Aura (1993)

Aura: Directed by Dario Argento. With Christopher Rydell, Asia Argento, Piper Laurie, Frederic Forrest. A young man tries to help a teenage European girl who escaped from a clinic hospital after witnessing the murder of her parents by a serial killer and they try to find the killer before the killer finds them.

“Italianu0026#39;s top-class horror director Dario Argento obviously impressed some people with his previous films (u0026#39;Operau0026#39; in particular) as he was offered the opportunity to film a fully American backed production. Trauma is a gruesome and sadistic thriller from the giallo-master, completely set in Minnesota and depending on a respectable US cast. Thereu0026#39;s a serial decapitator at large and the young, anorexic Aura (directoru0026#39;s daughter Asia Argento) seemly is his/her main-target. The good-hearted journalist David (Christopher Rydell) takes the girl under his wings after the killer got both of her parents and, as their relationship becomes more intimate, the routine of sadistic killings slowly emerges. A bone-chilling mystery from the past slowly unravels and it involves multiple (ex-)doctors from a psychiatric clinic. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe plots in gialli rarely are credible so you can count on the fact that this u0026#39;Traumau0026#39; contains several far-fetched nonsense aspects as well. Especially the U-turn twist near the end is pretty hard to digest. My advise: donu0026#39;t pay too much attention to this and drown in Argentou0026#39;s brilliant as always camera movements and the stunning portrayal of the violence. Trauma may not be as bloody as u0026#39;Tenebraeu0026#39; or the more recent u0026#39;Sleeplessu0026#39; but some of the butchering done here still is perfectly nauseating. What else do you expect with a killer whose modus operandi includes beheading people? Unfortunately, Argento still lacks the skills to direct his actors. You canu0026#39;t even blame the dubbing this time, but the performances are far below average. Asia Argento is forgiven, since it was her first leading role. But I expected a little better from routine B-stars like Frederic Forrest, Piper Laurie and James Russo. Brad Dourif is a joy to observe, but his appearance is far too brief to save the dull acting. To me, Trauma turned out to be a pleasant Sunday afternoon time-waster. Not nearly Argentou0026#39;s most memorable film (he hasnu0026#39;t made any memorable film in the 90u0026#39;s) but maybe the ideal film for inexperienced horror fans to get into contact with Argentou0026#39;s work. All the trademarks that made him legendary in the field are present, but none of them is properly elaborated like it should be.”