Phenomena (1985)

aka Creepers
dir. Dario Argento

Though it’s set in and around Zurich, Argento also used several locations in Rome.

A young tourist (Fiore Argento) is left behind on a country road – Kleinwald, Urnäsch, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Switzerland. The bus stop sign was apparently a prop, the actual stop is a few hundred meters south down the road. The stop’s name is “Kleinwald, Urnäsch” and it is for Bus 791.

The maniac's house – Kleinwald, Urnäsch, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Switzerland. The dirt road that leads to the house is right next to where the fake stop sign was. The road is marked "Private" so it's not possible to approach the house.

The girl is murdered by the maniac at the waterfall – Thur waterfalls, Ennethur 818, 9657 Alt St. Johann, Switzerland. The waterfalls are not behind the maniac’s house as the film implies. They can be reached by a relatively short walk from the village of Unterwasser in the canton of St. Gallen.

The entomologist John McGregor's (Donald Pleasence) house is located to the south of Parco degli Scipioni off Via di Porta Latina, Rome, Italy. The villa is on a private property.

The girls’ school that Jennifer Corvino (Jennifer Connelly) attends – Rietberg Museum, Gablerstrasse 15, Zurich, Switzerland. The exterior is Villa Wesendonck that is part of the museum complex. The interiors were actually filmed at the Marymount Institute, a private Catholic school, Via Nomentana 355, Rome, Italy.

Jennifer’s dream – Villa Fassini, Via Guiseppe Donati 174, Rome, Italy.

Jennifer’s sleepwalking and falling – Acqua Acetosa Station, Piazzale dell’Acqua Acetosa, Rome, Italy.

Jennifer almost gets run over by a car and is picked up by two boys – Zollikerstrasse 214, Zurich, Switzerland.

Jennifer is on her way to see McGregor – Dolderbahn rack railway, Zurich, Switzerland. The segment shown in the film is between Titlisstrasse and Bergstation stops. This happens to be one of those cinematic contrivances since McGregor’s house is actually in Rome.

Jennifer calling home and asks to return to the United States – Hauptbahnhof, Bahnhofplatz, Zurich, Switzerland. Seen outside the window is the building at Bahnhofplatz 6. The entire front of the station is currently under renovation so it wasn’t possible to take a picture.

Frau Brückner’s (Daria Nicolodi) house – Sulzergut, Seestrasse 237, Kilchberg, Switzerland. Lake Zurich is visible in the background.

The later scene where Jennifer tries to escape from the house using a boat was filmed in Italy, on Lake Bracciano, northwest of Rome. The water in Lake Zurich was reportedly deemed too cold. The villa is located off Via Circumlacuale to the south of Via della Lobbra.

See also...

Suspiria

The Shining

Purple Noon (1960)

French title: Plein soleil
dir. René Clément

This is the first film adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's novel The Talented Mr. Ripley, also filmed under its original title by Anthony Minghella in 1999. Unlike his successor, Clément didn't feel compelled to showcase Rome's usual tourist attractions. The exceptions are the Pantheon and the barely recognizable Piazza del Popolo. Many thanks to Lois for sharing her beautiful pictures with me. This only covers the Rome locations.

Philippe Greenleaf (Maurice Ronet) and Tom Ripley (Alain Delon) at a street cafe – Via Vittorio Veneto 118, Rome, Italy. This location actually matches the related episode in Highsmith’s novel. Later in the scene, Tom returns to the café with a book on Fra Angelico.

Philippe buys a cane from a blind man – Church of Santa Maria in Montesanto, Piazza del Popolo, Rome, Italy.

Philippe crosses the street pretending to be blind – Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli, Via del Corso, Rome, Italy.

Tom moves into a small hotel after Philippe’s murder – Via Campo Carleo 24, Rome, Italy.

Tom going out – Piazza del Grillo, Rome, Italy.

Tom crossing the Piazza della Rotonda with the Pantheon in the background, Rome, Italy. The piazza appeared more spectacularly in Peter Greenaway's The Belly of an Architect.

Tom goes into a Kodak shop – Piazza della Rotonda 66, Rome, Italy.

Tom buys more things necessary for his transformation into Philippe – Via di Santa Caterina da Siena 43, Rome, Italy.

The pharmacy – Via di Piè di Marmo 38, Rome, Italy.

Tom moves into a posh hotel – Westin Excelsior, Via Vittorio Veneto 125, Rome, Italy.

Tom rents an apartment – Via Savoia 90, Rome, Italy. It’s in the vicinity of the Porta Pinciana and Villa Borghese as in the novel.

Tom parks his car across the street – Via Savoia 51, Rome, Italy.

Tom flees his apartment as the police closes in on him – Via Civitavecchia 3, Rome, Italy.

Tom hails a cab – Via Civitavecchia 3, Rome, Italy.

Tom goes to the American Express office – Stazione Termini, Piazza dei Cinquecento, Rome, Italy.

Tom leaving the police station – Largo del Pallaro at Via di Grotta Pinta, Rome, Italy.

See also...

Le Samourai

The Talented Mr. Ripley