Due occhi diabolici (1990)

Directors:

Dario Argento
George A. Romero

Writers:

Dario Argento (segment)
Franco Ferrini (segment)

Release Date:

25 October 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

When I Wake You...You'll Be Dead.

Plot:

Two horror tales based on short stories by Edgar Allan Poe directed by two famous horror directors, George A. Romero and Dario Argento.

Plot Keywords:

Cat | Black Cat | Alcoholic | Photographer | Hypnosis

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Adrienne Barbeau	...	Jessica Valdemar (segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar")
Ramy Zada	...	Dr. Robert Hoffman (segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar")
Bingo O'Malley	...	Ernest Valdemar (segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar")
Jeff Howell	...	Policeman (segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar")
E.G. Marshall	...	Steven Pike (segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar")
Harvey Keitel	...	Roderick Usher (segment "The Black Cat")
Madeleine Potter	...	Annabel (segment "The Black Cat")
John Amos	...	Det. Legrand (segment "The Black Cat")
Sally Kirkland	...	Eleonora ("The Black Cat")
Kim Hunter	...	Mrs. Pym (segment "The Black Cat")
Holter Graham	...	Christian (segment "The Black Cat") (as Holter Ford Graham)
Martin Balsam	...	Mr. Pym (segment "The Black Cat")
Chuck Aber	...	Mr. Pratt (segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar")
Jonathan Adams	...	Hammer (segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar")
Tom Atkins	...	Det. Grogan (segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar")

Also Known As:

Edgar Allan Poe (USA) (working title)
Two Evil Eyes (USA)

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

Italy | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Italy:VM14 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Australia:R | France:-16 | Germany:18 | Norway:18 (video premiere) | UK:18 | USA:R | Spain:18 | Australia:MA (DVD rating) | Argentina:18 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

ADC Films

Trivia:

The "Black Cat" segment contains several other Edgar Allan Poe tales and character names. Two of the crime scenes recorded by Rod Usher are "The Pit and the Pendulum" and "Berenice"; the Tom Savini character in the latter is made up and costumed to look like Poe himself (who wrote "Berenice" in the first person, about a man who opens the tomb of his cousin and removes her teeth). Poe did, in fact, marry his own cousin, who died at the age of 25. Rod's wife's name is Annabel (neé Lee, one supposes); the bartender who returns the cat to him is named Eleonora; and the next-door neighbors are called Pym (first name, no doubt, Arthur Gordon).

Quotes:

Jessica Valdemar: I married a rich, old man. I let him use me, for pleasure and for show. Now I'm going to let him pay me for my services.

Movie Connections:

References Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

Poe Lives On!

Horror meinsters George Romero and Dario Argento each direct an hour long(or so) segment based on stories by Edgar Allan Poe. Romero's is first and is based on a lesser Poe story "The Strange Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar." A wealthy man is dying and hypnotized by a doctor who is aiding the rich man's beautiful wife for money and other fringe benefits. This segment is fairly well-conceived by Romero(who also wrote the script). The horror is more subtle than what you might expect and not very gory. Adrienne Barbeau, still quite a dish, does a good job as the ruthless wife and Ramy Zada does a mediocre job as her accomplice. E. G. Marshall has a bit part that he devours with gusto. The second segment by Argento naturally is the more bizarre and bloody. It is based on the oft-filmed story "The Black Cat." Argento creates a story about a photographer, played by Harvey Keitel, specializing in crime scene photos that also enjoys killing cats. Eventually his instincts lead to much higher organisms. This is also a decent piece as a whole. It has a load of famous actors: John Amos, Martin Balsam, and Kim Hunter. Argento puts a weird dream sequence that is nicely shot but has little relevance to the plot at all. This segment has a big payoff scene at the end that was very original if nothing else. Although certainly more suspenseful then Romero's piece, I liked the first one a bit more. It seemed to have greater continuity. Neither piece has any real life to it, and I think the film suffers a bit from the two story format. It is entertaining though and does provide a few honest chills.