Dario Argento’s giallo classic is still a true masterpiece of atmosphere and visual splendor. Jessica Harper makes an effective horror heroine here, strong-headed and individualistic (much as she was in 1974’s “Phantom of the Paradies”), but the real stars of the movie are Argento’s color palette and the score by The Goblins – the alternating red hues featured throughout the movie truly stand out and effectively set the scene for many visually striking scenes, while the score gets under the viewer’s skin and still manages to give me chills, even after countless viewings. While the story itself is a bit muddled and the movie is clumsily edited and dubbed, the atmosphere is powerful and insidiously memorable.
Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)
