THE STENDHAL SYNDROME (1996)

In 1817 great French writer Stendhal overcame from powerful shocking emotions while watching the artistic paintings in one of Florence church. He wrote about this phenomenon in his diary. Symptoms of Stendhal syndrome are severe depression, hallucination, nausea and personality disorder. Now that’s quite a topic to explore for this Italian Hitchcock. Dario Argento explored the strange neurosis and psychosis like no other in his giallo cinema and this one is no letdown. While visiting the museum a young lady inspector named Anna felt the same and she’s followed by a rapist-murderer stalking her and soon making her captive raped her and marked her face with blade. Getting a chance she severely disfigured the murderer and fully attempted to kill her. Everything is back to normal until once again things getting in disorder around her.  

As watching many of Argento films, I must say that this is one of the most violent and disturbing blood gore that he has ever depicted on screen. many of his trademark trait of mysterious killer is missing here, instead we see the rapist/killer within few minutes of the film’s beginning but there’s reason for it and you’ll know why, when you see the film. The film has eerie sound composed by legendary Ennio Morricone and that cacophony of whispers creates really spooky feel along with brilliantly selected haunting artistic sculpture models and paintings in background and foreground. There’s no doubt that Argento is auteur horror artist in creating that mood and feel. But apart of that film seems too average and predictable affair much before climax. The other weak point of the film is again Master’s flat expressive daughter Asia Argento as lead.

Ratings-6.5/10