Trauma | Christopher Rydell, Asia Argento | 7/10. Better than you might think

Trauma | Christopher Rydell, Asia Argento | Argento in Minnesota!

vhs video:

Trauma

	Trauma Christopher Rydell, Asia Argento Lions Gate/Worldvision, 1994 average customer review:based on 29 reviews
	for more information click here

7/10. Better than you might think

This film seems to be the least loved post-Deep Red Argento film. It's not one of his better movies, overall, but I actually think it's better than 'The Stendahl Syndrome' or 'Sleepless', and certainly better than that crapathon 'Phantom of the Opera'. (Though those films would probably be a lot more enjoyable if they had a decent DVD relase) Yeah, it is fairly American-ized, but this isn't an entirely bad thing. To wit, it isn't nearly as incoherent as most of his other recent films. Furthermore, this has some of the best performances of any of his films. It's sad that he didn't put a bit more into the death scenes, or this could've been one of his best movie. (Course, that's quite a big just, as the death scenes and setpieces are what make his best films so cool) They aren't bad, certainly, a lot nice gliding steadicam, but the kills themselves are kinda dull, as they're all the same. (The killer has an automatic decapitating machine, which is less interesting than it sounds.) Still, despite the straight thriller trappings, the plot does degenerate into your standard giallo-ism, i.e. false endings, faked deaths, killer whose identity is incredibly unlikely for a variety of reasons, clues which a so subtle and esoteric as to be virtually worthless etc. Oddly enough, this combination kinda works, combining a somewhat more believable, controlled investigation with a wild, over the top final act.

All right, the plot's like this, there's a murderer, who is murdering people, and a variety of characters who do not wish to be murdered, and thus decide to prevent it. Also, one of these people is troubled and anorexic, which doesn't get too much in the way of the main plot, fortunately. (Also, they don't try and get the police too involved in all this, cause that wouldn't be very sporting.) The main not wanna be murdereders are Aura and David, played by Asia Argento and Christopher Rydell. Neither of them are particularly interesting, but what do you expect. They're certainly more naturalistic than your typical Argento protagonists, but they kinda lack presonality, in spite of Aura's problems. (She's the anorexic one_ Other than that no one matters too much, though you do have an assortment of oddball random characters i.e. dorky little kid who sees too much, crazy as hell doctor etc.

What can I say, this movie is a little more wacky than your typical Argento movie, kinda like 'Phenomena. It just kinda lurches from each plot development to the next, each more random and unusual than the last. Still, the individual scenes do tend to work on a conventional dramatic level, again partially due to the conventional American styling. The scene where Aura's parents get wasted is particularly nice, if conventional, and the major stalking scene in the hospital is very well done. If it had some nice gruesome, traditional Argento butchery in it it would be totally top notch. Still, this film has some interesting violence. Tom Savini does the gore, so it's naturally of heigh quality. It mostly consists of a few severed head props and various shots of wire digging into the victims neck.

Sadly, it's got a traditional, orchestrated Hollywood score, nowhere near as good as the stuff you'd usually here in an Argento film. But, you can't have it all.

All in all, a pretty cool film. It's probably more of an Argento film than you'd think, considering what you've likely heard about it. Also, I'm feeling stupid right now, so this excessively informal review might make it seem like I view this as a camp film. I don't. It's got some weirdness, for sure, but it works if you can get into it, which I can.

p.s. Asia Argento briefly gets nude in this movie. She was only a teenager at the time, so if you find yourself.... aroused by this scene, you need to report yourself to the FBI immediately. Sorry. It's your duty. Though lotsa people are bound to mention this, it is kinda weird to have your teenage daughter get naked in your movie. I don't care what country your from. Also, it's utterly gratuitous, which makes it all the more... odd.

Grade: B-

for more information click here

Argento in Minnesota!

Trauma is Argento's American giallo film. It's quite Americanized, but unmistakably Argento. The plot concerns Rydell(who looks a little like Brenden Fraser at times) who stops a young anorexic girl(Asia Argento) from committing suicide, and then gets tangled up with her psychological baggage as well as a black gloved killer(of course) who's after Argento. The killer's modus operandi this time around is decapitating victims with a handy dandy little power tool soon to be available at your nearest Sears Craftsman Tool department. Why is the killer doing this? Who is the killer? Watch it and see. Naturally this is a wonderfully shot film, but a bit toned down from Argento's previous works. Good performances all around, but Rydell and Argento are especially good together. We also get a cameo from everyone's favorite B movie character actor, Brad Dourif. It's also a bit creepy that Asia has a brief topless scene considering she was only 16 at the time, and her father is the director. Those wacky Italians! All in all Trauma doesn't make my Aregento top five films list, but because it is Argento it's better than just about everything else out there in the same genre. See it before they remake it.

for more information click here

Dario Argento's Trauma.

Well I thought that this film was just average, although the film can be quite silly its still good and Dario has a different style of directing this time so its a departure from his usual style that he used before. The story is about a distraught anorexic played by Asia Argento whose life turns upside down when she witnesses the murder of her parents including the decapitation of her psychic mother played by Piper Laurie I must say that her performance was way over the top check out that hilarious sceance. Soon Asia's character must uncover the serial killer's identety before its to late, she is also joined by a T.V. journalist who both investigate the crime together. Despite the film being shot in the U.S. it still has an Italian tone to it making it a combination of American and Italian gialo. The killer uses a particular device that is used to decapitate his victims which I thought was awsome. Overall I think you should check it out especialy if your an Argento fan like myself but I didn't think that it was his best effort.

for more information click here

Entertaining

While not his best work of course, I enjoyed this film. I am an Asia fan and she did a good job here. It's different than his previous work of course, but it really kept my interest and was entertaining. It's worth a watch.

Not as bad as they say...

This Dario Argento movie is not as bad as people say it is. But it's definately not his best film. I think the main reason is the acting. Asia Argento and Piper Laurie are pretty bad in this film. Asia's english wasn't as good as it is now and she seems to mumble her lines which can get pretty annoying at times. Piper Laurie seems to try to capture her amazing performance as the "crazy" mother in the classic "Carrie" film, but she fails. She's just so over the top and it hurts the film. But I'm glad Anchor Bay finally released the Uncut version of this film. The VHS version had a lot of the gore created by the great Tom Savini edited out. I give 3 1/2 stars for the film and 4 for this DVD release. And by the way, "The Stendthal Syndrome" & "Sleepless" aren't bad movies. I think "Sleepless" was his best film since "Suspiria" but the horrible American Pan/Scan release of this film just butchers the film!

for more information click here

reviews: 1, 2, page 3, 4, 5, 6

products you might be interested in