Deep Red Blu-ray Review

• 30th Dec 2010

This is one of Dario Argento’s earliest films that is memorable, and for good reason! His visual style is well on its way and there is some very clever camera work going on. The camera is filled with some great looking visuals and mis-en-scene that has all but disappeared from today’s cinema (even Argento’s cinema).

Deep Red has a set of gruesome murders including that of a psychic who happens upon the identity of a killer during a conference. This murder leads to David Hemming’s musical composer getting involved along with Daria Nicolodi (Mrs Dario Argento).

There are many twists and turns along the way and use of wonderful buildings for some of the set pieces which Argento builds with promising suspense. There is the odd sound and editing glitch along the way which marks the time the film was made.

Deep Red is perhaps known for its home title, Profondo Rosso, more than any and is thought very highly of among Argento fans. It isn’t hard to see why when you look at the director’s body of work. This film has a depth missing from his latter work and also a pace that is in no hurry to just get to the “good bits.” There is a care and attention taken to the story as a whole that makes it worth revisiting and the blood and effects are also pretty good.

There isn’t anything here for today’s censor board to get their knickers in a twist about, it is all very stylised and even quite fake looking yet it still makes for a nightmarish impression when viewed through Argento’s lens.

This Blu-ray edition is packed with extras.  We get two versions of the film (uncut!) and there are a few interviews with Argento, Nicolodi and even Goblin composer Claudio Simonetti. There is also a commentary from Argento expert Thomas Rostock and the obligatory booklet with writings by Brit journo and Argento enthusiast Alan Jones.

As this is uncut and comes in such a rich package, this edition is simply a must have for collectors. Do we need to even mention that it looks just amazing on Blu-ray at this point?

Steven Hurst