inri222

Inspired by seeing Goblin play live this past Saturday night.

GoldenJCJ

I feel terrible that I've never seen any Dario Argento movies. I've always meant to, I just haven't gotten around to it yet.

DaveyJoe

Good arguments could be made for Deep Red or Inferno, but Suspiria is the most fun for me to watch. It's definitely elevated by the Goblin score, and those colors, wow!

Supermallet

Deep Red.

Geofferson

The Deep Red option should really reflect the Italian cut (Profondo Rosso). Many of his movies were cut for American release, but Deep Red suffered the most (a butchered mess).

For me, it's really a toss-up between Profondo Rosso and Suspiria.

Also, I'd be surprised if anyone votes for anything post-Opera.

Mondo Kane

Aside from Pelts, which I very much adore.

Paff

Thank you! On other message boards, a lot of people say they prefer the shorter, American cut, as it trims out a lot of the scenes of Marc and Gianna that are not integral to the main story. But without those scenes, Marc's motivation doesn't make a lot of sense. And you can't "unsee" it. What I mean is that people who prefer the shorter cut have likely already seen the longer cut, understand everything going on, and now just want the shorter version to get to the "good stuff"

I came at the movie from the other direction; I saw the shorter version first, and wondered what all the fuss was about (not to mention being totally lost). It all made sense once I saw the longer version. Clearly, that should be the only cut that anyone watches.


If I were to vote anything post-Opera, it would be the masterful Stendhal Syndrome. To me, that represents the concluding film of an art-themed trilogy that includes The Bird With the Crystal Plumage and Deep Red. The first film shows how viewing art can create madness, the second one shows how madness can cause one to create art, and the third shows both.

I probably won't select it either, but it's easily his third or fourth best film

Giles

and no mention of his other 'Master of Horror' entry - Jenifer - wow... if his post Opera films had this much bite [pun intended] I'd be impressed - it's a shame Showtime excised the two instances of graphic gore and sex that they felt went too extreme.

I had to go with Tenebre - even though Deep Red comes a very close second.

asianxcore

Tenebre

Giles

I can't wait to see 'Dracula' after downing five vodka and tonics ... I need a good comedy horror film.

Supermallet

I'm not sure if I've ever seen the shorter cut of Deep Red. I've only seen it from the Anchor Bay DVD.

Matthew Chmiel

Which only had the longer cut.

The Blue Underground Blu-ray contained both cuts as separate encodes.

Mondo Kane

Likewise for me and Tenebre. I still have only seen the cut version of that....But I see uncut gifs of the arm-chopping scene all the damn time on tumblr.

DaveyJoe

Damn I need to watch Tenebre.

Why So Blu?

I'm behind on my Argento flicks. Deep Red and Cat 'O Nine Tails are the bomb, though!

Norm de Plume

I think we've had this poll/thread before. Deep Red, and for me the 96-minute version is far preferable to the 126-minute one.

Hazel Motes

Phenomena and Suspiria are pretty much equal in my eyes. I love both. I voted Phenomena just because it wasn't getting much love. Donald Pleasence baby.

Mattflix

Opera. Completely floored me. Followed by Suspiria and Deep Red.

I enjoy most of his other movies, but their tone puts me into sort of a hypnosis (not necessarily a bad thing). But in retrospect I have a lot of difficulty remember which one was which.

Norm de Plume

Based on its reputation, I'm not terribly surprised that Suspiria is running away with this; just mystified.

Ash Ketchum

Yeah, SUSPIRIA gets a lot of love here. That's the only Argento I saw in its initial theatrical run. But I went with BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE because it has that great Ennio Morricone score. Maybe not a good reason, but I remember liking it a lot anyway, I just haven't seen it in, like, 36 years.

inri222

The colors, scope cinematography, Goblin soundtrack and wacky story do it for me.

Jaymole

Suspiria

E Unit

Deep Red and Suspiria for me, although for the sheer rewatchability, Suspiria wins.

Norm de Plume

It's definitely worth checking out again! I would probably place it second or third for Argento. Almost a great thriller, and a very, very good one. Reggie Nalder, memorably scarred and sinister as always, plays a would-be assassin in a loud yellow jogging suit. It's one of Argento's most coherent movies. Story would subsequently prove not to be his forte.
Visually and aurally, it has moments that are among the best in Argento's filmography (almost as striking as the underwater-ballroom scene in Inferno), but I just find its assault on the senses ultimately numbing and downright boring. I haven't seen it in years, so I should give it another look. I'm not saying it's terrible, just that I think it's not among the director's best.

inri222

I also like Inferno for the same reasons I like Suspiria (except Inferno is 1.85:1).

If I had to rank :

1. Suspiria
2. Deep Red
3. Tenebre
4. Inferno
5. Opera