Trauma (1993)

A psychologically disturbed anorexic (Asia Argento) escapes from a rehab clinic and hooks up with an ex-drug addict (Christopher Rydell). But as a string of grisly decapitations by a serial killer terrorize the city, it becomes clear to the young man that the girl is somehow connected to the killings. Directed by giallo master Dario Argento (SUSPIRIA), this is a decent example of the genre. This was Argento's second foray into English language horror (the first was TWO EVIL EYES) and while he gives it the requisite gruesome killings and jittery atmosphere, I wish he had cast a more substantial leading man than the dull Rydell, who's just awful. Asia Argento seems to be channeling Nastassja Kinski which, in this case, isn't a bad thing. But it's the supporting players who bring the necessary intensity to the lurid goings on. If you're not into giallo, you may find it sloppy in its narrative but loopholes and coincidences are pretty common in giallo. There's a suitably eerie underscore by Pino Donaggio (CARRIE). With Piper Laurie, Brad Dourif, Frederic Forrest, James Russo, Laura Johnson and Hope Alexander Willis.