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Adriana (Kendra Carelli) is a ballerina at Ms Valli's (Caroline
Williams) ballet school who's about to have her breakthrough, but lately
she's suffering from anxiety attacks, which is why she has of late she is
recieving treatment from psychiatrist Dr Cassinelli (Debbie Rochon), who
tries an experimental drug to make her feel better - but it seems that
drug only enhances her disturbing dreams. And then by the by the other
girls of the ballet school are found dead, which of course is doing
nothing good to Adriana's condition. Dr Cassinelli is mighty concerned,
and can you blame her, and so is Berna (Katie Carpenter), Adriana's best
friend. But when Berna comes to check up on Adriana one day, she has no
idea what she gets herself into ... The ballet background of
this film might immediately remind you of Suspiria
(the original, the remake wasn't even out when this was made), and if so
you aren't so far of, as this film, while the synopsis might read like a
slasher, actually feels a love letter to classic giallo, with all the
genre elements firmly in place, from the masked killer to the inventive
murders, from the expert use of music to an emphasis on beautiful
aesthetics, from the slightly over-convoluted plot to the logical if
simplified use of psychology as the film's catalyst ... and the whole
thing works, as it doesn't try too hard to just be an hommage but tells an
engaging story that's enjoyable for both genre fans and those who have
never seen a giallo, thanks to a very stylish directorial effort, a steady
pace to move things along, and a top notch cast playing a fleshed out set
of characters. A film that horror fans are sure to love, but it will
probably also speak to people beyond that reach.
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