Dario Argento: Master of Horror

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 DARIO ARGENTO: MASTER OF HORROR is fair at best but overtime it has been replaced by so many other items.

This is a somewhat half-arsed documentary about the great Italian director. I remember owning this on VHS back in the day and by luck of its release date it is perfectly poised to capture the whole of the director's golden period before his output started dropping down a level. Unfortunately, there is too much time dedicated to minor interest stuff. Surely it must discuss how Argento codified the giallo genre with The Bird with the Crystal Plumage and then perfected it with Deep Red? No but there's stuff about how they achieved the sound of knife attacks by recording a man stabbing bits of meat. There must, though, be coverage of his most famous film, the assault on the senses that is Suspiria? Actually no, but, then again, they inform us that those famous panoramic camera shots were achieved with, like EQUIPMENT! Good lord, I always assumed it was with trained pigeons with attached camera helmets - elaborate equipment you say? Well, that is interesting! In fact, there is no chronology and no discussion on the movies themselves at all, just random chat and film clips. There are some interesting bits and bobs though and it is still good enough for a watch if you are a fan but it feels like a DVD extra as opposed to a properly released film (which it was). Its okay but a missed opportunity for sure.