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September 7th, 2000
celebrating a birthday this week is Itallian horrormeister Dario Argento so it's only fitting that we spotlight films he's either directed or been involved in for this month's grab bag. Demons [1985] was my first real exposure to Dario. This gore-filled tale of a movie theatre overrun by blood-thirsty demons (who become that way after wearing a metal mask) was co-written/produced by Dario with the directing helm going to Lamberto Bava (son of the legendary Mario). While a bit lacking in plot and with a cloying heavy metal soundtrack this still delivers the goods with plenty of almost disgusting gore moments and a couple of scenes that build a bit of suspense. Creepers [1985] has been named by Dario as one of his favourite films. While the version I saw was the cut-up Media Home Entertainment version it has since been released by Anchor Bay (under it's original title Phenomena) with all footage intact. It's the story of Jennifer Connolly; a girl with strange powers that allow her to control insects. At her private school students start getting cut-up by a mysterious slasher and she ends-up being caught up with the killer, murderous midgets and a pool filled with bugs. In the 83 minute version I saw the plotting got a little muddy and there were some confusing stretches but all the screwed-up goings-on in the finale made it all worthwhile and Argento's stylish direction helps. Terror At The Opera [1987] was a movie that piqued my interest when I saw the "bullet through the peephole" scene in a horror documentary I saw as a youngster. When I finally saw it, suffice it to say I wasn't disappointed. A young opera singer is tormented and tortured by a mysterious killer who's knocking-off other members of her company and making her watch (by handing pins taped under her eyes). That's about the most plot we're going to get here as it's thinly written but loaded with so much style, appeal and brutal violence to hold you riveted until it starts to stumble in the finale. |
