Phenomena Review | Road Rash Reviews

4 stars for this unique eighties horror film.

Phenomena was originally released in 1985 and was written and directed by master of horror Dario Argento (Deep Red, Suspiria). It is one of his more unique and crazy thrillers, which given some of his other work is saying a lot!

“And so Jennifer arrives in Switzerland from the New World, to pass her first memorable night at the Richard Wagner International School for Girls.”

Jennifer Corvino (Jennifer Connelly – Labyrinth, Hulk) is a young American girl whose father is a famous actor. He has decided to send her to a finishing school in Switzerland and she is accompanied there by friend of her father, Frau Bruckner (Daria Nicolodi – Scarlet Diva, Notes of Love).

Despite some hostility from the headmistress (Dalila Di Lazzaro – Breath of Life) she is relieved to discover that at least her room mate, Sophie (Frederica Mastroianni – Bits and Pieces) is friendly and welcomes her to the school. However, she is dismayed to hear about a serial killer operating in the area, killing girls their age.

Troubled by these thoughts, she sleepwalks and believes she has seen the killer. She awakens in town where she is hit by a car driven by a couple of local boys who try to take her away, She escapes and finds her way to the home of Professor John McGregor (Donald Pleasence – Halloween, The Great Escape), a local specialist in entomology and his chimp Inge.

It is here that she makes an astonishing discovery which just may be the key to solving the murders, she can communicate with insects!

Phenomena is a very enjoyable film to watch, full of gore and with plenty of blood and special effects. There are also loads and loads of maggots, many flies and of course a cut-throat razor wielding chimp. It is surreal and bizarre but it works really well, thanks largely to an astonishing heavy metal soundtrack, courtesy of Goblin.