Be warned: I've sat through over one hundred Italian horror films (not a boast sir...but a curse), and Inferno still took three sittings to actually embed itself in my memory. It literally has no plot, and about ninety-five percent of the film involves people walking about rooms looking for stuff. I'm not joking. Usually Italian horror films come with the recommendation 'bring some beer', but I've got to say, under any circumstances, do not drink watching this film: You'll be asleep in minutes.
That's not to say it's not a good film, because it is. It's just that Dario Argento is not pandering to audience expectations in any shape or form. What you've got here is a series of visuals to be enjoyed. Arty horror, I suppose, although there are plenty of completely daft moments in the film too.
The Plot? (SPOILERS) - A girl in an apartment in New York suspects something is up in her building and sends a letter to her brother in Rome asking him to come and see her. There's a book called The Three Mothers (which is surprisingly abundant in copies!) which gives the characters a clue to what's shaking' in the supernatural boogie world. Err...that's about it.
Visually astounding, with an enjoyable soundtrack, Inferno definitely is a case of style over substance, but it's intended to be that way, and the result is a nice surreal journey through a lot of nicely designed sets. Much slighter than Suspiria, but a hell of lot more intelligent than Mother of Tears. The ending, by the way, is diabolical (as they all are in this trilogy). Is it just me or are the three mothers utterly incapable of defending themselves? I can understand why Argento decided not to include the colourful sets in the third film, he goes absolutely overboard here (in a good way). The entire film has this pink/purple hue to it...kind of like a Peter Greenaway film, only...you know...good.
There's loads of Italian movies you should watch before this one, although I would recommend it. No action, nice visuals. No plot, nice music. It's got Ania Perioni in it. That helps...
That's not to say it's not a good film, because it is. It's just that Dario Argento is not pandering to audience expectations in any shape or form. What you've got here is a series of visuals to be enjoyed. Arty horror, I suppose, although there are plenty of completely daft moments in the film too.
The Plot? (SPOILERS) - A girl in an apartment in New York suspects something is up in her building and sends a letter to her brother in Rome asking him to come and see her. There's a book called The Three Mothers (which is surprisingly abundant in copies!) which gives the characters a clue to what's shaking' in the supernatural boogie world. Err...that's about it.
Visually astounding, with an enjoyable soundtrack, Inferno definitely is a case of style over substance, but it's intended to be that way, and the result is a nice surreal journey through a lot of nicely designed sets. Much slighter than Suspiria, but a hell of lot more intelligent than Mother of Tears. The ending, by the way, is diabolical (as they all are in this trilogy). Is it just me or are the three mothers utterly incapable of defending themselves? I can understand why Argento decided not to include the colourful sets in the third film, he goes absolutely overboard here (in a good way). The entire film has this pink/purple hue to it...kind of like a Peter Greenaway film, only...you know...good.
There's loads of Italian movies you should watch before this one, although I would recommend it. No action, nice visuals. No plot, nice music. It's got Ania Perioni in it. That helps...