Dario Argento: Master of Horror (1991)

** (out of 4)

Luigi Cozzi (STARCRASH) directs this early documentary taking a look at the career of Dario Argento. Through an interview with Argento, some of his friends and film clips, we're shown what it is that makes the director so special. I remember being disappointed in this documentary when it first came out and time certainly hasn't been friendly to it. I say that because since this was released we've had so many other looks at Argento, be it other documentaries or various DVD extras, that this here just comes off incredibly flat and boring. I also really don't know what Cozzi was going after because there's really no clear story being told. We jump around from style to gore to music but we're just seeing clips and we really don't get to know anything about the director. The brief interview clips with Argento certainly aren't the greatest because he just talks about some of his influences and being attracted by the dark side of people's personalities. Another thing that really bothered me is that we just see one film clip after another and the clips are so extended that you really do feel as if they're just trying to pad out the running time because there's nothing else they can offer. We get a few other interviews with film critic Fabio Giovannini, special effects man Sergio Stivaletti, director Michele Soavi, Madeline Potter from TWO EVIL EYES and Tom Savini. It seems clear that this documentary is in love with TENEBRE, OPERA and TWO EVIL EYES because most of the clips shown are from these movies. The love of OPERA is apparent but again we really just don't learn anything about the making of it. DARIO ARGENTO: MASTER OF HORROR is fair at best but overtime it has been replaced by so many other items.

Italian cinema has deeply influenced world cinema through its socially conscious realism and modernist experimentation, but it also flourished in popular genres like peplum (sword & sandal), giallo thrillers, and broad comedies. Its narratives often weave together politics, contemporary social change, class consciousness, and family dynamics, balancing artistic ambition with entertainment that resonated widely.

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The horror genre features stories that aim to elicit fear, suspense, and a sense of dread in its audience. Horror stories often explore themes related to the unknown, the supernatural, and the macabre, and they frequently evoke strong emotional reactions such as anxiety, terror, and unease.

A documentary about the films of Italian horror director Dario Argento. Included are clips from many of his films and interviews with friends, actors and colleagues.

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Dario Argento: Master of Horror

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