Plot: What’s it about?
A man stalks the streets of Rome, with a long, black raincoat on and a sharp blade hidden underneath. This man hunts down young women and then slashes them to death, in a most brutal, sadistic fashion. No one has survived this human beast until now, when a woman is able to escape with her life, but not by much. This attack and potential murder was seen by Sam (Tony Musante), an American writer spending some time in Rome. He could have aided the woman in her escape, but he was trapped in some glass doors, rendering him helpless, but to watch. This would seem to be a real break in the case, but police are unable to move the case forward and as such, Sam decides to embark on his own mission. As this sick killer roams the streets, Sam tries to track him down and stop his madness, but which of the two will find themselves trapped first?
The debut film from horror master Dario Argento, this giallo is a well crafted thriller, but might leave some folks disappointed. I think most casual viewers assume all European horror is of the splatter variety, but that simply isn’t true. So if you’re a gorehound and just want to see the red stuff, this won’t be a movie you’ll be pleased with. You’ll see violence on screen, but it isn’t too blood soaked, though still effective, I think. This movie should appeal to fans of Argento’s skills with tension and visuals, as this movie has some terrific suspense and a superb atmosphere, very eerie and quite chilling at times. The images stick with you even after the credits have rolled, especially a few particular ones, like the long black coat and sharp knives. I find the pace to be just brisk enough to carry the material, but Argento never rushes, which allows the suspense to build and the audience to ponder what they’ve seen. I highly recommend this movie to fans of suspense & horror and of course, Argento fans will be most interested.
The films of Dario Argento seem to fall within the brackets of gore flicks or visual feasts, but both elements don’t come together often. His finest efforts combine the two to great ends of course, but more often than not, Argento uses more of one than another. In this film however, he seems to blend the two well and neither overuses either, which means the full impact is retained. I like Argento’s use of heavy gore and visuals in other films, but this is a change of pace, as he is more restrained it seems. That restraint could be present because this was his feature film debut, but I think Argento holds back due to the material, which needs the treatment Argento gives it. This was his first movie and isn’t his finest effort, but The Bird with the Crystal Plumage is still a solid flick and one fans should add to their collections. Other films directed by Argento include Deep Red, The Stendhal Syndrome, Tenebre, Suspiria, and The Black Cat. The cast includes Suzy Kendall (Torso, Psycho-Circus), Tony Musante (The Yards, The Grissom Gang), and Eva Renzi (Taste of Excitement, The Pink Jungle).
Video: How does it look?
The Bird with the Crystal Plumage is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a brand new visual treatment, as Blue Underground went to the original vault materials and crafted this transfer from the group up. The result is superb and puts all other editions to shame, thanks to a print that looks very clean and sharp, but not over refined. The print shows almost no debris or marks, which is excellent news, with only a few minor nicks to report. I was amazed by the detail here, as this looks so clear and shows such depth, you’d swear you were inside of a theater, just top notch work. No issues in the least with colors and the contrast woes on other editions have been sorted out this time around. This is just a knockout visual effort from Blue Underground, who continue to give us horror fans a reason to rejoice.
Audio: How does it sound?
You want options? This release has options and in spades, divided between the original Italian version and an English language edition. Both languages are available in shiny Dolby Digital 5.1 EX surround sound, 2.0 surround, and mono soundtracks. I actually viewed the movie first with the original Italian mono track and I was quite satisfied. I’m by no means a purist, but remix options often turn out poorly, so I went old school and I wasn’t let down. The surround options provide a good experience also however, with smooth use of the surrounds to enhance atmosphere and showcase the musical score. There is also a DTS ES soundtrack, but it is only available in English and as expected, holds an edge over the Dolby Digital counterpart. In any event, the movie sounds great and optional English subtitles are provided.
Supplements: What are the extras?
You can check out interviews with star Eva Renzi, cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, composer Ennio Morricone, and director Dario Argento. None of these interviews are in depth, but each provides a unique perspective and some worthwhile thoughts. You can also listen to audio comments from authors Alan Jones and Kim Newman, both of whom have penned books on horror cinema. The session is academic, as this is all researched material, but both are enjoyable speakers. So if you’ve read books and watched interviews about Argento, then you’ve heard a lot of this before, but the track is still a decent listen. This release also includes two television spots, as well as two of the film’s theatrical trailers.
