Scarlet Diva

R

Released May 26, 2000

1h 29m

Drama

List

52%

Tomatometer

25 Reviews

52%

Audience Score

2,500+ Ratings

An actress (Asia Argento) experiments with drugs and meets a musician who leaves her lovesick and pregnant.

Read More

Read Less

G. Allen Johnson

San Francisco Chronicle

A really bravura piece of filmmaking and a brave central performance.

May 31, 2018

Full Review

Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

The cinematic equivalent of scabies ... and I mean that as a compliment.

Rated: B

Mar 3, 2006

Full Review

Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

It's difficult to discern if this is a crazy work of disturbed genius or merely 90 minutes of post-adolescent Electra rebellion.

Rated: 2.5/5

Oct 20, 2002

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

Scarlet Diva is an ambulance-chasing hot mess that will still register with viewers as shocking, ridiculous, or both.

May 30, 2018

Full Review

Joe Bob Briggs

United Press International

I definitely want to watch it again. I'm not sure exactly what I saw the first time, but I loved it.

Rated: 4/4

Oct 24, 2016

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Jun 25, 2005

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

If the editing was better this could have been excellent. Asia reflection into a life spiraling downward from sex and drugs (booze too). Shows how one can go from the top and free fall fast.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This a little anti-myself to type this, but when I saw pictures of Anthony and Asia in the tabloids years ago, I: Woof. He's a dead man. I don't know what hit me about the whole thing to have that thought prior to Anthony actually killing himself, but sometimes you know yourself so well you can see that tumultuous relationship playing out without even being involved. After Me Too was swirling, and then Asia's own Me Too rolled out (a bit icky and gross even if it was consensual), I pondered: How can one be so upset with a rapist when she recreated him and her own trauma for her film? I don't see many other rape victims jumping into such recreations. This is a question every Goddess must sit in their own poop with, because it is deep deep poop, especially when Daddy's an Italian erotic horror director...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It's disorienting and bold. Not a favorite, yet, certainly not forgettable.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I once heard someone say that beauty plus popularity meant wanting to be bedded by everyone you met. I think Asia Argento, in her feature-length directorial debut, has illustrated that concept exquisitely. Drawing from her own experiences, Asia has created a daring and honest - if not always accessible - film that explores the hectic, exhausting, and often isolating world of an actress who wants more out of life. There's a fine line between what a person chooses to do and what they have forced upon them and that's another heartbreaking reality Asia tries to examine with "Scarlet Diva." It can truly be said when you stand in the spotlight, you stand alone and are surrounded by shadows. At first, fame is seen as an alluring realm of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll but when the sparkle dulls, we're left with the harsh pleasures and even harsher pitfalls of celebrity status. Anna Battista (Argento) is an actress who wants to be a director, but who suddenly finds her priorities changing when she becomes pregnant after a steamy one night stand with musician Kirk Vaines (Jean Shepard). Her life is filled with, shall we say, interesting exploits from finding her friend Veronica (Vera Gemma) tied up in an apartment for two days after having an argument with her boyfriend to having a brief lesbian tryst with a woman (Selen) she can't remember to being chased down a hotel hallway by a naked, overly amorous producer (Joe Coleman) to almost drowning in a swimming pool while high on drugs. Toss in a few frenetic flashbacks to a broken childhood and you have the beginnings of a fascinating film. Argento seems deeply involved in her role as Anna, but I hate to say that she doesn't have her father's eye for visuals nor his stylish cinematic presence from the directorial chair. She focuses more on substance and performance which, while there's certainly nothing wrong with that, doesn't help the threadbare nature of "Scarlet Diva." This is a film that screams out for flair and pomp. The authentic quality of the screenplay makes for a solid motion picture but in other hands, this film could have been so much more. On a side note I must give Argento credit for making incredible use of Nina Simone's "Wild is the Wind."

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This film is a classic case of Her father is a great director so naturally she will be too but isn't. Her father,Dario Argento, has In my opinion created some of the greatest horror/suspense films of all-time and so naturally his daughter would get into acting and etc like him. Also naturally I was curious about the film because of her father. After seeing the film I was..Disappointed some what....but at the same time I figured it would be bad. It's not a GOD AWFUL film but it's def. not in the same calibur as her fathers stuff. there where some interesting camera angles here and there and I will admit she went for the fences with her stuff(just like er dad) but unlike her dad where he makes it all look so...innovative and unique hers is just blan. Like I said it's not HORRIBLE but if you were hopin' to see an almost...baby Argento you're sorely mistaken.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Was that a lesbian rape scene? So this movie has two big signs on it: "I was directed by a first-time filmmaker!" and "I was directed by an Italian"

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Asia Argento

Director

Asia Argento

Anna Battista

Herbert Fritsch

Aaron Ulrich

Joe Coleman

Mr. Paar

Francesca d'Aloja

Margherita

Vera Gemma

Veronica Lanza

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

63%

74%

Acts of Worship

50%

44%

This Girl's Life

29%

30%

Suspicious River

22%

61%

King of the Jungle

67%

71%

Looking for an Echo

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

26 Directors Who Followed In Their Fathers’ Footsteps

View more photos

Synopsis

An actress (Asia Argento) experiments with drugs and meets a musician who leaves her lovesick and pregnant.

Director: Asia Argento
Producer: John Sirabella, Adriana Chiesa DiPalma, Gianluca Curti
Screenwriter: Asia Argento
Distributor: Minerva, Media Blasters, Clyde Films Inc. [jp], Mondo Films
Production Co: Opera Film Produzione
Rating: R (Drug Content|Strong Sexuality|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 26, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 18, 2018
Runtime: 1h 29m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital

Most Popular at Home Now