is Eugenie's father's mistress. Other notable cast members include Paul Muller (Eugenie De Sade) as Eugenie's father, Jack Taylor (Succubus) as Madame Saint Ange's step brother, and Christopher Lee (Count Dracula) as Dolmance, who serves as a narrator for Eugenie's journey.

Eugenie... the Story of Her Journey into Perversion is brought to 4K UHD by Blue Underground in an exceptional release that includes solid audio/video presentation and a wealth of insightful extras; highly recommended.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a VLC player and lossless PNGs.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Marquis de Sade’s Justine – Blue Underground (4k UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy/USA/West Germany/Liechtenstein, 1969
Director: Jesús Franco
Writer: Harry Alan Towers
Cast: Klaus Kinski, Romina Power, Maria Rohm, Rosemary Dexter, Akim Tamiroff, Mercedes McCambridge, Sylva Koscina, Howard Vernon, Jack Palance, Rosalba Neri

Release Date: February 21st, 2023
Approximate Running Time: 124 Minutes 11 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / Dolby Vision HDR10
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $49.95

"An Erotic Masterpiece from the Tortured Pen of the Marquis De Sade Romina Power (18-year-old daughter of Tyrone Power) stars as Justine, a nubile young virgin cast out of a French orphanage and  thrust into a depraved world of prostitution, predatory lesbians, a fugitive murderess (Mercedes McCambridge), bondage, branding, and one supremely sadistic monk (an outrageous performance by Jack Palance). It’s a twisted tale of strange desires, perverse pleasures and the ultimate corruption of innocence as told by the Marquis de Sade." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5 (4K UHD), 4.5/5 (Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "brand-new 4K restoration from the uncensored original camera negative."

Marquis de Sade’s Justine comes on a 100 GB triple layer 4K UHD

Disc Size: 80.9 GB

Feature: 76 GB

Blue Underground’s 2015 Blu-ray of Marquis de Sade’s Justine was one of their stronger Jess Franco/Harry Alan Towers transfers. This transfer looks just as great as that release transfer, and in many instances, this new transfer somehow improves upon the transfer used for Blue Underground’s 2015 Blu-ray. Colors are nicely saturated, and flesh tones look healthy. Also, image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Marquis de Sade’s Justine comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 40.7 GB

Feature: 22.5 GB (Marquis de Sade’s Justine), 10.8 GB (Deadly Sanctuary)

The Blu-ray included as part of this release uses the same source that was used for the 4K UHD’s transfer.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English. There are no issues with distortion or background noise; dialog comes through clearly; everything sounds balanced; and the score sounds appropriately robust. This release comes with three subtitle options: English SDH, French, and Spanish.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a poster & stills gallery (88 images), a French theatrical trailer (3 minutes 46 seconds, Dolby Digital mono French with removable English subtitles), an archival featurette titled The Perils and Pleasures of Justine (20 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English and French with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with Stephen Thrower, author of Murderous Passions: The Delirious Cinema of Jesus Franco (17 minutes 35 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with actress Rosalba Neri titled On Set With Jess (8 minutes 17 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with non-removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with film historians Nathaniel Thompson and Troy Howarth, the shorter U.S. version of Marquis de Sade’s Justine titled Deadly Sanctuary (95 minutes 41 seconds, 1.66:1 aspect ratio, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), and a slipcover (limited to first pressing).

Summary:

Though Marquis de Sade's Justine was Jesus Franco's first full-fledged adaptation of the Marquis de Sade's literary works. There are traces of De Sade which can be found in other Jess Franco films as far back as The Sadistic Baron Von Klaus. Also, though there was no denying the influence that De Sade had on Jess Franco as a filmmaker, it should be noted that the screenplay for Marquis de Sade’s Justine was written by producer Harry Alan Towers under the pseudonym Peter Welbeck. That being said, Jess Franco still manages to infuse his undeniable imprint on the final product.

Whenever someone attempts to adapt the Marquis de Sade, there are just going to be some things that are never going to translate well or moments that, due to their graphic nature, would fall victim to various forms of censorship. And though this adaptation does a good job of retaining the essence of the source, it is far from a faithful adaptation. One of its most glaring changes is the handling of a character named Derroches.

In terms of production, Marquis de Sade's Justine would provide Jess Franco with the largest canvas he has ever worked with as a filmmaker. the reported budget being one million pounds. Needless to say, he would take full advantage of this rare opportunity to make a period drama set in the 18th century. Also, when it comes to customs and set designs, Marquis de Sade’s Justine does a superb job of maintaining the intended look of this era. Another area in which Marquis de Sade's Justine outperforms expectations is its use of Barcelona locations, some of which are considered landmarks.

When it comes to moments of sadism, the Marquis of Sade's Justine actually holds up very well in this regard. The most satisfying moments in this regard involve perverted priests, whose only quest in life is to find absolute pleasure. Of course, this is a Jess Franco film, and nudity is something he has never shied away from. And there are a bevy of beauties who are in various stages of undress.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the Marquis of Sade's Justine is its incredible cast of who's who from European cult cinema. The Marquis de Sade is played by Klaus Kinski (The Great Silence), and though his role is only a cameo, he makes an impression. His presence is still felt throughout Marquis of Sade's Justine. Other recognizable faces include: Akim Tamiroff (Touch of Evil), Mercedes McCambridge (99 Women), Sylva Koscina (Hercules), Rosalba Neri (Top Sensation), Howard Vernon (The Diabolical Dr. Z) and the ever delirious Jack Palance (Companeros) in the role of a perverted priest named Antonin.

Unfortunately, the casting of Romina Power in the role of this film's protagonist, Justine, proves to be the thing that hurts this film the most. She gives an expressionless performance that never fully captures the other side of the story, where she starts to enjoy the pain being inflicted on her. Then there is Maria Rohm's (Venus in Furs) performance in the role of the other sister, Juliette. And once again, here is another character who is underused. which is a shame since she delivers a pitch-perfect portrayal of Juliette.

Marquis de Sade's Justine is brought to 4K UHD by Blue Underground in an exceptional release that includes solid audio/video presentation and a wealth of insightful extras; highly recommended.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a VLC player and lossless PNGs.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Phenomena: 2-Disc Special Edition – Synapse Films (4k UHD) 

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1985
Director: Dario Argento
Writers: Dario Argento, Franco Ferrini
Cast: Jennifer Connelly, Daria Nicolodi, Dalila Di Lazzaro, Patrick Bauchau, Donald Pleasence, Fiore Argento, Federica Mastroianni, Fiorenza Tessari, Mario Donatone, Francesca Ottaviani, Michele Soavi

Release Date: March 14th, 2023 (UK)
Approximate Running Times: 115 Minutes 54 Seconds (Italian Version), 110 Minutes 3 Seconds (International Version), 83 Minutes 5 Seconds (Creepers)
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / Dolby Vision HDR10
Rating: NR (Italian Version, International Version), R (Creepers)
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 Italian, LPCM Stereo Italian, DTS-HD 5.1 English/Italian (Italian Version), DTS-HD 5.1 English, LPCM Stereo English (International Version), LPCM Mono English, LPCM Stereo English (Creepers)
Subtitles: English (for all dialog in Italian), English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $49.99

"The young Jennifer Corvino, played by Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Connelly (Labyrinth, Top Gun: Maverick), is sent to a private Swiss academy for girls where a vicious killer is on the loose. Jennifer has the unique ability to telepathically communicate with insects and an entomologist, Dr. John McGregor (Donald Pleasence, Halloween, Escape from New York), enlists her help in locating the murderer. As the mystery unfolds, they find themselves in a bizarre murder plot with maggots, telepathic insects and a razor-wielding chimpanzee! Can Jennifer uncover the killer's identity before becoming a victim herself?" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "New 4K restorations of all three versions of Phenomena."

Phenomena Italian version comes on a 100 GB triple layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 89.1 GB

Feature: 82 GB

Phenomena International version and Creepers come on a 100 GB triple layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 92.4 GB

Feature: 52.9 GB (International Version), 37.6 GB (Creepers)

The three transfers use the same sources that Arrow Video used for their 2017 Blu-ray release. Those transfers all looked great, and with this 4K upgrade, they look even more amazing. The colors look vibrant and are nicely saturated. Image clarity, contrast, and shadow detail are solid. There are no issues with compression, and the grain looks organic. Note: This release shares the same source that was used for Arrow Video’s 4K UHD.

Audio: 5/5

This release comes with three versions of Phenomena. The Italian version comes with three audio options, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in Italian, a LPCM stereo mix in Italian, and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English and Italian, derived from the original 4channel Dolby Stereo elements. The international version comes with three audio options, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English, a LPCM stereo mix in English, and an alternate LPCM stereo mix in English that features different sound effects and music, derived from the original 4channel Dolby Stereo elements. Creepers comes with two audio options, a LPCM stereo mix in English and a LPCM mono mix in English, mastered from the original 3 track DME magnetic mix. There is a wide variety of audio options to choose from spread across these multiple versions, and sonically, all of these audio mixes are in excellent shape. Included with this release are removable English subtitles for all Italian language dialog and removable English SDH subtitles for all English dialog. Note: This release shares the same audio tracks that were used for Arrow Video’s 4K UHD.

Extras:

Extras on UHD disc that contains the Italian version include Italian theatrical trailer (2 minutes 36 seconds, LPCM stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), International theatrical trailer (2 minutes 36 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), Japanese press book (13 images), Jennifer music video (4 minutes 11 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), feature length 2017 documentary produced for Arrow Films, including interviews with co-writer/producer/director Dario Argento, actors Fiore Argento, Davide Marotta, Daria Nicolodi and Fiorenza Tessari, co-writer Franco Ferrini, cinematographer Romano Albani, production manager Angelo Iacono, special optical effects artist Luigi Cozzi, special makeup effects artist Sergio Stivaletti, makeup artist Pier Antonio Mecacci, underwater camera operator Gianlorenzo Battaglia, and composers Claudio Simonetti and Simon Boswell titled Of Flies and Maggots (2 hours 13 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles) and an audio commentary with Troy Howarth, author of Murder by Design: The Unsane Cinema of Dario Argento.

Extras on UHD disc that contains the International version and Creepers include U.S theatrical trailer (1 minute 27 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), two U.S. radio spots (1 minute 3 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), a visual essay by Arrow producer Michael Mackenzie comparing the different cuts of Phenomena titled The Three Sarcophagi (31 minutes 2 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles) and an audio commentary for the international version by Dario Argento scholar and author Derek Botelho and film historian, journalist and radio/television commentator David Del Valle.

Other extras include reversible cover art and a slipcover.

Summary:

The thing that immediately grabbed me While revisiting Phenomena, I realized how grounded the story was. Though it is rooted in the world of the supernatural, one of the most common criticisms leveled at Dario Argento's films is how anemic their narratives are and how most of the characters that populate them are one-dimensional. Although some of the secondary characters in Phenomena are merely for show. That said, Phenomena does feature what is arguably the most well-rounded protagonist to ever appear in a Dario Argento film. 

Structure-wise, Phenomena does a superb job of laying the groundwork for its blood-soaked finale. Also, Phenomena finds a satisfying balance between its more carnage-related moments and its more character-driven moments.

For Phenomena, Dario Argento re-teams with cinematographer Romano Albani, who he had previously worked with on Inferno. And once again, Dario Argento does not disappoint when it comes to visuals. The color blue plays a significant role in Phenomenon’s visual palette. And of course, when it comes to murder set pieces, Dario Argento's visual eye is second to none. 

Another area in which Phenomena stands out is its special effects, which, even by today’s standards, hold up really well. A key collaborator on Phenomena was filmmaker Luigi Cozzi (Star Crash), who helped with the Phenomena’s special effects. 

The one area where Phenomena stands out most is its soundtrack, which includes a wide variety of collaborators and styles. The soundtrack includes the following contributors: Goblin, Claudio Simonetti, Fabio Pignatelli, Simon Boswell (Andi Sex Gang), Franky Goes to Hollywood, Motorhead, Iron Maiden, Bill Wyman, and Terry Taylor. The most memorable song is titled The Valley. This song is featured in Phenomena's opening.

Looking through the various films that Dario Argento has directed, one area that he generally excels at is casting. And with Phenomena, he assembles one of his strongest casts. In one of her first film roles, Jennifer Connelly (Once Upon a Time in America) is cast in the role of the protagonist, Jennifer. So much of the phenomenon is carried by her. And she proves to be up to the task. Not to be overlooked is Daria Nicolodi (Deep Red) in the role of Frau Brückner, the woman who has been given the task of taking care of Jennifer. Throughout her collaborations with Dario Argento, she has played a wide variety of characters. Her performance in Phenomena is equally diabolical and entertaining. Other performances of note include Donald Pleasence (Halloween) in the role of an elderly entomologist who befriends Jennifer and Patrick Bauchau (The Pretender) in the role of a detective who has been given the task of catching the killer.

Though Dario Argento is primarily known for his operatic thrillers, one must not overlook his supernatural cinematic endeavors. Most notably, Suspria, a film that many critics and the vast majority of his ardent fans regard as his masterpiece, On the other end of the spectrum is his 1985 thriller/supernatural hybrid, Phenomena, which was butchered upon its original U.S. theatrical release and released under the title Creepers. So, it is not surprising that Phenomena has had trouble finding its audience due to the aforementioned cuts (about 28 minutes). Over the years, Phenomena has slowly gained a following. And most of this can be attributed to the film finally being released in its 116-minute version, so Phenomena can finally be viewed with fresh eyes.

Phenomena gets an exceptional 4K UHD upgrade from Synapse Films, highly recommended.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a VLC player and lossless PNGs.

Written by Michael Den Boer