Phenomena (1985) / revisit 2022

I was bummed when I noticed this was set to leave Shudder a few months ago. I've come to feel this and Tenebrae just belong on Shudder. I loved when this was on the Slashics channel late at night for a week or so; I just kept it on night after night. It has really grown on me. Connelly once said on a talk show not the most kind things about it, but the plot is wacky even if I am quite fond of it's many eccentricities. You can really tell Connelly was wise beyond her years. And Dario knew the kind of photogenic power Connelly had on screen right from such a young age. I was also just thankful Dario and Donald Pleasence made a film together...and that they made this film together. An insect specialist in a wheelchair, with a beloved monkey, bonding with a bright girl, with a psychic, loving relationship with insects, two quirky but open-minded outsiders looking for a killer. I was so bummed -- and continue to be -- Pleasence is killed but that does provide incentive for the monkey to get revenge.

I particularly love the midway scene where Connelly minds a "detective fly" and retraces steps made by the first victim (unknowingly), with the atmospheric score just embodying the mysterious investigation and ethereal Swiss countryside as the wind catches her while looking for clues. And how Dario lets us know she's potentially always in danger.

This is the Argento film that has become my most watched the last ten years. It's so unique and defiantly against the norm.

Something on this viewing that struck me ...poor Connelly loses the only ones she could emotionally connect with while everyone else either considers her a threat or rejects her

I always thought Nicolodi had that Mama Bates vibe and the monster boy is quite the Argento concoction.