IMDb > Trauma (1993)
Trauma
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Trauma (1993) -- A young man tries to help a teenage European girl whom escaped from a clinic hospital after witnessing the murder of her parents by a serial killer and they try to find the killer before the killer finds them.

Overview

User Rating:
5.8/10   2,121 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Franco Ferrini (story) and
Gianni Romoli (story) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for Trauma on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
12 March 1993 (Italy) more
Tagline:
Some Nightmares Haunt You. Some... Can Kill You. more
Plot:
A young man tries to help a teenage European girl whom escaped from a clinic hospital after witnessing the murder of her parents by a serial killer and they try to find the killer before the killer finds them. full summary | full synopsis
NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
50 Influential Scream Queens: Part 1
 (From Fangoria. 27 October 2009, 5:54 AM, PDT)

Greatest Scream Queens
 (From SoundOnSight. 1 September 2009, 12:00 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
Doesn't always "feels" like an Argento film, but it's certainly not bad! more (52 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Christopher Rydell ... David Parsons

Asia Argento ... Aura Petrescu
Piper Laurie ... Adriana Petrescu

Frederic Forrest ... Dr. Judd

Laura Johnson ... Grace Harrington
Dominique Serrand ... Stefan Petrescu

James Russo ... Capt. Travis
Ira Belgrade ... Arnie

Brad Dourif ... Dr. Lloyd
Hope Alexander-Willis ... Linda Quirk

Sharon Barr ... Hilda Volkman
Isabell O'Connor ... Georgia Jackson (as Isabell Monk)
Cory Garvin ... Gabriel Pickering
Terry Perkins ... Mrs. Pickering
Tony Saffold ... Ben Aldrich
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Aura's Enigma (USA) (working title)
Dario Argento's Trauma (USA) (complete title)
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MPAA:
Rated R for violence and terror, and for some sexuality and language.
Runtime:
106 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:
Company:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
This was Dario Argento's first American production. more
Movie Connections:
References Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1964) more
Soundtrack:
The Loss more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
9 out of 13 people found the following comment useful.
Doesn't always "feels" like an Argento film, but it's certainly not bad!, 12 September 2004
6/10
Author: Coventry from the Draconian Swamp of Unholy Souls

Italian's top-class horror director Dario Argento obviously impressed some people with his previous films ('Opera' in particular) as he was offered the opportunity to film a fully American backed production. Trauma is a gruesome and sadistic thriller from the giallo-master, completely set in Minnesota and depending on a respectable US cast. There's a serial decapitator at large and the young, anorexic Aura (director's daughter Asia Argento) seemly is his/her main-target. The good-hearted journalist David (Christopher Rydell) takes the girl under his wings after the killer got both of her parents and, as their relationship becomes more intimate, the routine of sadistic killings slowly emerges. A bone-chilling mystery from the past slowly unravels and it involves multiple (ex-)doctors from a psychiatric clinic.

The plots in gialli rarely are credible so you can count on the fact that this 'Trauma' contains several far-fetched nonsense aspects as well. Especially the U-turn twist near the end is pretty hard to digest. My advise: don't pay too much attention to this and drown in Argento's brilliant as always camera movements and the stunning portrayal of the violence. Trauma may not be as bloody as 'Tenebrae' or the more recent 'Sleepless' but some of the butchering done here still is perfectly nauseating. What else do you expect with a killer whose modus operandi includes beheading people? Unfortunately, Argento still lacks the skills to direct his actors. You can't even blame the dubbing this time, but the performances are far below average. Asia Argento is forgiven, since it was her first leading role. But I expected a little better from routine B-stars like Frederic Forrest, Piper Laurie and James Russo. Brad Dourif is a joy to observe, but his appearance is far too brief to save the dull acting. To me, Trauma turned out to be a pleasant Sunday afternoon time-waster. Not nearly Argento's most memorable film (he hasn't made any memorable film in the 90's) but maybe the ideal film for inexperienced horror fans to get into contact with Argento's work. All the trademarks that made him legendary in the field are present, but none of them is properly elaborated like it should be.

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