Inferno, Dario Argento's second film in his Three Mothers trilogy, features some great death scenes and inventive set-pieces, and yet the film remains my least favourite from the Italian auteur. Whilst individual moments certainly impress (an underwater scene at the beginning is particularly scary), I find the film as a whole something of a disappointment.
My first major issue is with the plot (or lack of one)...
Leigh McCloskey plays Mark Elliot, a man searching for his sister Rose (Irene Miracle), who has gone missing whilst investigating the legend of The Three Mothersthree wicked witches each living in a different part of the world in specially designed buildings. Mark discovers that the apartment in which Rose was living is situated in the building created for Mater Tenebrarum, the cruelest of the Mothers, who is keen not to be disturbed. So much so, that she kills anyone who comes close to discovering her secret hideout.
Which leads me to ask the question 'why don't people just leave her alone?' Seems to me that if you don't go poking your nose where it's not wanted, you won't wind up the as the victim in one of Argento's elaborate death scenes.
Throw in some rubbish about a cat-hating antiques dealer (who gets attacked by rats and is killed by a hot-dog seller), an unnecessary appearance from Daria Nicolodi, and a confusing finalé, and you have one of the least satisfying stories that Argento has ever committed to celluloid.
The other big problem that I have with Inferno is the damn irritating lighting: I'm sure that many Argento fans feel that Inferno is a visual triumpha feast for the eyes that actually transcends the need for a logical storylinebut I cannot stand the constant overuse of primary-colours . I would have much preferred a plot that I could understand over the blatant lighting nightmare that drenches practically every frame.
I didn't really like Suspiria, and enjoyed Inferno even less. Which means that I may be the only Argento fan that isn't looking forward to his next film: the Mother of Tearsthe last in the Three Mothers trilogy.
My first major issue is with the plot (or lack of one)...
Leigh McCloskey plays Mark Elliot, a man searching for his sister Rose (Irene Miracle), who has gone missing whilst investigating the legend of The Three Mothersthree wicked witches each living in a different part of the world in specially designed buildings. Mark discovers that the apartment in which Rose was living is situated in the building created for Mater Tenebrarum, the cruelest of the Mothers, who is keen not to be disturbed. So much so, that she kills anyone who comes close to discovering her secret hideout.
Which leads me to ask the question 'why don't people just leave her alone?' Seems to me that if you don't go poking your nose where it's not wanted, you won't wind up the as the victim in one of Argento's elaborate death scenes.
Throw in some rubbish about a cat-hating antiques dealer (who gets attacked by rats and is killed by a hot-dog seller), an unnecessary appearance from Daria Nicolodi, and a confusing finalé, and you have one of the least satisfying stories that Argento has ever committed to celluloid.
The other big problem that I have with Inferno is the damn irritating lighting: I'm sure that many Argento fans feel that Inferno is a visual triumpha feast for the eyes that actually transcends the need for a logical storylinebut I cannot stand the constant overuse of primary-colours . I would have much preferred a plot that I could understand over the blatant lighting nightmare that drenches practically every frame.
I didn't really like Suspiria, and enjoyed Inferno even less. Which means that I may be the only Argento fan that isn't looking forward to his next film: the Mother of Tearsthe last in the Three Mothers trilogy.