Last night I watched the BU Blu of The Stendhal Syndrome and I have completely reappraised it. I always liked it, but now I think it is a far more important film in his canon than I had previously realised.
It stands out as very different to his so-called classics and I would easily rate it alongside Deep Red or Opera or Tenebrae, possibly even a bit higher. It strikes me as more film noir than horror and is a fascinating idea and story let down only by occasional bouts of dodgy acting (but surely that is the tale of Argento's whole career?).
Perhaps it is because it isn't especially like his other films in mood or theme that it isn't rated higher by most? It has certainly won me over.
|