Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #123538 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-03-02
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, Dubbed, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: Italian
• Dubbed in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 126 minutes

Amazon.com
Considered by many to be Dario Argento's first masterpiece, Deep Red recalls his first hit, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage. British star David Hemmings (Blow-Up) plays an American jazz pianist who witnesses a brutal, bloody murder from afar and turns detective to find the killer. Kooky Italian journalist Daria Nicolodi (Argento's wife and cowriter on Suspiria) joins him as comic relief and tepid romantic interest, but the real costar is Argento's high style: gliding camera, razor-sharp editing, and gorgeous but gruesome set pieces. The story is convoluted, to say the least--plotting was never Argento's strong suit and the unnecessary exposition often drags the film down--but his vivid, horrific imagery is perfect for a thriller driven by haunting memories. Deep Red was originally released in the U.S. in a severely cut version retitled The Hatchet Murders (odd since the killer uses a butcher's knife). Producer Bill Lustig has restored the film to its original two-hour-plus running time, though some scenes exist only with Italian-language soundtracks (which are subtitled). It's a bit jarring at first (it makes for an unintended joke when a man suddenly checks his hearing aid after a language switch), but it's the only way to see Argento's original cut. There's also a brief 25th anniversary documentary with Argento and cowriter Bernardino Zapponi, and the DVD offers a choice of English and Italian language versions. --Sean Axmaker

BBC
"A STUNNING THRILLER!"

DVD Verdict
"There Is No Better Italian Thriller, Giallo, Detective, Horror, Or Slasher Style Film Than DEEP RED!"

Customer Reviews

The Best Argento Ever
"Deep Red" is without a doubt Dario Argento's masterpiece. With a very clear (for Argento) storyline, absolutely dazzling camerawork and an unforgettable score by Goblin (which is bound to sound incredible in 5.1), "Deep Red" is a must for the horror aficionado, especially those with an interest in films that are historically relevant. "Deep Red" is the "Psycho" of Italian cinema. Back in 1975, when it came out, graphic gore was mostly relegated to ultra low-budget movies where carnage was the only point of the movie. With "Deep Red", Argento took gore in a completely new direction, mixing it with classy cinematography and a complex story, and unleashing it upon unsuspecting stars of the Italian stage and screen, people so prestigious in their own way you would never expect them to get it the way they do in a movie. The uncut widescreen version of this film, which has been long overdue in America, will reveal to those who have only seen it in pan-and-scan form the artistry and complexity of Argento's Technovision images. The previously unreleased footage, which I have seen and which was truncated from the version that has been in circulation in this country for decades, adds depth to the characters and the story. In my opinion, you should preferably watch this in Italian with English subtitles -- the English dubbing is atrocious and the Italian original is far more poetic-sounding and apropriate to the story and, besides, Anchor Bay is releasing the added footage in Italian because there is no English dub of those scenes, so you might as well watch it all in its original language. At any rate, this is a must for everyone who appreciates good scary movies, for anyone with an eye for truly spectacular filmmaking and especially for anyone who thinks European movies means Truffaut. An absolute must-have!

An amazing movie
Unlike many who have posted here, I HAVE seen the full 126minute version of Deep Red, on a badly copied conversion inpan-and-scan - and let me tell you, even in this form it was still one of the most exciting movies I think I've ever seen. Although a couple of decades of film has probably blunted the shock and gore elements, and all those character moments might make it seem slow, I promise you that this movie will freak you in ways few horror movies will. Dario Argento's reputation rests entirely on this film and Suspiria, but this one is the superior. All the best elements of his previous films are combined here - the protagonist who's seen something important he can't identify, killers with a fetish for black gloves, vague hints of the supernatural, gender transgression..... and of coursre the gore. Believe me, you'll think twice about checking the door locks after dark when you see what happens to Helga the psychic. Argento was never this suspenseful again, probably because Mark (the protagonist), like the audience, knows he has to solve the mystery before the killer will ever leave him alone. The DVD release of DEEP RED is a real event, and Goblin's score presented in Dolby Digital would be worth it all by itself! I can't wait until release day...........

Suspenseful Masterpiece by "The Italian Hitchcock"!!
What would we do without the internet? Ok maybe what would I do without it. With "Unsane" (the heavily edited version of "Tenebre) and "Suspiria" being the only Argento films I was able to see for many years I was always disappointed I couldn't find his other works. Especially this one as, I'd heard it to be his "masterpiece". Luckily now, I was able to see what everyone was talking about.

Deep Red is a visually stunning film as are all of his works. Arguably the best Argento film, shot in glorious widescreen with some incredible screen compositions . Very effective scares throughout featuring great murder scenes typical to the director. Dario Argento's rare visions and a creepy score by "Goblin" make for a truly chilling, moviegoer experience. I guess people condsider it to be Argento's masterpiece because the plot seems to come together with more fluidity than his other works. All and all it is a great work of art and a definite classic.

The only flaw that I saw, and luckily I rented this first, is not with the movie but with the DVD itself. Maybe it was my version but there were parts that switch back and forth from English dubbing to Italian with English subtitles. I hear that's the way Anchor Bay transferred onto the DVD. I read a review that said if you can stand subtitles to watch the whole movie in Italian as the voices dubbed over don't catch the mood of the actors. I will rent it again and do exactly that. Then, most likely, will add it to my collection. No Argento fan will be disappointed with this phenomenal giallo masterpiece.