Deep Red (1975)

A jazz pianist and a wisecracking journalist are pulled into a complex web of mystery after the former witnesses the brutal murder of a psychic.

Director:

Dario Argento

Writers:

Dario Argento, Bernardino Zapponi

Stars:

David Hemmings, Daria Nicolodi, Gabriele Lavia

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Hemmings	...	Marcus Daly
Daria Nicolodi	...	Gianna Brezzi
Gabriele Lavia	...	Carlo
Macha Méril	...	Helga Ulmann
Eros Pagni	...	Supt. Calcabrini
Giuliana Calandra	...	Amanda Righetti
Piero Mazzinghi	...	Bardi
Glauco Mauri	...	Prof. Giordani
Clara Calamai	...	Marta
Aldo Bonamano	...	Carlo's Father
Liana Del Balzo	...	Elvira
Vittorio Fanfoni	...	Cop Taking Notes
Dante Fioretti	...	Police photographer
Geraldine Hooper	...	Massimo Ricci
Jacopo Mariani	...	Young Carlo (as Iacopo Mariani)

Storyline

A psychic who can read minds picks up the thoughts of a murderer in the audience and soon becomes a victim. An English pianist gets involved in solving the murders, but finds many of his avenues of inquiry cut off by new murders, and he begins to wonder how the murderer can track his movements so closely.

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Plot Keywords:

black gloved killer | giallo | color in title | slasher | brutality | 

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Taglines:

When was the last time you were REALLY SCARED!!!? PSYCHO? The EXORCIST? JAWS? Now there's DEEP RED.

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian German English

Release Date:

11 June 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dripping Deep Red

Filming Locations:

Incir De Paolis Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rizzoli Film, Seda Spettacoli

Technical Specs

Runtime:

127 min 101 min (R-rated) 105 min (export)

Sound Mix:

Mono 4-Track Stereo (Japan theatrical release)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The shooting of the movie started September 9th 1974 and took 10 weeks.

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Goofs

When Marc is exploring the old mansion, we see some white dust in his shirt even before he scratches the wall, revealing the drawing and liberating such white dust.

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Quotes

Marcus Daly: [Scream!] What was that?
Carlo: A scream.
[pause]
Carlo: I'd say
[longer pause]
Carlo: might somebody be getting raped.
[Even longer pause, raises wineglass]
Carlo: Hail to the raped virgin

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Crazy Credits

"You have just seen Deep Red."

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Alternate Versions

There is a new 4K digital release of the film restored from the original camera negative and other high-quality film elements, which was used for Arrow Video's Blu-Ray release. It is in Italian with English subtitles and is Dario Argento's complete director's cut, including the final shot of David Hemmings looking into the pool of blood being played in motion, rather than as a still.

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Connections

Referenced in Masters of Horror: John Carpenter's Cigarette Burns (2005)

User Reviews

Brilliant Shocker!

It is a very difficult job for me to pick between this and Suspiria as Argento's best work. Both are masterpieces in their own right. Deep Red is about a man that sees a murder committed and then tries to unravel the mystery of finding the killer. David Hemmings does a fine job in the lead as he walks the streets of an Italian city in search of this homicidal killer. As with most of Argento's work, the viewer should not try to make too much sense out of the plot, but rather enjoy the rich subtext and visual tapestry with which Argento paints the screen. The killings, most notably done with a hatchet, are inventive and decidedly gruesome. More than one time I found myself jump and wince(I suppose those are good things!) The acting, even though most dubbed, is very good. The set locations are very atmospheric as well. Argento's camera, however, is the principal character as it shows us all kinds of images related to plot and otherwise and reached into our subconscience for real meaning. This is first and foremost a visual film, and it certainly shows Argento's homage to his mentor's work, the films of Mario Bava.