Phenomena
dir. Dario Argento · 1985
Feature
Psychological Horror
Mood
Dark / Tense
Look
vivid color palette with surreal lighting and striking compositions
Structure
nonlinear with dreamlike sequences
Plot
Jennifer Corvino, the daughter of a famous actor, has had trouble with sleepwalking for some time. Her doctor said that it can develop a split personality. She discovers her alternate personality when she stays at a boarding school that was once the home of Richard Wagner. But someone has been killing the students, and it relates only indirectly to the criminal sanatorium nearby.
Why watch
Jennifer Corvino, a sleepwalking student at a secluded boarding school, begins to uncover the dark secrets of her alternate personality as a series of murders unfold around her. The film immerses viewers in a world where the boundaries of reality blur, creating an unsettling atmosphere that keeps them on edge.
Cultural context
1980s Italian horror revivalGiallo film traditionexploration of mental health in cinemainfluence of classical music on narrative