MOVIE REVIEW: Argento's Dracula (2013, DVD)

Review By: Rob Sibley

Argento... Argento... how the mighty have fallen. I'm kidding, I know Drac 3D has become a running joke ever since the "praying mantis" scene from the first teaser trailer leaked, people joke about this film. Is it a cheese fest? Yes, you bet your ass it but it's also a lot fun. Sure this is pure "cinema head cheese" pardon the plug but you're already reading this, so good for you.

Now we'll get to what the film does right and what it does wrong, this will be a shorter review because it's an easy film to spoil, it really is. Before you watch this film, think of the worst Hammer Horror vampire film, then add buckets of "Mother of tears" style gore and plenty of T&A. Yes Asia Argento is naked a lot in this film. Within the first 10 minutes you see torture, nudity, sex, and major carnage.

Movie Review: Berberian Sound Studio (2012, IFC)

Some of the finest horror films - or films for that matter - have a handful of pertinent things molded together perfectly to make them a solid moviegoing experience. For me, one of those main components that can literally make a movie terrifying is a well done soundtrack. John Carpenter comes to mind mind as someone who has used this skill in that department to his advantage. Of course the earlier films of the great Dario Argento (Suspiria, Deep Red) and his frequent collaboration with the talented group, Goblin, also show how great it is when it's done well. Peter Strickland's Berberian Sound Studio makes some interesting homages to some of the better Italian horror films of the 70's and 80's fo and has an interesting story on post-production sound and how it effects the characters in the film. Is it enough though?

Toby Jones (Captain America: First Avenger, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) plays Gilderoy, a quiet, lumpy English sound engineer starting again on a production for a horror film in Italy about witches. Nervous and seemingly out of place around the voice actors and other crew, Gilderoy has unenviable task of working with an ego-maniac director, Giancarlo Santini (Antonio Mancino). Gilderoy gradually starts to lose his sanity from the tension experienced in trying to complete this project -- one that he’s not too thrilled with to begin with. Berberian Sound Studio, has horror elements, but it really is more about the behind the scenes of a horror film. Some of what is shown is enjoyable to see, like the techniques on how music and dialogue is recorded to sync up with the film and even some interesting foley work that includes splattering watermelons and stabbing honey dew melons for death scenes.

Synapse Films to Release Dario Argento's Masterpiece "Suspiria" on Blu-ray and DVD!

SUSPIRIA

COMING TO DVD, BLU-RAY,
AND OTHER OPTICAL MEDIA!

SYNAPSE FILMS, INC. LICENSES DARIO ARGENTO'S SUSPIRIA, SOUNDTRACK BY GOBLIN, FOR DVD, BLU-RAY AND FUTURE OPTICAL MEDIA.

ROMULUS, MI – Oct. 31, 2013 – Synapse Films, Inc. has acquired the North American home-video rights to Dario Argento's 1977 classic horror film SUSPIRIA, with an original soundtrack by European prog-rockers Goblin. Described as “one of the scariest films of all time” by Entertainment Weekly, SUSPIRIA stars the beautiful Jessica Harper (Brian De Palma's PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE, Woody Allen's STARDUST MEMORIES) as a young girl caught up in a coven of witches controlling a German dance academy, with a guest appearance by Udo Kier (Lars von Trier's NYMPH( )MANIAC, Andy Warhol's FRANKENSTEIN and DRACULA).

“I’ve been involved in the restoration and release of many films in my career, but SUSPIRIA has always eluded me, until now,” says Donald May, Jr., President of Synapse Films. “It’s one of my favorite horror films and I’m ecstatic that my business partner, Jerry Chandler, was able to negotiate with the rights holders to release this film. This is going to be an amazing project

for us.”

Synapse Films, Inc. will work closely with Technicolor Rome and Technicolor Los Angeles to create an all-new high-definition 2K scan from the original negative for a possible 2014-15 video release. “It’s important to spend as much time as possible to create the definitive high-definition home video version for the fans,” May explains. “We’re going to take our time with this one.”

Synapse Films, Inc. is currently planning the extensive work on SUSPIRIA in conjunction with Technicolor, utilizing both their Rome and Hollywood facilities. The film scanning will be coordinated and supervised by Technicolor Hollywood’s Director of Restoration Services, Tom Burton, whose film restoration credits include Ridley Scott’s BLADE RUNNER, Georges Méliès’ A TRIP TO THE MOON, and Blake Edwards' BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S.

Final specifications, retail pricing, and extras for the Synapse Films release of SUSPIRIA will be announced closer to the as yet to be determined release date.

Movie Review: Plot of Fear (1976)

Raro Video has unearthed yet another giallo unreleased in the United States from the director of the excellent Black Belly of the Tarantula, Paolo Cavara. Cavara’s 1976 thriller Plot of Fear boasts a cast of some fine Euro cult regulars such as John Steiner(Tenebre, Shock)  and even successful American actors like Tom Skerritt(Picket Fences) and Eli Wallach (The Good The Bad and The Ugly), so from an outsiders viewpoint it has to be somewhat decent.

Michele Placido plays Inspector Gaspare Lomenzo, a policeman investigating a series of violent murders that seem to be baffling the authorities. This particular killer also seems to get a kick out of leaving pictures on each victim from a story book.  Red herrings are sprinkled throughout, mainly that of some very horny, cartoon porn-loving guests at a really perverse party. This particular bash gets out of hand and a young woman is accidentally killed. It doesn't sop there,  even Wallach’s character Pietro Riccio is under the suspicion of investigators.

Movie Review: Deep Red (1975, Arrow Video, Blu-ray)

When I think of the some of the more notable movies taken to task by British censors, the controversial "Video Nasties" come to mind. Some prime examples of what brought ire to the UK censors are without a doubt - the fetus-munching antics in Joe D'Amato's Anthropophagous, the ghastly animal cruelty in Cannibal Holocaust and of course the rape-heavy content in I Spit On Your Grave and Last House on the Left. Amazingly, Dario Argento, who was at the time adored by both critics and fans wasn't immune to the scissors of the censor-happy puritans known as the BBFC (British Board of Film Censors). One of Argento's masterpieces, Deep Red (AKA Profondo Rosso), that was forced to have critical scenes excised - now is seeing new life on Hi-Def completely uncut.

Buy Deep Red on Blu-ray or DVD

Movie Review: The Cat O' Nine Tails (1971, Blu-ray)

It really isn't a secret that the folks at Blue Underground have recognized the importance of Dario Argento to genre. Presenting his films on Blu-ray in the highest quality has been an area of success for them with releases of Deep Red, The Bird with Crystal Plumage, The Stendhal Syndrome. Can they keep it up? Now, Blue Underground has released the second feature in Argento's "Animal" series, Cat O' Nine Tails (Il gatto a nove code) on Blu-ray.

Buy The Cat O' Nine Tails [Blu-ray] or DVD

Pepper-nosed American Express card pitchman, Karl Malden stars as Franco Arno, a blind former news reporter who becomes intertwined in a crime case that happens outside his apartment. Arno hasn't been blind all his life and he actually has impeccable hearing that allows him to make up for his handicap. When he needs a little visual assistance his adorable niece, Lori (Cinzia De Carolis) lends her youthful 20/20 eyeballs to "Cookie's" crime-solving. Cookie is a name she calls her Uncle Arno. I told you she was adorable.

The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970, Blu-ray)

I really think there can be good argument as to who is exactly the "father" of the giallo film. Mario Bava could conceivably claim that mantle just for the sheer fact he got there first with his classic thriller Blood and Black Lace. Blood and Black Lace (1964) is essentially where the giallo formula came into fruition: the black gloved killer, point-of-view angles for our psycho, beautiful woman and lots of sharp objects. Dario Argento made his directorial debut with the surprise hit, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage - came six-years after Bava captivated audiences across the world with "Lace". What did Argento do to separate himself from Bava? He made giallo successful internationally. Now, the UK based company Arrow Film and Video have decided to put out a special edition Blu-ray of The Bird with the Crystal Plumage. Yes, more Argento on Blu-ray.

Buy The Bird with the Crystal Plumage [Blu-ray]

Argento's The Bird With Crystal Plumage Coming to Blu-ray May 23rd from Arrow Video!

Starring: Tony Musante, Suzy Kendall, Enrico Maria Salerno
Directed by: Dario Argento
Rating: 15
Duration: 96 mins

Overview: A stunning portrait in psycho-terror!