Argento, as anyone familiar with his work will know, has a talent for creating this kind of surreal chiller. This is one of his greatest works, despite being relatively unknown and very difficult to locate. Carpenter once wrote 'Argento is a director that takes note of his dreams and includes them in his movies' and having experienced this wonderful movie; second only to his classic Suspiria in terms of style; it is easy to see that this is the case. David Hemmings plays a musician who witnesses the brutal killing of a psychic. This, like all the death scenes in the movie, is as intense and as brilliant as anything the director has ever created - and of course, Argento himself played the gloved hands of the killer. Within the rest of the movie, a complex riddle is created including bizarre frescos depicting brutal murders, surreal dream-like imagery and a thrilling, unrelenting atmosphere with a very satisfying conclusion. Ouch. All fans of the master should watch this, one of his greatest films. Mainstream fans may not enjoy it, but it is far more accessible in terms of plot than many later films, and has a roving camera technique that cannot fail to impress. And the colour scheme, of course, is beautifully intense - setting off perfectly the bizarre, graceful yet repulsive images on display. This is considered by fans to be his breakthrough feature - for the first time including music by the acclaimed band Goblin - a pulsing score that is one of the greatest of any horror film with the possible exception of Halloween. If you are lucky enough, then the full 120 minute Italian version is well worth seeing. Although Suspiria is slightly more stylish and brutal, Deep Red has a better plot and some beautiful sequences. Watch it.
