DEEP RED

AKA Profondo Rosso(The Hatchet Murders)

For Profundo Russo (Deep Red aka 'The Hatchet Murders') Dario Argento returned to the Giallo Genre (Suspense Thrillers with Slasher gore) and delivered a film far more stylish then his previous Giallo 'Animal' Trilogy. The plot follows Marc Daly (David Hemmings) a Jazz Pianist who witnesses the Brutal murder of a Phycic Helga Ulman who earlier in the evening had premonitions of a crazed murderer. Marc believes a painting which was removed from the scene of the crime holds the vital clue and decides to look into the identity of the killer aided by a Journalist, played by Dario Nicolodi.

.This was the first movie in which Dario used the Band  'The Goblins' on the soundtrack. His first three movies were scored by famed soundtrack composer Ennio Morricino. But for Deep Red Dario felt it needed that extra something. Originally going for a classical composer until he stepped upon 'The Goblins' they supplied one of the most influential horror soundtracks of all time which inspired John Carpenters main theme for the film 'Halloween'.

Dario utilizes imagery associated with childhood to create his nightmarish sequences. Dolls hang down passages, a children's nursery rhyme is played in the background. This all makes the film rather unsettling and emphasizes the crazed mind of the Killer and there connection too the past. Dario also uses advanced camera techniques such as Stedi-Cam combing it with the amazing score for the amazing set pieces making the film a visual treat. The killings are delivered far more elaborately then his previous films. Each killing is extremely different to the last and all the more memorable for it. For instance a women who may hold a vital bit of evidence for Marc to find is dispatched by the killer in having her head dipped in Hot scolding Water in her bathtub, been both original and brutal at the same time.

Ever wondered what happens when a car runs directly over someone's head? No, well what about having your front set of teeth slammed against a table. The final death scene involving a elevator has too be seen to be believed and i honestly didn't guess the plot twist which reveals the killers identity. The suspense in this film is almost too much to bear and due too the cleverness of this movie everything falls into place, which makes it highly re-watchable. This is definitely one of  the greatest horrors of all time and arguably Argento's greatest moment. Check out the Anchor Bay (Region One) DVD of this, a must for Argento fans.