Trauma

Dario Argento's first US feature, Trauma, is a film I'd like to like more, partially because it's obviously so personal for Argento but largely because it's depressing to see how ineffectual most of his later films are. In many ways this feels like the work of an overambitious newbie rather than an experienced director: shots seem clumsily timed, performance styles are all over the place and the script is an undisciplined mess of good and bad ideas. Partially inspired by his stepdaughter's anorexia (she can be seen dancing in the film's end credits) to shock her out of it - an intention that would seem to be somewhat undone by Asia Argento taking dieting tips from her to play the troubled anorexic lead - much of it feels like an awkward reworking of past hits. Like Profondo Rosso/Deep Red the plot is triggered by a séance where a medium identifies a killer among those present, and the film features such Argento favorites as ill-fated lizards, elevator-assisted decapitations and a twist that hinges on a misinterpretation of what you think you see (although in this case the key shot is so badly photographed you literally CAN'T see it).There are a few very subtle references to Les Miserables and the French Revolution (most pleasingly in a shot of Piper Laurie in front of a window with the curtain drawn aside to look like a guillotine blade) thrown in along with other half-developed ideas, but even the seemingly foolproof sequences are executed in a haphazard and workmanlike fashion, although there is one nicely inspired moment of improvisation when a killer who only strikes during rainstorms has to despatch a victim in a hotel room on a clear day. Argento's former visual prowess is little in evidence, the mastery of color that was such a feature of his earlier films reduced to a bland palette, but unfortunately many of his old weaknesses are all too apparent. Chief among them is a lot of really terrible acting: between Piper Laurie's tiresome histrionics and Frederic Forrest's Dwight Frye School of Overacting mad doctor, this may be one of the few films where Brad Dourif seems comparatively grounded. Neither of the leads, both played by the children of directors, can compensate, with Christopher Rydell faring only slightly better than Asia Argento, whose offscreen commitment to the role never translates onscreen.If you're an Argento completist there's probably a bit more here than for the casual viewer, but it's thin stuff, though Anchor Bay's Region 1 NTSC DVD is fairly generous on extras, including four scenes deleted from the US version (two of which are minor plot points somewhat confusingly directly referred to in the US version).

Apparently there are a lot of movies called Trauma, I was excited to receive this movie, as I haven't seen it in freakin' years. Tore open my delivery, only to have been sent the wrong "Trauma" movie. I ordered the one starring Asia Argento...how the hell this got screwed up is beyond me.As for the movie, it's got a look and vibe to it that I can't explain, I just know it resonated with me. Plus it's quite screwed up...my type of movie.Also, check out a Korean movie called "Oldboy"....talk about an effed up movie, geez!! Trauma and Oldboy are on my list of my top 20 favorite movies.Anyway, send me the correct movie Secondspin!!!

Classic Argento stuff, one of the first argento films we saw, loved it, nice little twist ending blew us away first time we saw it

Solid release of a lesser but still enjoyable Argento film

of course I'm going to give this one a 5 star rating. Many who have seen this movie wouldn't be so nice with a high rating, but it had some great actors and decent acting. It also stars a young Asia Argento, pretty cool to watch her this young. It's not a perfect movie but worth watching or adding to your collection.

Odds are you already know if this one's for you or not. A lot of people hate on the later Argentos, but I found this to be another enjoyably campy gorefest filled with ridiculous plot twists. Piper Laurie really ought to watch this herself someday...

Delivery on time, Quality better than expected. Satisfaction Garanteeeeeed...

Christmass gift for older sister who has been searching for this on DVD for awhile now. She's a huge Asia Argento fan, so this has played very well amidst her collection.

Nowhere near Dario's worst (that was yet to come!) but this Giallo isn't great. I guess, if you forget this is Argento, this could be be an OK trashy time filler. In fact, it's so silly it's quite entertaining! But it is Argento. I suggest you watch it anyway and just imagine it was made by Bruno Mattei instead!

This is yet again another great film by Dario Argento, dark and twisted it enters the world of a serial killer whos targeting certain people and cutting off their heads!! The cast is good, Asia Argento is lovely and great to watch as always, theres maybe not quite as much gore in this film as you would like but there are still some great bloody moments of carnage and terror! Most of all like all Argento movies the story is interesting and keeps you pulled in. certainly worth checking out if your a fan.

Curiously Trauma could well be Argento's worst film, an awful soundtrack adding to the problems. America wasn't kind to Dario and a poor script, weak performances and a sense that this is a case where a weak Argento isn't interesting in any way at all. The Card Player is actually better, and that says it all.

bootleg burned bluray. returned

presente la lingua inglese in questa edizione spagnola, la versione italiana pare purtroppo introvabile.. il film è comunque godibile per chi ha una conoscenza di base della lingua inglese, visto anche che la protagonista Asia Argento parla un inglese a noi ben comprensibile