Stage Fright – aka StageFright: Aquarius, Bloody Bird, Deliria - is a 1987 Italian horror film directed by Michele Soavi. The film stars Barbara Cupisti, David Brandon and Giovanni Lombardo Radice. Written by George Eastman (writing as Lew Cooper), the story combines elements of the giallo and slasher film genres. Joe D’Amato served as the film’s producer. It was Soavi’s first feature film as director; he had previously worked as an assistant director for Joe D’Amato, Dario Argento and Lamberto Bava and had previously directed the music video “The Valley” for Argento’s Phenomena as well as the documentary Dario Argento’s World of Horror.
Plot teaser
A group of young dancers rehearsing in an old theatre is accidentally locked-in for the night – but not alone. In the shadows, someone is watching, waiting and selecting victims at his demented leisure… tonight, deranged serial killer Irving Wallace has escaped and is about to put on his own real-life horror show!
The scene where Brett bows in front of the mirror to reveal Wallace standing directly behind him is a homage to Dario Argento’s film Tenebre (1982), which Michele Soavi was an assistant director on.
During a screening at the Fantasia Film Festival fans threw white feathers from the theater balcony which showered down on the audience in a homage to the haunting finale of the film.
Stage Fright is showing at the 2014 Mayhem Film Festival in Nottingham.
Buy Stage Fright on Blu-ray from Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com
Reviews
“Soavi’s direction is solid, displaying a keen visual eye for audacious giallo-styled frissons that bolster the production with a classy elegance all its own. In true Italian style, Soavi pulls no punches either when it comes to his marvelously gruesome murder setpieces, even managing to generate some well-handled tension along the way to the obligatory twist ending. Clearly derivative, but eminently unforgettable.” Sex Gore Mutants
“Here’s a maniac that finally seems to be having a grand old time, without disrupting scenes with endless one-liners (like that Krueger guy). All in all,Stage Fright is the last truly great slasher, maintaining the integrity of the form while making it leaner and even more cinematic, and spinning it with a self-reflexive twist.” Cinema Gonzo
“The first two acts of the movie has some very stylish shots, but there’s no doubt that the pedestrian nature of the story (killer chases people) keeps things a tad neutral. However, the last 30 minutes are the movie’s saving grace, as the production design and Soavi’s interesting set-ups combine to create a slasher film with a very unique look. Also, the movie is able to create some actual suspense, which is actually rare for a movie of this genre.” DVD Sleuth
WH
