dark dreams - the films of dario argento

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During a conference on parapsychology, a noted physic (Macha Méril) picks up the thoughts of a murderer in the audience. Later at home she picks up these same thoughts outside of her door and someone bursts into her apartment and tries to kill her with a hatchet.

Marc Daly (Hemmings) is walking home late at night and witnesses the woman's head being pushed through her apartment window by the killer. He also lives in the same building and so rushes inside to try and help. He finds nothing except the dead woman but sees a figure walking away from the building through the window.

english version

The police immediately start treating him as a suspect. When newspaper reporter Gianna Brezzi (Nicolodi) arrives, Marcus tells her that he is sure that there is a picture now missing from the apartment that was there when he first entered. Together they start to mount their own investigation into the murder...

This is a truly great film and perhaps the best giallo of all time. Argento uses his style and skill to create a unique cinematic experience that is not to be missed.

This dvd is contains two versions - profondo rosso the longer italian version with burnt-in english subtitles presented in a non-anamorphic 2.3?:1 aspect ratio, and deep red, the shorter english language version in anamorphic 2.3?:1 aspect ratio.

Strangely, the often cut 'lizard shot' is present in the english version but not the italian one. However, the moving reflection of Hemmings while the end credits roll is present in both versions. Proof that they were available if Bill Lustig had looked hard enough!

english version

video

The picture quality varies significantly between the two versions. The anamorphic english version is the best here that I have seen it. The colours are nicely saturated and the reds are very er... red. Skin tones look ok and the black levels although not perfect are acceptable. The print used suffers a bit from white spotting or flecking but it is not too bad.

However, the italian version looks very muted by comparison. The colours are nowhere near as bright and there seems to be a blurry edge and lack of detail to the picture. This is nowhere more apparent than those end credits - that pool of blood is supposed to be bright red!

italian version

sound

Forget what it says on the cover, neither version is in dolby 5.1 sound. The italian version has a dolby surround 2.0 audio track that suffers from varying volume levels. The english version is in mono. Not very impressive really.

extras

Something else you can forget is the picture gallery, theatrical trailer and interview advertised on the cover. There are absolutely no extras at all.

italian version

conclusion

Not a very good release really but it does have the best version of the shorter deep red currently available. A missed opportunity especially as it sounds really promising on the cover - I do so hate blatant lies that try and get you to buy something under false pretences.

reviewed by NJD

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PROFONDO ROSSO
SEDA SPETTACOLI ; ITALY

dvd specification
original year of release: 1975
approximate running time: 123 minutes/100 minutes
aspect ratio: widescreen anamorphic/nonanamorphic 2.3?:1
system: PAL (colour)
rating: 18
sound: italian dolby 2.0 surround/english dolby 2.0 mono
dvd release: platinum media corporation
region: 2
region coding: 2
dvd extras
none

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