Blu-ray Review: Deep Red (1975)

"This is Argento at his best."

(aka La, La, La, La.)
Release Date: March 7th, 1975.
Country: Italy.
Rating: X.
Written by: Dario Argento and Bernardino Zapponi.
Directed by: Dario Argento.
Starring: David Hemmings, Daria Nicolodi, Gabriele Lavia, and Nicoletta Elmi.

If you've hear us, or anyone else talk about Giallo films, but have yet to experience one, then Deep Red is an excellent place to start your education. In fact, it may be THE place to start, as very few other Gialli can match it in terms of quality.

In prologue, we see one shadow on the wall stab another shadow on the wall to death to the tune of a creepy song, and hear a child screaming, having witnessed it all. It's pretty safe to assume that that child is going to grow up to be the killer.

NICE SOCKS, KID.

Years later, a psychic medium named Helga is performing in a crowded theater when she "senses" an evil, twisted mind in the crowd (who just so happens to be the murdering shadow from the prologue.) When Helga begins to recall the murder in detail, the killer freaks out and leaves. Fearing that they'll be unmasked, they follow Helga home, and kill her Italian Horror style.

SHADOWY FIGURES WITH HATS AND BLACK GLOVES; EVERY GIALLO'S GOT ONE.

Marcus, a local pianist who lives in the same building, is out for a walk when he hears Helga's screams. He rushes to her aid, but gets there too late to save her. While being questioned by the Police, Marcus recalls something about one of the paintings in the hallway which might be a clue, but how, or why!?! *It's best not to ask to many questions during a movie like this, because the answers almost never make any rational sense.

HE GOT THERE JUST IN TIME. OR NOT.

Obsessed with solving Helga's murder (because that's what piano players in Italy do), Marcus delves deep into the mysteries surrounding the case... which leads him to the origins of the creepy La, La, La, La Song... which leads him to an author who wrote a story about the murder... which leads him to the house where the murder took place... which leads him to a school... alright, it leads him to like 50 different places and conclusions, none of which are good for his mortality rate.

The high water mark for Giallo films ensues.

NOW HE'S STARTING TO GET IT.

Deep Red is considered by many to be the best Giallo film ever made. Whether that's true or not is a matter of opinion (at least to a point), but we can say that it's at the very least pretty damned close. This is also (arguably) Argento's best movie, and the first one where he truly gave us the gore that he became so famous for in later years.

The thing that made the Argento films of old so damned great was that they dripped style and atmosphere like no other. The long, moving camera shots; the haunting and creepy music; the visceral gore; the tension; the use of color; the cheesy dialogue, the cheesy acting; the less-than-coherent, overly-complicated plots; the abrupt, freeze-frame endings... it's a magical combo that for some reason always works, and Dario Argento orchestrated it better than most.

Deep Red is a masterful whodunit with enough blood and gore to keep it twisted and nasty.

WHAT IS HE EVEN FOCUSING ON?

What in the hell was with that creepy little girl? That poor lizard!

IT SEEMS LIKE NICOLETTA ELMI WAS IN EVERY CREEPY ITALIAN HORROR FLICK IN THE 70'S.

Always with the damn dolls!

RUN, BITCH. RUN FOR YOUR LIFE AND GET SOME HELP!

There's some shadow murder; some stabbing; a lizard impaled by a pin; a woman impaled on some glass; a drowning that involves some nasty third degree burns; a guy gets stabbed in the neck; a smashed head; a gut stabbing; some teeth being bashed in... there's plenty of blood and gore, 70's Italian Horror style, to be had here.

SHE PROBABLY GOT THE WORST OF IT.

No nudity in this one, but there was almost an impromptu gay threesome.

A METAPHOR FOR HOMOSEXUAL PANIC?

This is how Giallo is supposed to be done. Also, watch out for closeted gay alcoholic pianists, because they apparently have secrets. They're also very sassy and precocious.

THAT'S JUST HORRIBLE ADVICE.

On of the best Horror movies of all-time, Giallo or not, Deep Red is a must see for any self-respecting Horror fan. You'll be hard pressed to find another movie of its type that plays as slick, stylish, and eerie as this one does, and while it's not my personal favorite Argento flick, it might just be his best.

If you've yet to see this classic of Italian Horror Cinema, then you should give it a spin on Blu-ray, as that's the best way to see it. Blu-ray is always the way.

A+

Deep Red is available now on Blu-ray, DVD, and VOD.

Daria Nicolodi and Macha Meril are in this.