The Stendhal Syndrome Review

Stendhal Syndrome, The
A young policewoman slowly goes insane while tracking down an elusive serial rapist/killer through Italy when she herself becomes a victim of the brutal man's obsession.

by Adam Smith |
Published on
Release Date:

01 Jan 1996

Running Time:

120 minutes

Certificate:

18

Original Title:

Stendhal Syndrome, The

Dario Argento's at it again with this deeply weird psychological thriller starring, as is becoming irritatingly regular, his own daughter Asia. She's a cop with the titular syndrome which sends her all goofy when she sees works of art. Letting her show off her outstanding, er, acting skills.

There's a serial rapist/killer who inevitably goes after the young art-lover and, in a number of sickening sequences, tortures and brutalises her. Argento's penchant for seeing his own daughter physically assaulted is getting positively macabre, and aside from that the plot makes little sense.

It does however suggest that Miss Argento may have a career outside of her father's shadow.

For fans of the Italian Hitchcock, there are enough virtuoso sequences to make it worth a look. Otherwisecheck out his earlier work.
Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us