The Stendhal Syndrome
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Movie Reviews of The Stendhal Syndrome
Movie Review: Dark, Disturbing Argento Thriller
Summary: 3 Stars
"The Stendhal Syndrome" is Dario Argento's hardest movie to watch. The entire movie runs darker and deeper than his better work and leaves the viewers feeling a little, well... sick. Asia Argento is beautiful but totally unbelievable as a cop on the track of a serial rapist. She's totally set up to be victimized and victimized she is. In brutal, graphic fashion. What makes these rape scenes even harder to watch is the knowledge that Dario Argento is directing his own daughter.
There are some nice visuals as Asia falls into a painting underwater to share a smooch with an odd-looking fish, and when she steps into a painting of a waterfall. In another scene, a nasty piece of graffiti rips itself from the wall. However, not enough is done with Asia's "Stendhal Syndrome"; it just doesn't come as much into play as I would have liked.
The plot becomes convoluted and doesn't make a whole lot of sense, and while this is to be expected from an Argento film, it's a little more noticable seeing as how the movie plays more straightforward than his more stylish ventures (Suspiria, Deep Red, Tenebrae).
The Troma features are ok on the DVD, including an interview with Dario Argento about Italian horror and a bunch of Troma previews. The picture is a little dark and grainy, making me wish for the crystal-clear clarity of DVD's like "Suspira".
"The Stendhal Syndrome" is not one of Dario's best work, but it's worth seeing if you're a fan. Just be warned: it's not easy to watch.
Movie Review: Still better than any American Thrillers I've seen this year
Summary: 3 Stars
Dario Argento has somehow escaped the american audience for over 30 years, that is until this recent wave of affordable well distributed re-releases. Stendahl Syndrome is more akin to his "Deep Red", "Bird With Crystal Plumage" and "Tenebre" than say "Suspiria", "Inferno" or "Phenomena". In that it is a fantasy based crime thriller as opposed to a supernatural/occult horror. Starring Dario's beautiful daughter Asia Argento who plays a police officer on the trail of a serial rapist when the tables are turned and she becomes the rapist's latest victim (while any scene involving such violence towards women is certainly disturbing, the film is however nowhere near as brutal as the critics claim). On top of all this Asia's character also suffers from a rare disorder in which great artwork causes powerful hallucinations and blackouts to the viewer. This is apparently known as the Stendahl Syndrome. While not as brillant as most of Dario's work it is far better then his recent adaptation of "Phantom of the Opera" or his other film starring Asia "Trauma".Movie Review: Flawed Copy but Interesting Movie
Summary: 3 Stars
This certainly isn't one of Dario's classics, but the presence of Dario's daughter Asia in the central role, certainly raises the quality and interest of the film. She is a solid actor and good fun to watch on screen. Admittedly the plot is somewhat loose in parts, but this is typical of the Dario Argento style, and this movie certainly has the hallmarks of one of his films. There is a fair degree of blood and guts but nothing too torturous to get worked up about. I'd say it's about on par with most of his other efforts in this regard and perhaps a little less confronting. As others have mentioned the quality of the film on this DVD is quite poor. It looks very much like it was filmed on video rather than real film. The colours are washed out and the image is grainy rather than sharp. This is somewhat of an Achilles heel because Dario's movies draw much of their power from their vivid often somewhat surrealistic imagery. When you are watching a diminished copy like this, you just don't notice the cinematography. Hopefully, as others have said, a better copy is still to be released.Movie Review: Is Argento Good?Bad?-depends on your level of aesthetics
Summary: 3 Stars
I liked this movie, but I hated it too. I am an amateur video maker, and things like Profondo Rosso teach me how to move a camara. But he also teaches me what not to do. (those dialoges are awful) but the dvd. it is cheap, and Asia saves the film-She has a very sad,and passive face. And has a nice Italian voice.I like this movie primarily because he finally does not repeat himself, his style, the cheesy whodunit, his dolly -and-luma crane travelling sequences, and bets for a DIFFERENT approach-not too good-but a brave thing to do. He was rotting away with his Profondo Rosso(75) and Suspiria(77) formula in Trauma(92). I just hope this change is for the best.Movie Review: Argento's thriller starts well, but then turns predictable.
Summary: 3 Stars
The first half of Dario Argento's hypnotic thriller is on a par with some of his early giallo classics, but then it slips a notch, becoming a rather routine slasher/revenge movie that borrows heavily from Ms. 45 and Psycho. The viewer is forced to wait for the film to ackowledge what the genre savy will, no doubt, already know in its remaining hour. The ending is atypically gentle for an Argento outing, perhaps he's getting mellow in his old age. Ennio Morricone's score is suitably chilling, the soundtrack is worth seeking out.