Deep Red [DVD]

Deep Red ,(aka Profondo Rosso,the Hatchet Murders). Review of Arrow video 2disc DVD from 2010 + Bluray & other editionsOn Arrows 2disc edition ,Disc1 has the longer Argentos' 'directors choice' version(originally just shown in Italian cinemas)-with options for Italian or English audio (with optional English subtitles). As with previous editions if you wish to watch with English audio this extended version has sections that weren't dubbed into English ,so these return to Italian with English subtitles .The print is excellent and the Italian comes in 5.1 & 2 channel audio ,the English language audio in 2 channel .On this disc is a very good commentary by Thomas Rostock that is packed with opinions & astute observations + U.S. & Italian trailers (the Italian being a study in unnerving style), also included is a 19 min chat with Daria Nicolodi ,co-star & former partner of Dario Argento who has his own(13min) feature. It's interesting to see how they view Deep Red & other films they've worked on and what they agree(and disagree) on .These mini docs feature well presented scenes from relevant films .To finish ,a 14 min feature with a pleasant Claudio Simonetti of the group Goblin(s) who provide the stunning & original score,(George Gasilini also scores some scenes) that's as vital to the films mood & pacing as the editing & cinematography.Disc2 features the 'international print', at around 100 mins it's some 20mins shorter than Argentos' cut. I think this is a tighter & stronger version of the film with more tension & mostly losing just some 'humorous' set pieces, some non essential lines & an earlier introduction to the likeable main actor played by David Hemmings.This version is in English (with optional English subtitles) in stereo ,the print quality is good. Disc2 also has(yet another!) extended promotional for the Profondo Rosso shop in Rome with an enthusiastic Luigi Cozzi (director of 'Contamination',a rather odd addition to the original DPP banned list).Like many people I prefer films where the languages spoken actually match the 'real' languages the characters would use, but I find this film (like most of Argento's) doesn't suffer if you choose the 'English option'.The films are presented in '2.35:1 anamorphic:Techniscope' (a filming process used by Sergio Leone & in many other Italian productions).Thie 'limited edition' DVD/bluray package comes with a 2 sided poster(with an original & new image), a short but interesting booklet by Alan Jones(author of 'Profondo Argento') and a reversible sleeve with choice of 4 covers & a slipcase.So some decent extras to go with possibly the high point of the Gialli & Dario Argentos' career ,but a shame that a film of this quality, that's far beyond 'cult curiosity' that Arrow haven't made an ultimate documentary about its place in the horror/mystery pantheon and beyond. In comparison,for example with the thorough job they did on Lucio Fulcis 2disc 'City of the living dead'. (The recent rereleases of Argentos 'Tenebrae', 'Crystal plumage' & others have much more in-depth features).Of the various other editions,the more recent 'red cover' Arrow 1disc editions in bluray & DVD have the film in its longer Version.The 'yellow cover' Arrow 1disc DVD appears to have the shorter 'international print' .And there is a 3disc 'limited edition' bluray/DVD/CD with the soundtrack,postcards & other extras. The Arrow Bluray 2disc has all the above & the Blue Underground Bluray 1disc has both versions of the film,with different extras (but not Rostocks commentary),and there are other versions available out there. If you haven't seen this film ,I would urge you to - you don't have to know what a Giallo is or know a Martini from Sergio Martino...This is a very good film available at good prices if you look around, & I don't think you'll be disappointed.Though I would say if possible get the two disc or Bluray with the Thomas Rostock commentary(only available on the longer film).If you just get one version of the film I would recommend the shorter(around 100mins) 'international print'......

This three disc set is excellent. Arrow has produced this with loving care. The packaging is very good with lots of lobby cards and a poster. There are lots of interesting extras to complement the film. Having the soundtrack CD is welcome though it is very repetitive and would have been better with some editing. I had forgotten just how amazing this film is. It is beautifully assembled with some first class set pieces: Argento was moving away from telling stories to film as opera with grand scenes. You can clearly see where his magnificent film ‘Suspiria’ came from. Great climatic sequences. The photography is elegant and the choice of settings very well chosen. It has a deliciously sleazy air to it in the voyeuristic murder scenes that are intentionally very unrealistic with their fake blood oozing out. However, this is not mainstream and is not a horror film as most know so it is not for everyone: many people would dismiss it.Much has been made of watching the uncut film in Italian on disc 1. Italian films in the 70s were made without any live sound recorded and all post dubbed – very badly usually with z rate American voice actors. In this film the cast were delivering their lines in English so that should be the version to watch, I recommend, even with the poor dubbing. Having watched the uncut version and the shorter export version on disc 2, I think that the export version works best as it removes most of the unnecessary flirting between the two leads that is cringe-worthy in parts with humour that mis-fires. The shorter version is not censored. Apparently this tighter cut was approved by the director.

Deep Red Blu-rayProfondo rossoArrow | 1975 | 127 min | Rated BBFC: 18 | Jan 03, 2011Large: Front BackAdd to collectionSet price trackingBecome a fan!VideoVideo codec: MPEG-4 AVCVideo resolution: 1080pAspect ratio: 2.35:1Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1AudioItalian: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1Italian: Dolby Digital 2.0English: Dolby Digital 2.0SubtitlesEnglishDiscs50GB Blu-ray DiscTwo-disc set (2 BDs)PackagingSlipcover in original pressingPlaybackRegion freeThere are four audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Italian Dolby Digital 2.0, English Dolby Digital 2.0 (on Disc 1) and English Dolby Digital 2.0 (on Disc 2). For the record, Arrow Films have provided optional English subtitles for both the Director's Cut and the International Theatrical Cut of Profondo Rosso. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.The Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is excellent. The bass is surprisingly potent, the rear channels very intelligently used, and the high-frequencies not overdone. There is a wonderful range of nuanced dynamics as well, giving Goblin's outstanding soundtrack quite a boost. The dialog is stable, clean, and relatively easy to follow (the dubs included).The English Dolby Digital 2.0 isn't terribly disappointing but it isn't overly impressive either. The dialog is fairly easy to follow, but the dynamic intensity from the terrific Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is completely gone. LOVE this FILM...... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What I appreciate about Dario Argento is how carefully he utilizes what makes a slasher/thriller/Mystery film good! The murder sequences he does were always done so well for the time! Now I will admit right off the bat that DEEP RED (a.k.a PROFONDO ROSSO) didn't have the conclusion I was hoping for, but that doesn't stop this classic film from being the trippy, genuine shocker that it is! I always give credit where it's due and I will say this film had some ingenious moments with camera work and kill scenes and the psychological elements that keep you guessing who this devious killer/trickster could be! There are easily some effective and jarring visuals (more specifically a disturbing scene with an alarming looking puppet). There isn't much else to say (plot wise) without giving too much of it away! But I do recommend this to hardcore horror/Slasher fans (or even if you're a fan of a good murder mystery flick). As a hardcore horror fan myself, I'm a little saddened to see this film doesn't have more recognition among the horror community. I feel like if you're a fan of Argento films such as SUSPIRIA (which is Argento's most recognized work) then you ought to give some of his other films a try! Lately I've been finding myself on a blind buy rampage for Dario Argento flicks and besides SUSPIRIA, INFERNO, and TENEBRAE, this one probably has to sit as #4 on that list as another favorite. Like I said, the ending of the film didn't exactly have the conclusion I was hoping for, but I'll leave the rest of you to judge whether or not you got a kick out of the ending and if it was fulfilling or not. However, the soundtrack, the visuals, the kills, and the mystery leading up to the conclusion was all really well done! I think the mystery aspect of this film is what still makes it creepy after all these years! There's so much suspense and such little answers you're getting (again, until the end) that it begins to make you feel just as crazy as the main character. You're just DYING to know who the culprit is! Like I mentioned above, if you're a murder mystery/horror Slasher fan, this is one you may not wanna sleep on! The bluray/4K transfer is STUNNING so moviegoers of modern day should feel the suspense and terror that audiences felt in 1975. A genuine, STYLISH classic!

Mit "Deep Red" (Originaltitel: "Profondo Rosso") setzte Dario Argento die Tradition des "Giallo" fort (ein italienisches Subgenre besonders gewalttätiger Thriller) und erzielte seinen ersten durchschlagenden Kassenerfolg in seiner italienischen Heimat. Der Film, den viele für sein Meisterwerk halten, baut auf dem technischen Können und der Kreativität auf, die er bereits bei früheren Beiträgen demonstriert hatte: "Das Geheimnis der schwarzen Handschuhe". "Mein erster Job war der eines Filmkritikers für die römische Zeitung "Paesa Sera"; aber ich war ein ziehmlich kritisierter Kritiker, deswegen fing ich an, Drehbücher zu schreiben." (Regisseur Dario Argento). In diesem Film, dessen Idee ebenfalls von Argento stammt, geht es (wie in vielen italienischen Horror "flicks") um einen irren Schlitzer, auf deren Wahnsinn man ausgerechnet auf einem Kongreß aufmerksam wird: Eine telepatisch begabte Tagungsteilnehmerin spürt die Anwesenheit einer psychisch gestörten und mordwütigen Person, aber bevor sie ihren Kollegen genauere Hinweise geben kann, wird sie umgebracht. Der Schlüssel zu "Deep Red" ist jedoch das Spiel mit den Begriffen Erinnerung und Falschinterpretation (wie bereits in Argentos "Das Geheimnis der schwarzen Handschuhe"). Der Film, der mehr dem europäischen Modernismus als dem Horrorgenre verpflichtet ist, weist Ähnlichkeiten mit Michelangelo Antonionis "Blow Up" auf-die Art, wie Ereignisse eine Erklärung zu haben scheinen, knapp außerhalb der Reichweite-, vor allem auch durch die Besetzung mit David Hemmings, der in beiden Filmen mitspielt. In "Deep Red" geht es mehr um das Ausloten des Wesens und der Grenzen des visuellen Mediums als um überflüssige Szenen expliziter Gewalt. Mit "Profondo Rosso" bewies Argento, dass er mehr war als nur ein "Horrror"-Regisseur und nahm seinen Platz im erweiterten Pantheon der Filmkünstler ein. Die amerikanische zensierte Version bekam den Titel "The Hatchet Murders" obwohl der Mörder auch andere Mordinstrumente benutzt."Argento der gewiß kein Hitchcock ist, erzeugt "Suspense" mit überladener Kameraarbeit, lauten Geräuschen und stampfender Musik (sic!) ("New York Daily News")

Excelente edición, la remasterizacion es impecable. Me fascinó ver esta película con un formato tan nítido.PD: El servicio de FedEx es terrible, nunca me llegan los pedidos. Estoy harto de su servicio de paqueteria.

I love Argento's films and this is one of my favs. Blue Underground did a wonderful job with the transfer and this has the best soundtrack with any horror film ever made in my opinion. I can't get enough of the soundtrack. The audio is booming at times, which gives it a theatre feel. I think they wanted the the soundtrack to really boom out of your speakers and it does. Sometimes it's a bit jarring but awesome as well.If you haven't seen this film and like Italian Giallo's you are really missing out. On a side note check out the Italian prog rock band Goblin who did the soundtrack. If you're into Prog Rock and have never heard these guys you are doing yourself a disservice.

Il film più classico di Dario Argento viene ripubblicato dalla inglese Arrow con il nuovo restauro 4K che porta un deciso aumento della qualità rispetto a tutte le edizioni precedenti a questa (2016). La pellicola del 1975 ha raggiunto finalmente un livello di definizione soddisfacente ma è in parte penalizzata dall'aspetto cromatico rimasto invariato, il film ha ancora i colori piatti e vecchi, con una predominanza del grigio del marrone e del nocciola e con i volti troppo rosa con poca profondità e che diventano bianchi in alcuni casi. le uniche scene dove i colori sembrano quasi normali sono quelle esterne del protagonista alla villa abbandonata, dove finalmente il verde degli alberi e la luce naturale fanno dimenticare quanto visto finora. A parte ciò questa nuova edizione è ottima e la visione del film rimane sempre godibile anche se in parte penalizzata dai colori. Il film è intergrale senza tagli e ha i titoli di testa e di coda in italiano, l'audio italiano è disponibile nell'originale mono e in 5.1 dts-HD master, e i sottotitoli in inglese sono disattivabili tramite menù setup o il tasto subtitle del telecomando del lettore. Tra gli extra una poco interessante intervista in italiano a Dario Argento (10min), a Daria Nicolodi (17min), una in inglese a Claudio Simonetti (13min), e un tour al negozio-museo di Roma con Luigi Cozzi (13min). la fascetta della custodia reversibile mostra da entrambi i lati due differenti locandine in inglese. In attesa di una futura riedizione con colori migliori, questa edizione di Profondo Rosso è attualmente il massimo della qualità disponibile in home video. Acquisto consigliato a tutti gli appassionati