"Yes, there's a lot going on in Phenomena. It remains my favorite film because of that. I discovered that people who walked in their sleep have an affinity with insects. Schizophrenics too ... and mediums. When you are in another dimension it becomes possible to talk to insects. And being schizophrenic means you are practically in another dimension."

Dario Argento explaining the insane Phenomena (1984)

A murderous deformed toddler, a switchblade wielding chimp, telepathy with insects, and horribly inserted 80's Metal music adds up to the beautiful wreck that is Dario Argento's Phenomena. Phenomena is bafflingly bizarre - you try to follow the plot for a while and then just give up waiting for Argento's next set piece.

The beautiful Jennifer Connelly (who would shockingly win an Academy Award for the terrible film A Beautiful Mind) stars as a sleepwalking, insect communicating weirdo who arrives at an academy where her fellow classmates have been getting knocked of by a masked killer. She meets up with the late, great, Donald Pleasence to solve the mystery and a whole lot of really weird shit happens.

Phenomena, Argento's personal favorite, was blasted by film and horror critics alike. Released in America as the butchered Creepers, Anchor Bay was kind enough to offer a crisp uncut DVD with audio commentary by the man himself. I get a kick out of the film - it's not Argento's best work, not his worst work - this is middle of the rode Argento here. Regardless middle of the road Argento is better than the majority of films out on the market.