Dario Argento’s 1985 Horror Classic Is Getting Remade Into A Series

Phenomena is getting a television adaptation. The 1985 Dario Argento movie, which was originally released under the title Creepers in the United States, starred Jennifer Connelly a year before her breakout role in Jim Henson’s Labyrinth as a young American at a Swiss boarding school who has a psychic connection with insects. When a deadly entity begins terrorizing the community, she teams up with local entomologist Professor John McGregor (Halloween franchise stalwart Donald Pleasence) to get to the bottom of it. In addition to directing and producing the movie, Argento co-wrote the screenplay with Franco Ferrini.

Per Variety, Phenomena is now set to be adapted into a television series by Italian company Titanus Production. Phenomena – The Series is going to be brought to Series Mania to seek partners during the Co-Pro Pitching Sessions. The teen horror drama, which was originally imagined as a feature-length direct sequel, is being helmed by Nicola Guaglianone and Menotti. Read the synopsis of the project below:

Jennifer Corvino, an American student at a fencing academy in the glamorous Dolomites, harbors a secret psychic link with insects. As Jennifer navigates the challenges of being the new girl at school, she must also confront a series of brutal murders. With her unique abilities, Jennifer must learn to harness her power to stop the killer, save her comrades, and survive.

What This Phenomena Announcement Means

It Could Kick Off A Dario Argento Renaissance

Should the Phenomena project get off the ground, it will be the second-ever official remake of a Dario Argento movie and the first since Call Me By Your Name director Luca Guadagnino helmed the 2018 reimagining of his 1977 supernatural classic Suspiria. This may be the case because that title was a financial failure, only grossing $7.9 million against its $20 million budget. It also received a mixed reaction from critics, earning a just-barely Fresh score of 66% on Rotten Tomatoes. Even Sandy Schaefer’s positive, 7 out of 10, Suspiria review for ScreenRant acknowledged its flaws. Read an excerpt below:

Suspiria ultimately suffers from trying to do too much, even over the course of its pretty substantial runtime (which is divided into six acts and an epilogue).

However, if it comes to fruition and is able to connect with audiences, it could kick off a new wave of Argento reimaginings. The Italian horror master has directed many iconic giallo movies and supernatural titles that are well known in the horror sphere. While his lurid and stylized approach to filmmaking may prove to be inimitable, titles such as 1970’s The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, 1975’s Deep Red, and 1982’s Tenebrae hold enough cultural cachet that remakes may potentially be pursued.

Our Take On The Phenomena Series

It Could Be A Perfect Choice

Even if the Phenomena show does not prove to be a hit, it is a title that is perfect for a remake. The Dario Argento movie was substantially – and divisively – recut for its U.S. release, but even its original cut resulted in mixed reviews at the time. Because it is not hailed as a masterpiece at the level of Suspiria, this could prevent the remake from paling in comparison. Additionally, its subject matter lends itself perfectly to the genre of small-screen teen drama, as it has similar themes to shows like the Vampire Diaries spinoff Legacies.

Source: Variety