Dario Argento (Suspiria) brings a different take to the classic tale of The Phantom of the Opera. Mysteriously, a series of terrifying accidents and brutal murders leave a bloody trail into the subterranean caverns of the opera house. Below the theater stalks a man (Julian Sands, Warlock) raised by creatures of the underworld. He tragically falls for the beautiful up-and-coming opera singer Christine (Asia Argento, The Stendhal Syndrome). He lures her into his underground lair. Will she be saved from his clutches before it’s too late?
For thoughts on The Phantom of the Opera, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
The Phantom of the Opera comes to Blu-Ray from Kino Classics and Scorpion Releasing with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 that appears to be derived from a slightly older master that is in great shape. The presentation is pleasing throughout most of the runtime with image stability and delineation being strong. The picture can run a bit soft in a handful of shots, but colors are well saturated in a visually pleasing way that captures the depths of the dinginess of the Phantom’s lair. Skin tones are natural with subtle facial features and makeup easily noticeable in closeup. Black levels are pretty solid with very little in the way of crush. Instances of print damage occasionally pop up very briefly, but overall clarity and detail is excellent. This transfer maintains the natural film grain of the presentation with only minor instances of it seeming a bit clumpy. This presentation is excellent even without a fresh master. Fans will probably be enamored with the overall look of the film.
Audio Quality
This new Blu-Ray comes with a lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix in both Italian and English that captures the intention of the film as well as the source will allow. A personal pet peeve with a film this recent is the decision to film with actors in different languages and post-dubbing to match the language chosen. No matter which track you choose, there are going to be some characters who are dubbed. This is a side effect of the filming technique and not an issue with the disc.
That being said, the dialogue is strong, coming through clearly without being stepped on by the music or sound effects. The cast seems to weigh more heavily towards speaking in English, so that feels like the preferred track for this one. The music from Ennio Morricone maintains a perfect fidelity as it comes through the room. The environmental effects are delineated nicely from the chatter of the performers during rehearsal to the sounds of rats in the sewer. The track avoids nearly all instances of age related wear and tear or distortion. This is a track that captures the intent of Argento. Optional English subtitles are provided on this disc.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Film Historians Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson deliver a really great commentary track in which they discuss the divisive nature of the feature, how this finds Argento functioning in a very different mode, the unique way this film came about, the shot composition of the feature, the different influences from cinema, the performances in the film and more. These two like the film quite a bit more than I did, but it is nice to hear different arguments as to why they think it succeeds.
- Behind The Red Curtain – Interview with Director/Screenwriter Dario Argento: An 18-minute interview with Argento is provided here in which he discusses his inspiration to make the film, how the Claude Rains version impacted him, the shooting locations, creative compromises he made to keep the budget down, working with rats, the special effects, the performances and more.
- In The Phantom Cave – Interview with Set Designer Antonello Geleng: An 18-minute conversation with Geleng in which he talks about the difficulties of sharing the theater space with an active show, how he developed the looks of locations with Argento, how the setting ties into the themes of the film, the lighting of the film, his collaborations with Argento, his feelings towards the film and more.
- Welcome To The Opera – Interview with Producer Giuseppe Colombo: An 18-minute interview with Colombo in which he discusses his history with Argento, the development of the project, disagreements surrounding the feature, the sets of the film, the logistical headaches, his thoughts on the film and more.
Final Thoughts
The Phantom of the Opera finds horror maestro Dario Argento taking the classic tale and putting his distinct stamp on it. The results are a bit inconsistent, but overall this is on the stronger side of his later-period output. The casting of Julian Sands is likely the biggest mistake the film makes, but Asia Argento proves to be a transfixing romantic foil. Kino Classics and Scorpion Releasing have released a new Blu-Ray featuring a pretty great A/V presentation and a pleasing array of special features. If you are a completist for Dario Argento, this one is far from a disgrace in his filmography.
The Phantom of the Opera is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Kino Classics and Scorpion Releasing have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.