Customer Reviews

Stagefright

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Out of all the Argento-inspired giallo films of the 1980's, this is one of the best, if not THE best, with it's quirky character banter, quotable lines, off-the-wall camera moves, and phenomenal musical score by Simon Boswell and Stefano Mainetti. I only heard about it thanks to home video because, disappointingly (but certainly not surprisingly), the film was never shown theatrically here in the States. And that, my friends, is a damn shame when you consider that DR. GIGGLES was distributed by Universal Pictures.

Say what you will about Italian horror cinema, from the sixties into the eighties they were some of the best at mixing art and cheese into something more interesting than most other countries. Stagefright is a slasher flick from the eighties and with its opening dance number its a film that feels its age. Apparently a theatre group is rehearsing a play that involves rape, dance sequences and killers dressed in giant bird heads. The director is prick, theres a gay guy, and other assorted characters who start dying when a madman escapes conveniently locking himself in with the troupe and offing them in a bevy of ways (the best on set in an owl mask strangling a girl as the director shouts "Kill Her" for direction).
The film as it is marks the debut of Michele Soavi, one of the names outside of Argento and Bava that marks one of the directors that must be watched. His films might be an aquired taste but they do remain artistically beautiful if perplexing in that arthouse way that the Italians do. The film is very photogenic and beautiful to look at even if it reminds you totally of the decade known as the eighties. The characters are thin with some cliche thrown in which makes it easy to watch when they die, and what the film does well is kill off characters. Plus for a slasher film I will have to say that having a killer wearing a well made owl mask is rather interesting from the perspective of this viewer. The film isn't for all tastes but its fun to view in my opinion.

Stagefright is simply put a fun, scary movie to behold! Although there is quite a bit of gore which is not really my style so you may want to close your eyes in parts if that turns you off. But what could be a better premise in a horror film than a group of actors being locked in a dreary theatre for the night with a psychotic killer stalking them at every turn dressed in an owl suit. And then the lone, final girl must try and defeat the villain before she becomes his last victim. All the elements of the post-slasher era are here as this was made in 1987. You have the infamous thunderstorm, people making bad decisions, a variety of interesting deaths and even a black cat crossing someone's path. Still, this is definitely worth checking out if you enjoy these films. This was originally released on DVD by Anchor Bay and now is being distributed by Blue Underground. I wish one of these companies would release the 1980 horror gem Curtains next (although released in 1983).

This is the debut film from Michele Soavi and personally, I think it's his best film. Not only that but it's probably my all-time favorite slasher film. The film displays everything you could want from a slasher flick, great kills, music, and characters. The plot isn't really anything great but it's handle very well. Great stalk and slash with great atmosphere! if you love italian horror, this movie is a must own.

Generally slasher films are not my favorite genre. However, if done with visual style and a clever script, they can rise above the rest, which are, in my humble opinion, uninspired and monotonous. As an example: Dario Argento's Tenebre, Opera, and Deep Red, John Carpenter's Halloween, and Bob Clark and Roy Moore's Black Christmas (1974). I would undoubtedly add to this short list of genre gems Michael Saovi's debut film Stagefright, from 1987. He began as an employee of Argento and is best known for Cemetery Man. Another noteworthy film is The Sect (which, if I remember correctly, starred Jamie Lee Curtis' little sister). Unfortunately The sect is hard to find and is not available in US region DVD. Somebody should do something about that. However, Stagefright is his tightest, most intense and suspenseful movie to date. It is incredibly stylish and beautifully photographed. The Argento influence is prevalent in this. It's in the handling of the bloodletting (of which there is ample!), the colors, and the pacing of the movie. At times it takes on a surreal, dreamlike quality. Nothing on the level of, say, suspiria, but enough to create a few unforgettable images. The killer onstage creating his own "scene" toward the end is just an amazing sequence. Also, this movie has one of the most interesting and creepy killers of all time. He wears a black tuxedo and a full head owl mask. It's quite odd, and oddly effective. Overall, this is one of the best slasher films ever made. The well-written script alone puts it far above any of the Friday The 13ths or any of those. Highly recommended!!

An Argento-protege, good budget, and awesomely moronic storyline (rehearsals for a musical about serial killers--interrupted by a real serial killer!). Still, the movie kinda sucks. The dialog is just too stupidly generic, even for this sort of film. Then, there's that idiotic 80s hair and clothing. Maybe it's just me though--since you get to see all these people die, maybe you'll enjoy it.

I bought "Stagefright" because it had been reviewed/advertised as a giallo. I was disappointed to learn that it is not. A giallo involves an unknown murderer who is systematically killing people for a reason other than that he/she is insane. Usually, they kill for revenge or to prevent a past crime of theirs from coming to light. In "Stagefright," the killer's identity is known - an escaped psychotic killer. And he, like Jason Voorhees, merely wants to kill as many people as he can.

"Stagefright" does have a high body count and the death scenes are very gruesome. However, few, if any of the death scenes were truly original. I felt like I was watching "Slumber Party Massacre" in which the killer slaughters innocent girls, without reason, with a portable drill. It also reminded me of Jason Voorhees of "Friday the 13th" with his hockey mask and machete. The girl being ripped in half and her torso pulled upward into the room above, reminded me of "Alligator" where the police officer in the water is bit in half by the giant alligator and his torso is lifted up out of the water and pulled into the boat.

I kept expecting a major twist ending that would shock me. I was hoping to learn that the killer was not the escaped psychopath but one of the cast members or stage hands who wanted the play to fail; therefore proving that this was a true giallo. Unfortunately, that twist ending never came. The escaped psychopath was the only killer.

The play that the performers were rehearsing was very strange. It involved too much glamorization of rape. It wasn't anything that I would pay to see.

"Stagefright" had potential to be much better than it was. Unfortunately, it was merely a collage of slasher flicks from the grand slasher era that was winding down when "Stagefright" was released in 1987.

Overall, the movie was entertaining if you like slasher flicks from the 80`s. I did jump a couple of times. Furthermore, Michele Soavi, the director, of "Stagefright" learned his craft from Dario Argento and Mario Bava`s son, Lamberto Bava.

One of Michele Soavi's best films!!! I wish he did more!!!!!!! Also recommended: Cemetery Man, The Church, and The Devil's Daughter(La Setta).