Ghost of a flea: The Stendahl Syndrome

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July 06, 2005

The Stendahl Syndrome

So here I am gearing up for the life transition that is sure to be George Romero's Land of the Dead, Asia Argento's first horror appearance in a film not directed by her father. George Romero, as she put it, is God. As a reminder of Argento (the daughter) in a classic role, I decided to rent The Stendahl Syndrome and it delivers on the premise and the Argento (the father) disorienting creep factor. So close. Only to discover those poltroons at Troma have released a version with Asia Argento's voice dubbed over and no subtitle alternative. Their introduction took care to point out Maxim's determination of Argento (the daughter) as the hottest woman in the universe. While this is true, Troma evidently does not understand fully fifty percent of her hotness is in her voice.

American horror audiences are used to gore. We've seen buckets of blood, gobs of guts, and every imaginable violent act displayed in widescreen detail. We may consider ourselves jaded to such things. But I defy you to watch THE STENDHAL SYNDROME and not turn away, or at least feel genuine revulsion, at several points in the film.

Asia Argento (DEMONI 2, LA CHIESA, TRAUMA, B. MONKEY, IL FANTASMA DELL'OPERA, Dario's daughter) stars as Anna Mani, a police detective on the trail of a serial rapist/murderer. She tracks him to Florence, where she receives a tip that he'll be at the Uffizi museum. With a police composite sketch of the rapist to refer to, she heads for the museum, hoping to capture him. But, while perusing the art there, she finds herself overcome by an unusual psychological phenomenon called the Stendahl Syndrome: a reaction to artwork that makes the viewer suffer hallucinations, disorientation and unconsciousness.

Don't miss the Argento (the father) interview Easter egg. A final thought: unless your last name is Argento this is not even remotely a family film.

Posted by Ghost of a flea at July 6, 2005 08:57 AM

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