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Stendhal Syndrome on DVD (1996)

Stendhal Syndrome cover art
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Average rating: 55%
3551192011732
2.5
from 183 members
 
Starring: Asia Argento, Thomas Kretschmann
Director: Dario Argento
Studio: ARROW FILMS
Run time: 120 mins
Certificate: 18
Genres: Horror
Languages: English
Released: 18/10/2004

Brief synopsis of Stendhal Syndrome

International star Asia Argento portrays Anna Manni, a beautiful detective in pursuit of a savage serial killer-rapist who has been terrorizing Italy. When his trail leads Anna to Florence's famed Uffizi Museum, the investigation takes a violently psychotic turn. Anna is struck by the bizarre phenomenon known as the Stendhal Syndrome, a psychological reaction to artwork that forces Anna into a mysterious trance. An atmospheric horror film from longtime maestro Argento.

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Critics Reviews

Rating of 3 stars out of 5 Radio Times

Rejected by Jennifer Jason Leigh, director Dario Argento offered his daughter, Asia, the chance to play the lead in this deeply disturbing thriller. However, she rarely convinces as the detective whose pursuit of serial rapist Thomas Kretschmann is hindered by the fact she secretly suffers from a condition that causes her to hallucinate in the presence of paintings. Even ignoring all the psychological ramifications of this family affair, this is not one of the Italian horror maestro's finer hours. There are some bravura camera movements, Rome and Florence look stunning, and Ennio Morricone's score is superb, but the pacing is indifferent.

Halliwell's Film Guide

Risible thriller that becomes increasingly silly; although its quota of gore is low by its director's standards, it has some unpleasant moments.

DVD Cult Review

"...Argento carefully combines the grisly, real-life realm of the serial killer with the dream-like world of abstract reality..."

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Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 2 starssacarine syndrome

Pete Wall from Nottingham, England , 16/09/2006

This version of Argento's Stendhal Syndrome is dubbed with Italian language replaced by horrendous American voices that have jumped straight out of some third-rate 80s B-movie. You could say this blunts the visceral force of the screenplay somewhat.

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 2 starsDisappointing.

A customer from London , 26/03/2008

This was my first Dario Argento movie and the title : 'Master of Boredom' would be more appropriate to describe this director than' Master of Horror'.

There was nothing 'horrific' about this movie, except the dubbing and poor acting ( Italians with American mannerisms and body language) and the irritating music. Ennio Morricone is the composer and it is hard to believe!

There might be an issue with the sound levels on the DVD and the screaming bits ,( best bit of acting in the whole movie) and the music were very loud compared to the dialogue .

The rape scenes looked staged and the plot was convoluted and predictable. I had a certain sympathy for the ' bad guy ' as he was ridding me of the bad actors as the plot went on and was providing some eye candy.

Asia Argento is a fashion plate and very nice to look at, but she is utterly unbelievable as a police officer.

The only reason for my second star in this rating is the way the artwork is filmed and a few scenes of magical realism.

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 1 starsAwful Horror/Thriller

A customer from Kent , 17/11/2005

I was looking forward to a decent horror film but this failed on every level from the acting to a poor attempt to put a twist in at the end.

The rape scenes are brutal and the blood does flow but it is not as good as his previous film 'Trauma'.

  2 out of 3 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 2 starsBadly-dubbed but interesting

Tai1 from HERTS , 06/06/2005

Quite an unusual film and worth watching; makes a change from the usual cop/ serial-killer thriller. Good use of Italian art, life and scenery, but the dodgy dubbing lends it an oddly unreal quality. The characters are lip-synching English then for some reason they dubbed it afterwards- strange.

I'm not sure I quite buy the lead actress a police-woman but she's very watchable- although she's tortured in a rather too lingering way at one point. I know her dad directed it but that's no excuse!

The last hour becomes much more predictable than the first half suggests, so it's a little disjointed.

Overall, flawed but worth a look.

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
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Most Recent Reviews

Rated - 1 starsAwful Horror/Thriller

A customer from Kent , 17/11/2005

I was looking forward to a decent horror film but this failed on every level from the acting to a poor attempt to put a twist in at the end.

The rape scenes are brutal and the blood does flow but it is not as good as his previous film 'Trauma'.

  2 out of 3 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 2 starssacarine syndrome

Pete Wall from Nottingham, England , 16/09/2006

This version of Argento's Stendhal Syndrome is dubbed with Italian language replaced by horrendous American voices that have jumped straight out of some third-rate 80s B-movie. You could say this blunts the visceral force of the screenplay somewhat.

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Report offending content.

Read all highest rated reviews