PHENOMENA  1985 Directed by Dario Argento 110 minutes In English

Wow, this is certainly one of the craziest films I have ever seen. I love it for its sheer audacity, for the guts that Argento had to go out and make it. But in the end, it's not only amazing that he dared to make it, but that somehow he makes it work. I don't want to try to describe the plot at all in this one, which would be an impossible task for me anyway. Let's just say that basically Argento makes three types of film - horror, thriller and supernatural... and this falls mostly into the supernatural category.

And hey, it stars Jennifer Connelly (Requiem for a Dream) - in her first starring role. Yep, she was only 14 when this film was shot. The soundtrack is as insane as the "unknown killer" in the film, and is composed of music by Goblin, Motorhead, Bill Wyman and Iron Maiden! And yet it is also one of Dario Argento's most lyrical movies. Thematically, what is it about? Phenomena is an example of body-horror in Italian cinema which specifically targets adolescent anxieties about newly-awakened sexual desires and the shame that stems from physical deformity and not fitting in. So in other words, rather than a straight narrative, this is a film composed around emotional experiences, more specifically, the point in your life when you change from one person into another... And indeed the narrative of this film is anything but straight! It is ultimately a film of sensations, exploring the emerging sensuality we experience when we are teenagers.

A very original film where director Argento takes a load of risks... a film that is bizarre and surreal in a lucid dreamlike way, and which is visually absolutely stunning. So if you have an open mind, and are interested in taking an adventure, then this film is for you. It's unlike anything else out there...

This will be a high-definition screening.