Dario Argento

[guitarwolf]

I've only seen Suspiria and Deep Red, but I enjoyed them very much. Especially Suspiria. I just wanted to know if anyone had any suggestions of some other good Argento movies and which ones to avoid. I know he made a few crap films, but I'm not sure which ones they are. Goblin really knows how to score a movie too. I had the theme from Zombie stuck in my head for almost a week after I saw that film. Does anyone have their cd's, are they just as good?

[Chadzilla]

Is Tenebrae.  

Inferno, a sequel of sorts to Suspiria, is also quite good.  His films Trauma and Phantom of the Opera are disappointing, The Stendahl Syndrome less so.  His first film, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, is required viewing.

[Will]

check out Cat O'Nine Tails, Terror at the Opera (also called Opera, a different film from Phantom of the Opera), Phenomena.

Goblin's film scores are all on CD.  They're excellent.

[Skaboi18]

The Church is a great Dario Argento film.  He didn't direct it, Micheal Savoi(another great director), took the helm of this one, but Argento wrote it.  Strange film about demons and the unlucky souls who are stuck in the church they inhabit.

[Steve.]

See Tenebrae (a sort of sequel to Suspiria), The Bird With Crystal Plumage, Four Flies On Grey Velvet, Cat O' Nine Tails, Inferno. Avoid Phenomena aka Creepers, Opera, Two Evil Eyes. TEE was made in conjunction with George Romero, which makes it even more disappointing.

[StatCat]

Dario Argento is probably my favorite director and my top choice for his best movie would be Deep Red. IF you were going to see another of his films I would say Tenebre easily is another of his great films. His first movie Bird with Crystal Plummage is also good. Others I would recommend would be Opera, Inferno, cat o nine tails (being released on dvd by anchor bay soon) Phenomena. I never really liked suspiria and don't understand why people a lot of the time consider it his best movie. I found his story in Two Evil Eyes to be ok it was much better then Romero's. Also If your really into his films the new book that came out "Art of Darkess" is a must have for any Argento fan like myself. It really isn't interviews with Dario but in depth looks at his movies. It has everything he has done so far and several nice pictures.

[Guitarwolf]

Thanks for the replies. What do you guys think of Four Flies on Grey Velvet?

[Chadzilla]

It's a bit 'dry' by current Argento standards but has its moments nonetheless.  The ultra slow motion decapitation sequence makes it required.*

*In an interview Argento talked about using this highspeed camera that shot through a full reel (about ten minutes film) in a matter of seconds, creating slow motion that appeared almost still frame.  The decapitation took literal split second timing or it would not get completely captured by the camera.  Retakes (of which they were evidently quite a few) were very costly.

[Steve.]

FFOGV's plot is based on the myth that whatever your last image is before death, it will be imprinted on your retina. It's among his better movies, though not THE best, and the decapitation is very well done.