Detective Anna Manni is on the hunt for a sadistic serial rapist and murderer when, whilst working her way through the various artworks on display in Florence’s Uffizi Gallery, she falls into a trance and faints. After regaining consciousness and returning to her hotel room in a dissociative state, Anna is brutally attacked and raped by the killer before she eventually manages to escape his clutches. In the wake of this ordeal, Anna’s psychiatrist explains to her that she suffers from Stendhal syndrome, a rare condition in which individuals become overwhelmed in the presence of great works of art. Returning to her hometown of Viterbo where she has been advised to rest up, Anna continues to psychologically unravel, all the while sensing that the killer has unfinished business with her…

A standout in the ’90s filmography of Italian horror maestro Dario Argento (Suspiria, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage), THE STENDHAL SYNDROME marked the director’s return to his native country after a brief US excursion with Two Evil Eyes and Trauma. More intensely mean-spirited than his previous offerings, THE STENDHAL SYNDROME sees the master filmmaker continue to experiment with a range of striking visual techniques, aided by veteran cinematographer Giuseppe Rotunno and complemented by a mesmerizing score from famed composer Ennio Morricone. Now newly restored in 4K from its original camera negative and accompanied by a wealth of bonus features, Vinegar Syndrome is delighted to unveil THE STENDHAL SYNDROME in its UHD world premiere.

For thoughts on The Stendhal Syndrome, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

The Stendhal Syndrome comes to 4K UHD Blu-Ray from Vinegar Syndrome with a 2160p Dolby Vision/HDR transfer in 1.85:1 that is derived from a 4K scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative. The film was last released on Blu-Ray in 2022 by Blue Underground, who had released the film a handful of times on the format dating back to 2008. That release was from an older master that is said to have been decent enough with some minor imperfections, but we have never viewed it. This new 4K UHD release will undoubtedly prove to be the go-to way to view the movie at home with exceptional stability and amazing delineation. The presentation is unbelievable as it allows the film to look as gorgeous as it possibly can.

Colors are deftly saturated to bring out the peculiarities of the environments, the bloody makeup effects, and the clothing choices. Black levels are nice and deep with no discernible crush, and highlights avoid any unsightly blooming. Skin tones are natural with subtle facial features easily noticeable in close-ups. This transfer maintains the rich natural film grain of the presentation with everything resolving flawlessly. Any potential print damage has been eradicated with no specks or scratches detected. Clarity and detail are a sight to see with so many grotesque visuals on display. This presentation comes alive on the format and continues the run of Vinegar Syndrome treating Argento with the utmost care.

Audio Quality

This new 4K UHD Blu-Ray comes with a lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix in both Italian and English that translates the material as well as the source will allow. As with many Argento movies, a somewhat novel aspect of the film, for those unfamiliar with the genre, 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 creative decision to accommodate the performers and not an issue with the disc.

The dialogue is largely crisp and clear, coming through clearly without being overshadowed by the music or sound effects. The track avoids any instances of age-related wear and tear or distortion. The environmental effects are confidently defined from the opening chatter at the art gallery to police sirens and other violent developments. The music from Ennio Morricone is a major high point of the experience as it conjures an appropriately moody atmosphere while maintaining a pleasing fidelity throughout. This track nails every aspect that it needs to, and fans should be pleased with the experience. Newly translated optional English SDH and forced English subtitles are provided for the English track, and optional English subtitles are provided for the Italian track.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Film Historians Eugenio Ercolani, Troy Howarth, and Nathaniel Thompson deliver a really great commentary track in which they discuss the history of Argento in the giallo genre, how this fits into his filmography of the time, the reception of the film, the shot composition of the feature, the performances in the film, and more.

Interviews: A collection of new and archival interviews is provided in which the cast and creative team discuss their involvement with the film, working with Dario Argento, the legacy of the film, and more.

- Lost In Art – An Interview with Director/Screenwriter Dario Argento (27:38)

- Behind the Canvas – An Interview with Special Effects Artist Sergio Stivaletti (33:16)

- Architect of Illusion – An Interview with Production Designer Antonello Geleng (34:11)

- Shadow Unit – An Interview with Second Unit Director Luigi Cozzi (44:24)

- Scripted Visions – An Interview with Screenwriter Franco Ferrini (15:38)

- The Price of Vision – An Interview with Producer Giuseppe Colombo (17:48)

- Through Her Gaze – An Interview with Actress Asia Argento (25:23)

- Inside the Wounds – An Interview with Special Make-Up Effects Artist Franco Casagni (13:08)

English Trailer (1:01)

English Opening Titles (1:46)

Final Thoughts

The Stendhal Syndrome is a vicious, compelling giallo thriller from the great Dario Argento that stands above many of his other late-career works. The subject matter can be quite stomach-churning and comes with a bold content warning for sexual assault, but you cannot deny the skill behind the crafts and the keen pacing. Asia Argento does a good job with challenging material. It is great to see an effort from the master given a fresh chance to be in the spotlight. Vinegar Syndrome has released a new 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a beautiful A/V presentation and a sterling array of special features. If you are a completist for Dario Argento, you will be thrilled. Recommended

The Stendhal Syndrome is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Vinegar Syndrome has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.