Inferno [Blu-ray]

'Inferno' (1980) is a wonderful follow-up to Argento's highly regarded 'Suspiria' (1977), and is recognized as the second in a fantasy themed trilogy known as "The Three Mothers." This is not a Dario Argento Giallo in the way of 'The Bird With The Crystal Plummage' (1970), 'Four Flies On Grey Velvet' (1971), 'Profondo Rosso' a/k/a 'Deep Red' (1975) or even the highly impressive 'Tenebrae' (1982) were. 'Inferno' plays out as more of a mystery film, rather than a horror, albeit it does have a number of brutal killings but, in my opinion, slightly less graphic in nature compared to 'Suspiria' or 'Profondo Rosso.' Even so, it appears that 'Inferno' was held back for several years in USA over the violent content of the film, and when it was eventually released went straight to home video, losing out on the more lucrative cinema release. 'Inferno' should be a cinematic experience to best enjoy.'Inferno' was heavily influenced by Argento's partner Daria Nicolodi, a beautiful actress / writer in her own right,and who was heavily involved in the earlier successful 'Suspiria,' and of the two, was the one more interested into developing the fantasy / witchcraft subject matter. Dario and Daria being the parents of Asia Argento but eventually split up after 12 years together.Dario Argento, if you follow his works, has some tell tale trade marks that he puts into his films. He enjoys using progressive / electronic music and has often used a group known as Goblin / Claudio Simonetti (Electronics keyboard). Here he uses the talents of Keith Emmerson (Emmerson, Lake & Palmer), who scores his on version of Giuseppe Verdi's musical influences in an up tempo taxi ride shot in Rome as well as throughout. Dario also loves using rich colourful settings and in this Blue-ray copy you really get to appreciate the heavily emphasis of reds, blues and purples. He also shoots some extreme close ups on objects that usually come into play as the film unfolds. Also, he makes use of striking and unusual looking buildings as a background to where much of the subsequent action eventually unfolds. Dario also believes in employing a big named actor / actress (Usually American) to his cast to help sell the film internationally. Thus, Irene Miracle (Late Night Trains) and Leigh McCloskey are the major stars here who play brother and sister. Rose (Irene) is in New York and believes that the building that she is living in holds a sinister secret, and is a gateway to a greater evil inhabited by one of the three evil sisters known as the Three Mothers - Mater Tenebrarum (Mother of Darkness). She writes to her brother Mark (Leigh McCloskey), who appears sleepy eyed throughout most of the film, but went onto much bigger success in the TV series Dallas soon afterwards. He flies to New York just after his sister has been killed off and is attempting to understand what is going on.This Blue-ray disc features an inner alternative sleeve cover (which is the more blacker skull version) which I prefer in addition to some extra background material from both Dario Argento and Daria Nicolodi as well as Tim Lucas, Keith Emmerson & Irene Maracle, and if you pride yourself as being a Dario Argento fan then, this release should be a must.

This is one of the greatest sequel to the 1977 cult horror classic Susperia. Dario Argento blends both gothic horror and supernatural Art Deco in an unique way.The cast is outstanding from Italian and European Actors from Eleonara Giorgi, Gabrielle Latvia, Veronica Lazar, Leopoldo Mastelloni, Daria Nicolodi, Sacha Pitoeff and Aldia Valli along with America actors Irene Miracle and Leigh McCloskey all deserves all the acting glories in spell binding movie.Plus allowing the great prog rock keyboard genius the late and great Keith Emerson was a stoke of genius by providing an excellent music score. Please get this Blu-Ray as it’s a brilliant prelude to Dario Argento’s Susperia.It’s a pity that Dario Argento waited so long for the last of the trilogy, in my opinion ‘Mother Of Tears’ should have done it either in 1986 or 1987, and set it in a posh Italian Board School (with British styled formal posh school uniforms for the actors who are playing the students) with cameo appearances by Jessica Harper and Leigh McCloskey as their main characters from Susperia and Inferno with a blend of existing and new actors and actresses from Italy, France, Germany, Britain, Canada and America. The third movie should have the same dark style of the first two movies with the same dark and evil surprise at the end when they discover who is the Third Mother, and have either Goblin or Keith Emerson do the music score.I think my version would have been a lot better than the woeful 2007 ‘Mother Of Tears’.

A young man studying in Rome receives a letter from his sister in New York asking him to come as she's scared and needs his help. Upon getting there he discovers his sister missing and finds out that the apartment building once home to a the mother of darkness.Dario Argento's 1980 sequel to his 1977 classic Suspiria. Some great cinematography, colours, architecture really is a strong aspect to the film, the movie also has a very ethereal feel to it with the Keith Emerson soundtrack adding to the overall theme of the picture. The death sequence's are striking and also genuinely suspenseful, the central park scene is probably the best but all are great. The climax builds the tension expertly, Leigh McCloskey wondering through the building with each revelation leading to a joyfully chilling finale. Performed well the two American leads McCloskey & Miracle are good but Alida Valli is great. The main problem for me was how incoherent the narrative was, at times the story coheres and the viewer moves along with it, but mostly the story moves from set piece to set piece and the narrative takes second place, meaning you lose focus on it with only again the cinematography and score keeping interest.A truly wonderful film for looking at just don't invest your time trying to make sense of the plot. Although there is violence it isn't graphic or gory so its inclusion on the video nasties list is a real mystery as it didn't deserve it.