Inferno

I should point out that I'm a pretty big Argento fan, so my review should be taken as such. Of all of Argento's films, my two favorites alternate between Suspiria and Inferno. It seems that no matter how many times I rewatch those films, they actually get better with each new viewing, (usually the opposite happens). Each of those films have a certain unique aesthetic value and atmosphere. With that being said, while I would recommend Suspiria to a first time Argento viewer, Inferno is actually the last of his good films which I'd recommend. While Suspiria tried to have somewhat of a plot, Inferno's plot is pretty weak and sometimes hard to follow. I think another problem people have with this film is while its a sequel to Suspiria and has a similar look and feel, its a very different film, this film can't be approached as a sequel. It also further moves away from his early films in that instead of using the normal Goblin soundtrack it uses a Keith Emerson score which has a more piano/classical music feel to it. I actually hated the film the first time I watched it, but every time I've seen it since the plot gets clearer, the visuals get better and I love the film more and more. It seems that many of the Argento's I loved on the first watch can't even come close to holding up on rewatches like this film. As for the Bluray release, the transfer is beautiful. Of course I'm comparing this to the Anchor Bay / Blue Underground (2007) DVD release and it looks like a completely different film. If you have those older disks this is well worth the upgrade. As for the reviewer who complains that this release isn't as up to par as Tron, I've not seen Tron so I can't comment on that, but usually the italian films from this era use a cheaper film stock so the original film quality wouldn't have been as good as tron (I don't know if Inferno is this same way or if its BU's fault, the transfer looks beautiful to me). The supplements are few but good. The trailer seems to be a straight transfer from the SD disk, it should be watched only after the film since its full of spoilers, I do find it intersting just how much the trailer tries to make this a fast paced horror film instead of the slow atmospheric film it truly is. There is an interview with Argento and L.Bava, this also seems to be a SD transfer from the Anchor Bay disk. Its worth watching as well, especially for the sections where it talks about M. Bava having a part in the special effects, in a way this is one of the last films the great Bava worked on before he died. His visuals/effects work very well with Argento's vision. There are two new interviews with the brother and sister in the film (Leigh McCloskey and Irene Miracle). Both of these interviews are about 15 minutes each and I found them interesting. I do wish they would have been longer. Overall if you're an inferno fan and have the older Anchor Bay / non SE Blue Underground disk then this is an essential upgrade, the transfer looks great and its like watching the film in a different light. If the viewer is new to Argento, while I love this film, there are probably better places to start. I'd recommend The Bird with the Crystal Plumage as an accessible starter film. Suspiria (hopefully it will get a bluray release soon) and Deep Red are also two brilliant films to begin with. In short thanks Blue Underground for giving us another great transfer of a marvelous film! I can't wait for the releases of Deep Red and The Cat O' Nine Tails.

What a movie. Inferno is the second in the Three Mothers Trilogy. It's also the heaviest on atmosphere, with a sort of suffocating and sometimes claustrophobic mood. That's my ultimate takeaway. Whereas Suspiria played like a demented fairytale full of splashes of color, bizarre characters, and some downright scary scenes, Inferno is subdued and hazy. It's still surreal. What else can an underwater room beneath a person-sized hole be? It's also very violent and eerie, as are all Argento's films I've seen. Here is where the lore is deepened and expanded upon. Three Mothers had houses built in Germany, New York, and Italy in which they live among their covens. They each have great power and sway over people. They are like the head of a giant snake. Once you sever it, the coven is rendered powerless. This holds true with each Mother and their followers. This new lore is what makes Inferno important to the overall story of the trilogy. It adds more depth, more expansion, and even new context to Suspiria. And it's wrapped up in a mystique characteristic of Argento. Another one that some will love, some will hate. You either "get" or you don't "get" Argento. Not in understanding it, or appreciation on a deep or artistic level, but in how it connects with you or how it interests you. Some think he's a hack, others a deranged genius who is bursting at the seams with an over the top vision. I'm in the latter. He has a great eye for color and atmosphere, and while his story telling comes off as sloppy or lazy to decriers, to me it's always added to the appeal. It's weird and dreamy and such fun to unravel. Like piecing together a puzzle that may have been mixed with a different one altogether, so there is a delirious confusion involved. That sounds pretentious to say but it's just how I feel about Dario Argento. I love the whole process of it, from the color to the (sometimes) goofiness, from the violence to the gore, and how it's all wrapped up in an atmospheric package so that it can be immersive to some. Suspiria and Inferno are great examples of this. You'll either love it or you'll loathe it. It's how it is. 4.5/5.

Loved this you will too

A visually stunning sequel to 'Suspiria'. The only connection it has to the original is the legend of 'the three mothers' notion; besides that, it's not a continuation sequel where you need to see Suspiria first. They're completely different movies but, of course, similar in style...Argento style that is. Also, some Argento fans do not like Suspiria which is understandable--even though it is his most well-known film in N. America, does not mean it is his best. If you are an anti-Suspirian but love, say, Deep Red & The Bird With The Crystal Plumage, please check out Inferno. Just stay away from the 3rd sequel, Mother Of Tears (2006)...sorry Dario.

DARIO ARGENTO'S INFERNO BLU-RAY REVIEW The Disc Arrow video have put together a pretty solid package here with an uncut (some mouse bothering was causing the BBFC a few palpitations) restored HD transfer. It's very clean and shows off the vibrant palette well. Dark scenes have the grain you'd expect from a film this age, but remain clear and appear true to the original source. Also included are four sleeve art options, a double-sided poster, an exclusive collector's booklet written by Alan Jones (author of 'Profondo Argento' and founder of Frightfest) and six original poster art postcards. The new extras feature some lovely animated title sequences that relate to various aspects of the film and are fun in their own right, whilst the content is on the whole brief but insightful. In particular the recollections of Argento and Daria Nicolodi are amusingly disparate with the former husband and wife not entirely in agreement over artistic input (in 'Dario's Inferno' featurette and 'Acting In Hot Water - An Interview With Daria Nicolodi). 'The Other Mother: Making The Black Cat' is a diverting curiosity more interesting for director Luigi Cozzi's perspective on Argento and Nicolodi than for his story on how the unofficial 1989 'sequel' to Inferno came to pass. The 2000 documentary 'Dario Argento: An Eye For Horror' makes an appearance too, containing much worshipping at the Italian's feet by the likes of George A. Romero, John Carpenter and Tom Savini. Narrated by the always engaging Mark Kermode, it suffers from being a decade old with out of date remarks like "his still unfinished Three Mothers Trilogy" and from an overly reverential tone that does it no favours. Still, at nearly an hour long it does give a decent overview of Argento's career. There's an Easter Egg somewhere with Dario's memories of Mario Bava too. A somewhat mixed bag of extras then but as a whole it's a very attractive re-issue, and worth it for the transfer alone. The 30th Anniversary Edition of Inferno will be released as a two-disc DVD and a two-disc Blu-ray/DVD combo by Arrow Video on 13th September 2010. DVD DETAILS Special Features include: Introduction by star Daria Nicolodi; `Dario's Inferno' featurette; `Acting In Hot Water - An Interview With Daria Nicolodi'; `The Other Mother: Making The Black Cat' - director Luigi Cozzi discusses his rarely seen, totally unofficial 1989 `sequel' to Inferno; `X Marks The Spot - Argento Remembers Bava' (Easter Egg); Dario Argento and Lamberto Bava discuss Inferno; `Dario Argento: An Eye For Horror' - documentary on Argento's career narrated by Mark Kermode and including interviews with George A. Romero, John Carpenter and others; The Complete Dario Argento Trailer Gallery; Q&A with star Irene Miracle, composer Keith Emerson and author Tim Lucas filmed at LA's New Beverly Cinema in 2009 (Blu-ray only); English 5.1 Dolby Digital and Stereo and Italian Mono audio options; 5.1 DTS audio option (Blu-ray only); optional English subtitles; four sleeve art options; double sided poster; exclusive collector's booklet; six original poster art postcards.

Ero indeciso se prendere questa edizione americana Blue Underground oppure la britannica Arrow Video. Quest'ultima infatti aveva una confezione più accattivante, ottimi extra, un bel libretto all'interno. Alla fine però ho optato per BU, che sebbene sia più essenziale e con meno extra, ha un video migliore, più contrastato e con la grana non cancellata, il che lascia la tridimensionalità del video intatta. Molto molto meglio per gustarsi il film di Argento nella sua bella fotografia.

Film d'atmosphère où le scénario importe peu . Tout est histoire d'éclairages, de musique, d'alchimie , de meurtres , de couleurs . Une plongée de plein fouet dans l'étrange et le gothique . Des plans d'une beauté formelle et sans trucages numériques . Plus qu'un film , une oeuvre d'art meme si ce n'est pas le Argento le plus accessible. Pour moi le meilleur. A savoir qu'à ce jour seul cette édition US est digne de ce titre. Pas de grains et un mixage 7.1 pas mal du tout. De plus les sous titres français sont bien présents et le bluray est multizone. De toute beauté en comparaison au bluray FNAC édition à fuir!

This dvd is PAL 2 FORMAT... So, it's a different region product and doesn't work in Indian dvd player.