dir. Dario Argento

1971 // 1 hr 44 min // Digital Projection

Starring: Mimsy Farmer, Maurizio Bonuglia, Mario Scaccia

Argento plays with his penchant for panache, in this frenetic final entry in his “Animal” trilogy, a film that has been studied as much for its stylistic flourishes as it has for its queer subtext. Roberto (Michael Brandon) is a young drummer being stalked by a homicidal maniac (whom he first encounters after a spectacular knife fight in an empty theater), who is blackmailing the musician for a crime Roberto may or may not have committed. Guilt-ridden, confused, and terrified, Roberto loses his grip on reality, which Argento demonstrates through extreme closeups, sadistic set pieces, and satisfying jump scares that haven’t lost their edge 50+ years on.