Phenomena (film)

Phenomena
Italian theatrical release poster by Enzo Sciotti
Directed by	Dario Argento
Produced by	Angelo Jacono Dario Argento
Written by	Dario Argento Franco Ferrini
Starring	Jennifer Connelly Daria Nicolodi Dalila Di Lazzaro Donald Pleasence Patrick Bauchau
Music by	Goblin Simon Boswell
Cinematography	Romano Albani
Edited by	Franco Fraticelli
Distributed by	Titanus New Line Cinema (USA, theatrical) Anchor Bay Entertainment (USA, DVD)
Release date	January 31, 1985 (Italy) August 2, 1985 (USA)
Running time	US Theatrical version: 82 minutes Original Italian version: 115 minutes
Country	Italy
Language	Italian German English
Budget	$3,800,000 (estimated)

Phenomena is a 1985 Italian horror film directed by Dario Argento and starring Jennifer Connelly, Daria Nicolodi, and Donald Pleasence. Its plot focuses on a girl at a remote Swiss boarding school who discovers she has psychic powers that allow her to communicate with insects and uses them to pursue a serial killer who is butchering young women at and around the school.

After its release in Italy, Phenomena was purchased for distribution in the United States by New Line Cinema, who cut over twenty minutes and released it under the title Creepers. The film features a score by regular Argento collaborators Goblin and Simon Boswell, as well as a multitude of heavy metal songs on its soundtrack. The film inspired much of the Japanese horror video game Clock Tower.

After missing a bus in the Swiss countryside, a tourist, Vera Brandt (Fiore Argento), tries looking for help. She comes across a home and, upon entering, she is attacked by an unknown stranger, who proceeds to chase and behead her.

Eight months later, Jennifer Corvino (Jennifer Connelly), arrives at the Swiss Richard Wagner Academy for Girls, chaperoned by Frau Brückner (Daria Nicolodi), who places her with roommate Sophie (Federica Mastroianni). While sleepwalking through the academy and out onto the roof, Jennifer witnesses a student being murdered. She awakens and falls, fleeing and eventually becoming lost in the woods. Forensic entomologist John McGregor (Donald Pleasence)'s chimpanzee attendant Inga (Tanga) finds her and leads her to him. Witnessing her apparent interaction with his insects, McGregor comes to believe she has a special gift for telepathy with them. Inspector Rudolf Geiger (Patrick Bauchau) is on the case alongside McGregor. Back at the academy, the headmistress has Jennifer medically tested via EEG for her sleepwalking. The procedure makes Jennifer uneasy when she gets brief visions of the previous night's events. The headmistress has Sophie look after Jennifer in case she sleepwalks again.