Jenifer (2005)
Genre: Horror
Duration: 58 minuten
Alternative title: Masters of Horror: Jenifer
Country:
United States / Canada
Directed by: Dario Argento
Stars: Steven Weber, Carrie Fleming and Brenda James
IMDb score:
6,3 (6.732)
Releasedate: 18 November 2005
Jenifer plot
Police officer Frank arrives just in time to stop a man from chopping off a young woman's head. Getting closer it is a bit of a shock, because the potential victim does not exactly have a face that is pleasant to look at. Nevertheless, a close bond develops between Frank and this Jenifer, with disastrous consequences for his family life.
Actors and actresses
Frank Spivey
Spacey
Jenifer
Homeless Man
Chief Charlie
Ann Wilkerson
Amy
Pete
Institute Guard
Side Show Owner
Reviews & comments
Roger Thornhill
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- 6070 messages
- 2476 votes
“She's fucking awesome, and she's got a great rack. You know – for a Morlock.” Strange how recently it has been (or seems?) that an American television film was synonymous with safe entertainment without sex or extreme violence and with morals for the whole family. Of course, I knew that this has not been the case for a while, but this television production was still quite a surprise, with various particularly shocking and/or explicit scenes pontifically depicted and without any sentimental restraint towards children, for example. , animals or good taste (“She's retarded, I think. Sorry – mentally challenged.”). (And then you see in the DVD extras that a scene where Jenifer is eating Jack's penis was cut, and that Argento didn't even include a scene with an alien vagina was allowed to film...)
As for the "twist" at the end, many users here apparently saw it coming, but I'm never that big on it and I don't pay much attention to it either - in any case, I thought it was a nice and fitting ending (and [ spoiler]the latter also literally: the circle is complete again). The fact that Jenifer has no background or "explanation" doesn't bother me at all; The only lame thing about the film for me was the singing girl on the soundtrack: the association of children with horror and the alienating contrast between them has been used a bit too often to be effective for me any longer. But all in all, a wonderfully idiosyncratic and twisted film with a male protagonist who has exactly the right worrying face for his role and a female protagonist whose appearance cannot be faulted...
Translated from Dutch · View original
baspls
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- 4118 messages
- 1673 votes
In the 1980s, Argento, together with other horror greats, regularly had plans for TV series, but it never came to fruition. When Guillermo del Toro quipped, "The Masters of Horror salute you!" said to Mick Garris, another such idea was born. The American TV channel Showtime immediately gave the production the green light, as Garris had asked for a limited time and budget. After his failed Hollywood adventure Trauma, Argento was allowed to shoot two more films in Canada. Each in a period of 12 days and with a script that he himself had nothing to do with. The idea for Jenifer came from actor Steven Weber.
One day a police officer encounters a man who threatens to use a meat cleaver on a woman. He shoots him and finds out that the woman is severely disfigured and cannot speak. After the incident, he becomes very caring about this woman, despite the fact that everyone around him finds her repulsive. But then the horror only begins...
The acting is quite good in this episode, Steven Weber in particular performs well for a TV actor. It is logical that the film does not feel like an Argento product. The story is more reminiscent of a slightly rawer version of something from [i]The The atmospheric soundtrack by Claudio Simonetti was completely Argentoesque. It is typical that this is the only episode from the first season of MoH that was cut by the producers. Argento made it a bit crazy for the Americans in the sex scenes.
All in all, this was quite an entertaining episode of MoH.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Lovelyboy
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- 3953 messages
- 2955 votes
Quickly on to the Argento why I was actually concerned with the Masters of Horror box. Joe Dante was not a success but I have developed a soft spot for Argento over the years. It's not all that great because of all the cult, Gore and overacting, but the man certainly has a 'signature' that he also shows with this Jenifer.
Without a doubt, the story about Frank who saves the life of the young but deformed Jenifer is remarkable, and let's just say that Jen, besides her face, yikes, looks anatomical to say the least, so to speak, very horny and lascivious, damn ! It doesn't really matter that the story is full of plot holes and overflowing with illogical choices, because that is not what this product is about. Because it is of course a special Argento product with a psychological pitfall, enough blood, Gore and the necessary humor. It never really becomes scary or horror, but it is humorous and of course it is special, but the outcome is also fairly predictable.
And so this turns out to be a special Argento with an interesting theme in that sense. Because doesn't it work a bit like this that we men quickly get away from a bit of pretended innocence, a fantastic body in this case and something like the 'savior syndrome' that we often suffer from? Wouldn't the psychological underlying layer be that we quickly throw all principles and standards of decency together in order to chase our dick, for a nice woman and horny sex while there is a shitty character in it? In this case, lock it in the basement, throw in some raw meat and let it out every now and then for 'play hour'. Of course this goes a little further and can almost be called a fetish, but I still think there is more to this film than seems.
As already said, a typical Argento, certainly not his best, but very acceptable and entertaining.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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