This week, we're looking at the work of a filmmaker who's been a major figure in the horror genre for more than a half century: Dario Argento. Chris and Nick are both big fans of the Argento films they've seen, but with a filmography as extensive as the Italian master's is, there's still a lot left for us to check out. First up on our all-Argento episode (the first on The Shuddering, but likely not our last!), we review his most recent film, 2022's Dark Glasses. A throwback to Argento's legendary giallo films, this Rome-set mystery thriller was a surprise premiere on Shudder, and it features Argento's daughter Asia in a pivotal supporting role -- as well as one of the best movie dogs in recent memory. And then, it's on to a bona fide Argento classic, which one of us has just experienced for the very first time. 1985's Phenomena, also released in a heavily edited version known as Creepers, stars Jennifer Connelly in one of her first major film roles, as a teenager who tangles with a brutal serial killer at a Swiss boarding school. Oh, and she has a powerful psychic connection to the insect world. Also, a chimpanzee is a major character, playing several scenes opposite the legendary Donald Pleasance. And all of that doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of this movie's mind-blowing bizarreness. We had a LOT of fun discussing this one (BTW, let us know what you think of Nick's alternate title), and we hope you enjoy this especially super-sized episode of the show, on which we also get into Netflix's 1899, the recently released Bones and All, and more!
This week, we're looking at the work of a filmmaker who's been a major figure in the horror genre for more than a half century: Dario Argento. Chris and Nick are both big fans of the Argento films they've seen, but with a filmography as extensive as the Italian master's is, there's still a lot left for us to check out. First up on our all-Argento episode (the first on The Shuddering, but likely not our last!), we review his most recent film, 2022's Dark Glasses. A throwback to Argento's legendary giallo films, this Rome-set mystery thriller was a surprise premiere on Shudder, and it features Argento's daughter Asia in a pivotal supporting role -- as well as one of the best movie dogs in recent memory. And then, it's on to a bona fide Argento classic, which one of us has just experienced for the very first time. 1985's Phenomena, also released in a heavily edited version known as Creepers, stars Jennifer Connelly in one of her first major film roles, as a teenager who tangles with a brutal serial killer at a Swiss boarding school. Oh, and she has a powerful psychic connection to the insect world. Also, a chimpanzee is a major character, playing several scenes opposite the legendary Donald Pleasance. And all of that doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of this movie's mind-blowing bizarreness. We had a LOT of fun discussing this one (BTW, let us know what you think of Nick's alternate title), and we hope you enjoy this especially super-sized episode of the show, on which we also get into Netflix's 1899, the recently released Bones and All, and more!