Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
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.
Phenomena is quintessential Dario Argento – a deliriously strange horror film that defies easy categorization. Its central conceit (a telepathic girl communicating with insects, aided by a chimpanzee and Donald Pleasence's entomologist) is wildly original and deeply idiosyncratic, earning a high Novelty score. Argento's visual style and use of heavy metal on the soundtrack give it a uniquely feverish atmosphere. The cinematography is stylish but somewhat uneven compared to Suspiria. The plot is gloriously illogical, held together more by dream logic than coherent storytelling – serviceable but not strong. Acting is mixed: Jennifer Connelly is earnest in her debut but the supporting cast is variable. The ending delivers several shock twists in classic giallo fashion, satisfying on a visceral level if not a logical one.