Fashion Horror
 

I have a real love/hate thing going on with Dario Argento.

It is obvious to anyone who has ever watched one of his films that he is obsessed with art direction, color, composition - all the hallmarks of a true visual stylist, but it also seems he couldn't give two shits for the actor's performance - at least that's what I used to think.

The more I watch of his films the more it seems to me that he actually ONLY wants the surface. It's as though he wishes to rip the humanity out of his actors, and force them to play everything as empty vessels. This is tremendously off-putting to anyone who wishes to connect with the characters. If you want empathy of any kind (and any actual horror), stay away from Argento. I really feel he dares you to care about his characters.

And story? In an Argento flick? Forget about it.

It's all about the glamour - the surface - the image - and as such, is wonderfully trashy pop art.

FASHION HORROR!

I know some of you here LOVE him and some don't like him at all.

I'd say his films aren't scary in the least, but they're full of beautiful photographs.

Your thoughts?

With few exceptions, i really dont like "style over substance", so i have more or less hated everythign i have ever seen from him, although the list is short.

I was almost burned at the stake here a few years back when i finally watched Suspiria and hated it.


HEY! I think i finally figured out where the old woman fromthe closet (in my nightmare last week) came from... same concept, anyway...

i dont think everything he's done is gold - but it is a niche of horror i enjoy because of it's unique aesthetic...

i keep mentioning deep red because i do like the actors performance in that one ... hemmings is good enough to bring something extra to the table.

but singling out Argento as a horror maker who is concerned with only the surface .. all i can say is that still makes him heads and shoulders above most other horror filmmakers who dont seem to give a shit about absolutely anything.

Wow. i have no choice but to agree with that.

i thought suspiria failed miserably to deliver visually....so what there was different colored lighting. all around rather boring film.

the quintessential giallo director?

I like Dario Argento,but I like Sergio Martino better.

In Argento films, style IS the substance.

thats like saying "the garnish IS the dish."

And i still say, a plate full of parsley still tastes like shit.

1. Parsley sucks ass and serves no purpose besides sitting next to my delicious steak.
2. Your comparison is really clever, but I meant that, in my opinion, films as visually interesting as Dario's work can be appreciated in their own way. Yeah, the plots are nowhere to be found, the acting sucks, and the dialogue is boring. If he could put as much energy and talent into those things as he does with visual tricks, he'd be a perfect director.