HugeBOOKReviews.com  rated: HUGE

Review by Jorge Solis

HUGE

I first found out about filmmaker Dario Argento when I was watching television in Mexico. Dario Argento’s Tenebre was playing that night and I could remember very well how stylish and effective the movie was in suspense and gore. I later on saw another film of his, Cat of Nine Tails, in college for screenwriting class. What was interesting about Cat of Nine Tails was how the film played well as a murder mystery following the rules of slasher movie. Again I found two of his films as I was passing between tables at a horror convention. When I bought Deep Red and Cat of Nine Tails, The cashier saw them and actually told his customers, “Hey this guy knows his movies.” I wanted to know more about Italian director, Dario Argento; which is why I bought Profondo Argento by Allan Jones.

In my opinion, watching Suspiria is like reading an EC comic book. Horror films in general are known to settle for a black and white tone. EC comic books were horror stories drawn in primary colors such as red, green, and blue. Instead of going for the conventional horror look, Dario Argento went with a different look that is both nightmarish and appealing. Suspiria has influenced many people over the years including filmmaker John Carpenter, rock musicians Alice Cooper and David Bowie.

I am not going to go on and on about each film. What I am going to tell you is that this book has interviews and anecdotes from the people who matter most to Dario Argento. Readers find out why Dario and Dari Nicolodi ended their relationship and how Dario Argento’s following works failed him as an artist and at the box office. Readers also learn how father and daughter, Dario and Asia Argento, are able to work with each other as director and actress. His daughter, Asia Argento, even talks about trying to establish herself with American audiences through Rob Cohen’s XXX and George A. Romero’s Land of the Dead. Both Dario and Asia Argento worked on the film, Trauma, which mattered to them because the storyline dealt with anorexia. Ana, Dario’s daughter and Asia’s sister, suffered from anorexia and during the early 90s, anorexia was hardly discussed about.

What I find bad with Allan Jones book is that it is actually out of date. Dario Argento has had difficulty reaching success in America until he directed an episode, Jenifer, for Showtime’s Masters of Horror. Dario Argento found success through American cable television and was able to direct another episode for season two of Masters of Horror. Recently Dario Argento’s Mother of Tears, the last part of his trilogy, was presented and bought by American distributors at the Toronto Film festival. This is big news because this was where David Cronenberg’s Eastern Promises was also presented. Mother of Tears will be showcased in American theaters for a short run and then quickly circulated through DVD for many to see.

Allan Jones’ Profondo Rosso is an important read to many for people who like horror and people interested in Italian film history. Dario Argento is not a guy who pats himself on the back after each successful movie. He actually downplays the success and talks more about the issues and the difficulties of his failed movies. Here is a man who hit bottom after reaching fame with two cinematic masterpieces and is now trying to get back on his feet after losing his muse.

Review by YOUR NAME HERE, YOUR REVIEW BELOW

Pathetic         Wimpy         Solid        Super        HUGE