I’ve written a few hundred of these little movie reviews. You do a thing like that, and you start to see patterns. The same complaints repeat themselves, none more so than the disappointing, focus-grouped third act.

Well, whatever its failings, ‘Phenomena’ is categorically not one of those. ‘Phenomena’ is the diametric opposite of a Hollywood horror flick. The first two acts float lazily by in a fog of stilted dialogue and minor scares. Baby Jennifer Connolly’s character has been shipped off to a generically creepy Swiss boarding school. Someone (it’s not clear early on) gets killed with scissors. We learn that JC is some kind of bug whisperer. This talent will come into play eventually, improbably.

The third act comes in like a psychic wrecking ball and pushes the crazy way past 11. Telling you anything would spoil the surprise. I’m not going to pretend I know exactly what was happening at all times, and I’m not even sure it matters. Suffice it to say that the last 20 minutes or so had me watching through my fingers, and I’m pretty hard to creep out.

‘Phenomena’ is a Dario Argento joint I somehow missed, and I recommend it for anyone in the mood for a little retro psychotronic horror. Bonus points for showing me a whole new method of decapitation and scaring me off of stew for the next few weeks.