A leather-gloved serial killer is on the loose in Rome, but David Hemming’s pianist and Daria Nicolodi’s journalist are on the trail to try and find out who it is.

Dario Argento’s Deep Red is one of his best and features several signature elements that are now synonymous with his films- the innovative direction, the beautiful photography, the arresting setpieces and locales (Argento always uses Italian architecture and locations to brilliant effect).

Deep Red also features something that Dario’s films are also well known for- shocking kills and imagery. The ending involving a lift has to be seen to be believed (I instantly thought of cheesewire), and the sequence involving the doll is one of the most messed up moments in any of his films (which is REALLY saying something). I also loved the killing of the psychic early on in the film.

In fact, the opening scene at the parapsychology conference was excellent and made me think that maybe this sequence influenced the infamous head explosion scene from Scanners. The drowning in the red-hot bath really reminded me of the therapy pool scene from Halloween 2. Another film that was inspired by Deep Red?

Deep Red is fantastic, and I’m so glad that the fabled director’s cut finally saw the light of day. It really was worth the wait.

Deep Red was later released as The Hatchet Murders in America after initially playing under its original title.

4 out of 5 stars