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Summary: The most important horror video release since "Halloween"
Review: Anchor Bay Entertainment has done it again! The video company that specializes in releasing underrated horror classics has finally continued their successful and well-deserved Dario Argento Collection with "Deep Red", arguably Argento's best film (along with "Suspiria"). David Hemmings is a pianist who witnesses a murder and investigates the crime, uncovering bloody childrens' drawings, an abandoned mansion, and a haunting lullaby recording. Daria Nicolodi and Nicoletta Elmi co-star. Anchor Bay's transfer is absolutely gorgeous, pristine with no scratches or evidence of age. The sound is top-notch, save for a few signs of over-recording the Goblin music. As the video box says, a lot of the uncut footage in this Director's Cut was never intended for American release, so never had an English vocal track recorded. Either that or the English dialogue tracks have been lost. In any case, the change is obviously noticable, but adds a European touch to the film and makes the Rome setting more realistic. Of course some fans won't enjoy it, but this is the only way to see "Deep Red" uncut. I disagree with the reviewer who recommended buying the DVD and just viewing it completely in Italian with English subtitles. The English dubbing is not haphazardly done and the Italian dubbing of Hemmings' voice ruins his performance. At least with the English/Italian version, 90% of his performance is in English. Make up your mind which one you prefer, but either way, "Deep Red" is the most ferociously stylish horror film to come onto video in a long time. Don't go searching for modern horror, look for this. It stands the test of time more than adequately and is a classic regardless of genre.
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Summary: After 25 Years - Anchor Bay FINALLY Does Argento Justice!
Review: Let's skip over the fact that this is Argento's greatest work and possibly one of the best Giallo films ever made. Everyone is in agreement on that anyway. This review aims to congratulate ANCHROR BAY for their absolutely amazing transfer of the film. Visually and audibly it's better than ever, but the crowning achievement is the seamless splicing of all the cut Italian footage with the English footage which goes from English soundtrack to English subtitles without missing a beat! It's a shame that the full English soundtrack was never recovered, but this is the next best thing. AB's version of DEEP REED is the ONLY version you'll ever need. Forget about the overpriced, out of print Japanese laserdiscs, this version beats them all! If you ever needed a reason to buy a DVD player or an widescreen TV, this is it! All praises due to ANCHOR BAY ENTERTAINMENT!
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Summary: A Revelation !
Review: Anchor Bay's release of the complete widescreen version of Deep Red is a true revelation. I had seen this film several times in the American VHS Pan and Scan, edited editions and was never really that impressed. To me the film seemed an interesting but flawed work that had hints of the great work that was to come from Argento in Suspira and Infurno. Last night when I put the new DVD version in the player I was transfixed from the first scene. I was seeing this work of cinematic art for the first time. It took hours to watch the entire film because I kept rewinding to view certain scenes over and over. The film is simply stunning in ways that the old transfers never hinted at. The pacing, art direction and cinematography brought fully back to life, make one realize how ahead of it's time this film was,it could have been made yesterday. One can also see the influence of such masters as Hithcock and Fellini in Dario's vision when one can view the entire frame in all it's clarity. I could go on forever with details describing the beauty and importance of this film. but just buy the DVD and see for your self. If you have any interest in horror or foreign cinema you must check out the restored Deep Red.
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Summary: When was the last time you were scared ?
Review: SO ? When WAS the last time you were scared ? Im not talking about monsters jumping out at you in a darkened room...Or three young filmakers going out into the woods to shoot a documentary. Im talking about the simple things in everyday life : Walking into a darkened room, going down a long corridor, being in a room by yourself in complete silence...These are the things director Dario Argento plagues on the viewer. Being held in COMPLETE suspense is technically mastered by the Italian horror director. This is a good beginning film of his to watch if you have never seen any of his other films. All his trademarks are here: The who-done-it script, shocking murder scenes, an excellent soundtrack, and swift camera movements and point-of-view shots that just make your blood run cold ! VERY scary stuff here ! As far as the DVD goes...EXCELLENT ! This is the complete and uncut version running at 126 minutes, and the transfer is crystal clear. It also has the original Italian audio track included for those people that dont enjoy dubbed films. It also has a short interview session with Argento himself. My hats off to ANCHOR BAY for once again, doing a masterful job on DVD releases. If you dont mind the B-movie cliches, this is a GREAT film. Not an award winner, mind you..But a film for suspense/horror film fanatics. Also, check out the original theatrical trailers from Italy and America...It shows you how BADLY America can make a film seem cheezy through the promotional material..The Italian trailer is more suspenseful and contains alot more style. I DARE you to watch this alone.........
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Summary: WOW!
Review: I cannot BELIEVE how good this movie looks and sounds. I've had a letterboxed bootleg off of the way-too dark Japanese laserdisc (which was cut by ten minutes), and I was simply astonished by this version. The sound is crisp and clear where the bootleg was noisy and often difficult to understand. The added scenes slow down the movie in a good way, increasing character development and, in the end, making it a more complete film. I've always loved DEEP RED but the DVD makes me see it in a whole new light! Simply astounding...a must have!
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Summary: STUNNING Transfer of Argento's Giallo Classic
Review: This new DVD is an absoulutely stunning restoration of Argento's seminal giallo-horror film from 1975. Not only is it in it's original 2.35:1 widescreen ratio (incredible), but it's also the complete uncut 126 minute version. The film has never looked or sounded so good. The only slight flaw is that under the end credits, the DVD freeze frames the image in the puddle of blood which continued to move in the original film...why did they do this? Otherwise, it's a perfect presentation and includes the italian and US trailers plus an interesting little featurette. Since a lot of scenes had been cut before the US release, many scenes in the film suddenly pop up in italian with english subtitles. This happens quite a bit, even just small segments of scenes that were trimmed. If the constant change in language annoys you, however, you can always watch the entire film in the italian version with english-subtitles throughout. DEEP RED has a great reputation and although I think it showcases Argento at his peak, it is also a Very leisurely-paced movie...it may tax the patience of viewers more used to the fast-paced films of today. In fact, some scenes seem to go on way too long and the added extra romantic-comedy bits between Hemmings and Nicolodi can be a little tiresome. Also, there's not as many plot twists as in Argento's other giallos like "Bird", "Four Flies", "Tenebre", "Opera" to keep the story very interesting... but as soon as there's a murder scene....all is forgiven! This movie has several GREAT killing scenes, some very gory (which were edited in earlier prints) and many of them inspired other films such as "Halloween" (check out the the yarn needle scene) and "Halloween 2" (scalding water scene). The film also contains the first great collaboration score between Goblin and Argento, a classic. All in all, if you like Argento, this is an absolute MUST purchase...the film looks like a multi-million dollar production in this beautiful widescreen presentation. Not my favorite Argento by any means due to it's pace, but the pluses definitely outweigh the minuses. And you just gotta love that head splat scene!
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Summary: THE HORROR!
Review: After watching this movie for the very first time on DVD I can definately see the influence that Dario Argento's films have had on just about every major landmark US horror movie that has been made since then(1975). Dario Argento's brilliance should never be ignored by any true horror fans n conniseurs. This DVD looks beautiful. The Quality of the digital transfer makes this movie look like it came out in early 90's not mid 70's ...very good job on the sound as well! the music of GOblin fits very well in most cases. I take away 1 star because this is not my favorite all around movie of his. SUSPIRIA and INFERNO still remain My favorite Argento movies up till this point but this is awesome too!
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Summary: RED RED RED
Review: I saw this movie when I was about ten years old on a late night horror show, 1978 or 80, something like that, and have been dying-Absolutely DYING to see it again. this is a great flick that is a melting pot of what we would now call 'horror movie cliches, with a few surprises-even for the modern slasher afficiando, haunted houses, psychics, imaginative murder sequences (that haven't dated, not really) and a first class story that is hard to find these days. It is a Italian film though, and does have it's quirks (by American film standards), which fortunately adds to the creepy mystery of the story. It's grand, but no surprise to see David Hemmings in this film as it is only a further testament to the range of this fine actor. SEE it! SEE it! SEE it!
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Summary: Argento's Incredible, Terrifying, Fantastic Masterpiece!
Review: A masterpiece made even more so in its entire uncut glory. David Hemmings makes a perfect protagonist, a pianist who becomes a witness to a brutal murder. Audio and visuals come together in that special Argento way that will send you running for cover. I saw this in a theater as a kid and have never forgotten it. That walking doll still sends chills down my spine. I can't wait for the DVD. Incredible!
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Summary: The Best Argento Ever
Review: "Deep Red" is without a doubt Dario Argento's masterpiece. With a very clear (for Argento) storyline, absolutely dazzling camerawork and an unforgettable score by Goblin (which is bound to sound incredible in 5.1), "Deep Red" is a must for the horror aficionado, especially those with an interest in films that are historically relevant. "Deep Red" is the "Psycho" of Italian cinema. Back in 1975, when it came out, graphic gore was mostly relegated to ultra low-budget movies where carnage was the only point of the movie. With "Deep Red", Argento took gore in a completely new direction, mixing it with classy cinematography and a complex story, and unleashing it upon unsuspecting stars of the Italian stage and screen, people so prestigious in their own way you would never expect them to get it the way they do in a movie. The uncut widescreen version of this film, which has been long overdue in America, will reveal to those who have only seen it in pan-and-scan form the artistry and complexity of Argento's Technovision images. The previously unreleased footage, which I have seen and which was truncated from the version that has been in circulation in this country for decades, adds depth to the characters and the story. In my opinion, you should preferably watch this in Italian with English subtitles -- the English dubbing is atrocious and the Italian original is far more poetic-sounding and apropriate to the story and, besides, Anchor Bay is releasing the added footage in Italian because there is no English dub of those scenes, so you might as well watch it all in its original language. At any rate, this is a must for everyone who appreciates good scary movies, for anyone with an eye for truly spectacular filmmaking and especially for anyone who thinks European movies means Truffaut. An absolute must-have!
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