We kicked off the summer with a look at Steven Spielberg’s classic creature feature Jaws (listen) before checking out our first Jean Rollin lesbian “vampire” movie Fascination (listen), as well as the female dominated slasher The Slumber Party Massacre (listen). Now it’s time to revisit Dario Argento (for only the second time on the pod!) with a first time look at 1985’s Phenomena.
The film stars Jennifer Connelly as Jennifer Corvino, an American girl sent to a Swiss boarding school. The girl has a mysterious ability: she can communicate with insects and even get them to do her bidding. This proves to be a wildly helpful skill when Jennifer finds herself targeted by a killer who preys on young women, including her roommate Sophie.
But who is committing the murders and why? Could it be the disabled local entomologist, Professor John McGregor (Donald Pleasence) or his chimp, Inga? Could it be the tailgating Inspector Rudolph Geiger (Patrick Bauchau)?
Obviously the correct answer is Frau Brückner, played by frequent Argento collaborator Daria Nicolodi! But the truth is that the reveal hardly matters in a film filled to the brim with big swings and unexpected mayhem. Nothing is off the table until the credits roll because this film is WILD!
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Episode 344: Phenomena (1985)
Assemble your spear and follow the fly in the box because we’re discussing Dario Argento’s 1985 giallo fairytale, Phenomena.
Starring Jennifer Connelly, Donald Pleasence and Argento’s frequent collaborator, Daria Nicolodi, this movie is wild (seriously: take a shot every time we say the word). From questionable disability representation to a Friday the 13th-inspired climax, from chimps to bugs, Phenomena kinda has it all.
Plus: Trace tackles the multiple cuts, Joe’s fantasy double bill, a “sleepy” Connelly, maggot baptisms, and debate about who committed the murders and why.
Cross out Phenomena!
Coming Up Next: We’re closing out the month with a look back at Korean director Park Chan-wook’s classic tale of revenge, Oldboy (2003).
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The post The Wild, Big Swings of Dario Argento’s ‘Phenomena’ [Horror Queers Podcast] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.
