Phenomena (1985)

Director:

Dario Argento

Writers:

Dario Argento (screenplay)
Dario Argento (story)
(more)

Release Date:

2 August 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

When Insects Attack!

Plot:

A young girl, with an amazing ability to communicate with insects, is transferred to an exclusive Swiss boarding school, where her unusual capability might help solve a string of murders.

Plot Keywords:

Insect | Entomologist | Sleepwalking | Serial Killer | Scottish

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jennifer Connelly	...	Jennifer Corvino
Daria Nicolodi	...	Frau Brückner
Fiore Argento	...	Vera Brandt
Federica Mastroianni	...	Sophie
Fiorenza Tessari	...	Gisela Sulzer
Dalila Di Lazzaro	...	Headmistress
Patrick Bauchau	...	Inspector Rudolf Geiger
Donald Pleasence	...	Professor John McGregor
Alberto Cracco	...	UBS Bank Teller
Kaspar Capparoni	...	Karl, Sophie's Boyfriend (as Gaspare Capparoni)
Mario Donatone	...	Morris Shapiro
Antonio Maimone	...	EEG Doctor
Davide Marotta	...	Patua, Bruckner Child
Fulvio Mingozzi	...	Mr. Sulzer
Francesca Ottaviani	...	Nurse
Michele Soavi	...	Kurt, Geiger's Assistant
Franco Trevisi	...	Real Estate Agent
Fausta Avelli	...	Schoolgirl
Franca Berdini	...	Teacher
Marta Biuso	...	Schoolgirl
Marisa Simonetti	...	Schoolgirl
Geraldine Thomas	...	Schoolgirl
Tanga	...	Inga
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nick Alexander	...	Real Estate Agent (voice: English version) (uncredited)
Dario Argento	...	Narrator (Italian version) (voice) (uncredited)
Sophie Bourchier	...	Schoolgirl (uncredited)
Carolyn De Fonseca	...	Frau Brückner (voice: English version) (uncredited)
Paola Gropper	...	Schoolgirl (uncredited)
Ninke Hielkema	...	Schoolgirl (uncredited)
Mitzy Orsini	...	Schoolgirl (uncredited)

Directed by
Dario Argento

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Dario Argento		screenplay
Dario Argento		story
Franco Ferrini		screenplay
Franco Ferrini		story

Produced by
Dario Argento	....	producer
Angelo Iacono	....	executive producer (as Angelo Jacono)

Original Music by
Simon Boswell
Goblin

Cinematography by
Romano Albani

Film Editing by
Franco Fraticelli

Production Design by
Maurizio Garrone
Nello Giorgetti
Luciano Spadoni
Umberto Turco

Costume Design by
Giorgio Armani
Marina Malavasi
Patrizia Massaia

Makeup Department
Patrizia Corridoni	....	hair stylist
M. Garrone	....	special makeup effects artist
Pierantonio Mecacci	....	makeup artist
Sergio Stivaletti	....	special makeup effects artist
Barbara Morosetti	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Angelo Iacono	....	production manager (as Angelo Jacono)
Cesare Jacolucci	....	production manager
Marcel Just	....	unit manager: Switzerland (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bettina Graebe	....	second assistant director
Michele Soavi	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Roberto Giancaterini	....	property master
Mario Grilli	....	set painter
Renato Lori	....	set dresser
Osvaldo Monaco	....	property master
Giuseppe Pagnotta	....	construction grip
Giuseppe Pagnotta	....	property master
Rina Villani	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Nick Alexander	....	sound effects editor
Massimo Anzellotti	....	foley artist
Massimo Anzellotti	....	sound effects editor
Vito Catania	....	boom operator
Franco Fraticelli	....	supervising sound editor
Sergio Graziani	....	dubbing sound
Giancarlo Laurenzi	....	sound mixer
Federico Savina	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Danilo Sterbini	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Antonio Corridori	....	special effects
Danilo Bollettini	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Luigi Cozzi	....	special optical effects

Stunts
Eleonora Quaranta	....	stunts
Giorgio Ricci	....	stunt coordinator
Attilio Severini	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Alberto Altibrandi	....	gaffer
Ferdinando Armati	....	special entomological photography
Gianlorenzo Battaglia	....	underwater photographer
Francesco Bellomo	....	still photographer: action stills (as Franco Bellomo)
Aldo Bergamini	....	assistant camera
Alfredo Ciarpelloni	....	grip
Maurizio di Stefano	....	electrician
Sergio Dori	....	electrician
Cesare Emidi	....	grip
Luciano Giusepponi	....	grip
Giancarlo Mereschini	....	grip
Agostino Pascarella	....	key grip
Nicola Pecorini	....	Steadicam operator
Leandro Punturi	....	grip
Stefano Ricciotti	....	camera operator
Alessandro Rinaldi	....	second assistant camera
Otello Santoro	....	electrician
Vittorio Tonin	....	electrician

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Giovanna Jacono	....	wardrobe
Marina Malavasi	....	wardrobe assistant
Patrizia Massaia	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Piero Bozza	....	first assistant editor
Sergio Fraticelli	....	assistant editor
Roberto Priori	....	second assistant editor

Music Department
Simon Boswell	....	composer: maggots scene music
Piero Bozza	....	music editor
Vincent Messina	....	music soundtrack producer
Fabio Pignatelli	....	musician
Claudio Simonetti	....	musician
Terry Taylor	....	musician

Other crew
Daniel Berquiny	....	owner of chimpanzee "tanga"
Ferdinando Caputo	....	chief production accountant
Giulio Cestari	....	production accountant
Antonio Corridori	....	special stage effects
Fabio Dell'uomo	....	assistant entomologist
Fabrizio Diaz	....	production secretary
Egle Friggeri	....	production secretary
Maurizio Garrone	....	animal and insect supplier
Sheila Goldberg	....	dialogue coach
Enrico Lucherini	....	unit publicist
Saverio Mangogna	....	production secretary
Giorgio Ricci	....	gunsmith
Renato Rinaldo	....	production accountant
Serenella Severini	....	production secretary
Enrico Stella	....	entomology consultant
Aldo Taloni	....	chief set builder
Vivalda Vigorelli	....	script supervisor
Carlo Zini	....	jewellery
Cesare Barbetti	....	voice dubbing: Patrick Bauchau (uncredited)
Maria Pia Di Meo	....	voice dubbing: Dalila Di Lazzaro (uncredited)
Sergio Graziani	....	voice dubbing: Donald Pleasance (uncredited)
Roberto Ornaro	....	production accountant (uncredited)
Ilaria Stagni	....	voice dubbing: Jennifer Connelly (uncredited)

Thanks
Carlo Zini	....	thanks

Production Companies

• DACFILM Rome

Distributors

• Titanus Distribuzione (1985) (Italy) (theatrical)
• New Line Cinema (1985) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Media Home Entertainment (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• Creswin Distribution (1986) (Canada) (theatrical) (dubbed) (cut US version)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Roan Group, The (1999) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Dragon Film Entertainment (DFE) (2001) (Germany) (DVD) (long version)
• TF1 Vidéo (2001) (France) (DVD)
• MRA Entertainment Group (2004) (Australia) (DVD) (as "Creepers")
• Umbrella Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• EastWest Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• SBP (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• SBP (2006) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)
• Works Editora (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• A.M. Films (1985) (France) (theatrical)
• Alliance Home Video (1996) (Canada) (video)
• Ascot Elite Home Entertainment (2012) (Germany) (DVD)
• Creazioni Home Video (1986) (Italy) (VHS)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2004) (United Arab Emirates) (all media) (Middle East)
• Future Film (2005) (Finland) (DVD)
• New Line Home Video (1996) (USA) (video)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2011) (Australia) (video) (VOD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2004) (2005) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• Fratelli Cartocci S.r.l.  transportation (as Cartocci)
• Giorgio Armani  Jennifer Connelly's costumes
• Rocchetti e Carboni  wigs
• Romana Trasporti  transportation

Also Known As:

"Creepers" - USA (cut version)

Runtime:

110 min | 116 min (integral version) | USA:110 min (re-release) | USA:82 min (edited version)

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian | English | German | Swiss German | Danish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:R (as "Creepers") (DVD rating) (cut) | Australia:R (as "Phenomena) (DVD rating) (uncut) | Australia:R (original rating) | Denmark:15 (video premiere) | France:-12 | Italy:VM14 | Norway:18 (video premiere) | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:R | USA:Unrated (director's cut) | West Germany:18 | Finland:K-18 (2001) | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:16 (re-rating) | Argentina:18 (original rating) | New Zealand:R16 | USA:X (original rating) | Hong Kong:III

Filming Locations:

Elios Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

DACFILM Rome

Trivia:

The larvae were created by placing vermiculite in water and adding liquid chocolate and essence of mint.

Goofs:

Continuity: The professor's comments about the hyperactive behavior of his insects are accompanied by close-ups of different bugs moving around in their cages very quickly. However, in close-ups of Jennifer listening to him, many of the same bugs can be seen in their cages behind her, and they are completely still.

Movie Connections:

References Tenebre (1982)

Soundtrack:

The Insects

A bizarre horror masterpiece

Phenomena has long been one of my favourite Dario Argento films. It definitely seems to be a love-it-or-hate-it kind of film, even more so than most Argentos, and I think it's his most unjustly underrated piece of work to date.

A 14-year-old Jennifer Connelly shines in the lead role, playing a sleepwalker who has a bizarre telepathic bond with insects and uses them to help her solve a string of gory murders at a girls boarding school in the Swiss Alps. She is one of my favourite Argento heroines, a tough, brainy and eccentric little girl somewhere between Nancy Drew and Snow White. She deserves special credit for taking on some truly gruesome scenes, like when she falls into a pit of maggots, slime and rotting corpses. As for the rest of the cast, Donald Pleasance is good as the wheelchair-bound Scottish entomologist and Daria Nicolodi has fun with a small but juicy role.

Argento really let his imagination run wild making this one. Phenomena is a surreal, magical and surprisingly beautiful film, as much a dark fairytale fantasy as it is a horror film. It's visually stunning and I loved the incongruity of having all this gory mayhem happen against the picturesque backdrop of the Swiss Alps. Claudio Simonetti's electronic score is perfect, particularly the haunting main theme with its 80s synths and choral soprano vocals.

With its girls boarding school setting and unseen killer on the loose, Phenomena can be taken as a companion piece to Argento's earlier classic Suspiria (1977). But the introduction of slimy maggots, a razor-wielding pet chimp and six million buzzing insects set it apart. It all descends into glorious chaos for the Grand Guignol climax, which is perhaps the most thrilling house-of-horrors funhouse ride Argento has yet given us.

A remarkable film.