The giallo masterpiece also known as Profondo Rosso gets a 4K restoration, backed up by a wealth of extras
Giallo is a distinct genre, one where the plot typically stems from a old series of Italian murder mystery/thriller books with yellow spines (hence the name), a film that tends towards the pulpy, visceral, and seedy in terms of character and mood. Dario Argento is regarded as one of the giants of the form, and while many label Suspiria as his masterwork (it’s not strictly a pure giallo), some (correctly) point out Deep Red (aka Profondo Rosso) as the peak example of giallo, a film newly given the Arrow Films treatment.
Synopsis:
From Dario Argento, maestro of the macabre and the man behind some the greatest excursions in Italian horror (Suspiria, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage), comes Deep Red — arguably the ultimate giallo movie.
One night, musician Marcus Daly (David Hemmings, Blow Up), looking up from the street below, witnesses the brutal axe murder of a woman in her apartment. Racing to the scene, Marcus just manages to miss the perpetrator… or does he? As he takes on the role of amateur sleuth, Marcus finds himself ensnared in a bizarre web of murder and mystery where nothing is what it seems…
Aided by a throbbing score from regular Argento-collaborators Goblin, Deep Red (aka Profondo Rosso and The Hatchet Murders) is a hallucinatory fever dream of a giallo punctuated by some of the most astonishing set-pieces the sub-genre has to offer.
Deep Red begins, as giallo are want to do, with a murder mystery. This one concerns a woman, Helga Ulmann (Macha Meril), who while demonstrating her telepathic abilities foresees her own death, something that shortly afterwards becomes true. There is a a single witness to the event, pianist Marcus Daly (David Hemmings). After seeing her slaughter at the window of her apartment, he rushes inside, for a moment thinking he catches the killer’s face held in a painting on the wall, then the shadowy outline of the killer fleeing the scene out the window. Haunted by the image, it drives an obsession to catch the killer himself, an investigation aided by reporter Gianna Brezzi (Daria Nicolodi). But as they become more involved, the threat to their own safety grows and deeper mysteries become unearthed.
Argento is synonymous with giallo, with titles like The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, Inferno, and Tenebrae, but Deep Red is perhaps the most accomplished deployment of the director’s talents. The central mystery is remarkably focused in comparison to similar fare. Interesting from the outset, it deepens over the course of the film, effectively opening up the characters too. There are punctuations of startling imagery and violence, but in ways that do not define the film like other giallo entries; instead it serves to lean into the psychological aspects, making this more of a lush thriller and murder mystery, rather than an out and out horror. It all feels chaotic but is intricately woven, rewarding those who pay close attention or revisit. Subtle touches inform plot and people, and visual flourishes draw new levels of appreciation for the production design and overall mood, a facet that has a tendency to drive most giallo. Deep Red shows off a lush artistry bordering on the theatrical, vivid, and visceral. Argento positions the camera for unnatural angles and claustrophobic positions, even allowing it to assume a first-person perspective, winding through alleys and apartments and eventually facing down a victim. It all adds up to an unsettling tone, discordant scenes and sounds that keep you off balance, further amplified by an all time great score from Goblin. It’s atmospheric fare that intentionally overwhelms the senses at times. If you’re unfamiliar with giallo, Deep Red, like its brethren, is a film that takes its time, but it’s a truly engaging experience and one you should appreciate every second of.
The Package
A film from Argento is always a treat for the senses, and accordingly Arrow have gone all out with this 4K restoration. The film veers from scenes in shadow to those bathed by vibrant colors, and it represents the whole gamut well. Detail is fantastic, aided by a rich texture and natural level of grain. Some hints of print damage remain, presumably from the source material, but nothing distracting, instead adding to the authenticity of the presentation. It’s visually lush, one of the best representations of his works I’ve seen. The release contains two discs, each housing two cuts of the film as well as a wealth of extra features. It’s pretty common for these Italian films to have been hacked up by US distributors, so it’s great that both versions are offered here. The export cut has about 22 minutes excised, largely trimming scenes of violence or dialogue. You can see a full breakdown of the differences here. Personally, I’m team original cut. The extra features are detailed below:
- Original cut: 2h 7min
- Export cut: 1h 44min
- Introduction: A blink and you’ll miss it intro from the film’s composer Claudio Simonetti.
- Profondo Giallo: A nicely executed and detailed visual essay by Michael Mackenzie that highlights some of the themes offered up during the film.
- Rosso Recollections: Dario Argento discusses the film but offers little of real substance.
- The Lady in Red: interview with Daria Nicolodi, who offers some blunt insights to the making of the film, as well as her own personal relationship with Argento (marriage) and future collaboration writing Suspiria.
- Music to Murder For!: Composer Claudio Simonetti drops some cool details on how Goblin was originally formed and put together the score for the film.
- Profondo Rosso — From Celluloid to Shop: There is a Profondo Rosso shop in Rome. This featurette gives you a little tour. Weird.
- Trailer (1080p; 2:43)
- Italian Trailer
- Audio Commentary with Thomas Rostock: A really great addition to the release. Rostock is something of an Argento expert, and breaks down various scenes and aspects of the film with some great depth and insight. From visual hints, to its impact, and even the political and social undercurrents in this and other Argento works.
*The English audio track on this original cut has some portions of English audio missing. English audio for these sections was either never recorded or has been lost. As such, these sequences are presented with Italian audio, subtitled in English.
The Bottom Line
Deep Red is a true masterwork, one showcasing Dario Argento at the height of his powers. An intricately crafted thriller that delivers the lush visuals and elicits the visceral response the genre demands. Arrow have done the film justice, with release that offers up a superb transfer with a wealth of extras that only enhance appreciation for this giallo classic.
The Arrow Films release of Dario Argento’s Deep Red is available now.