Father and daughter reunion as Asia Argento stars in her father's Mother of Tears (Myriad Pictures)
I fell in love with Dario Argento when I was17 I saw Suspiria . It scared the crap out of me and sent my friend running for the exit. None of his films since then have been able to duplicate the impressive jolt - like riding a rollercoaster and feeling like the tracks have suddenly disappeared and you're free falling - of seeing Suspiria for the first time. But I have found something to enjoy in each of his films. Now using the word "enjoy" to describe a Dario Argento "spaghetti horror" film is likely to offend some people who find his films excessively gory and sadistic. But Argento is a horror master who's made an art out of terrifying audiences. Suspiria , made in 1977, was the first of what would turn out to be a long gestating supernatural trilogy he called the Three Mothers . The second film was Inferno (1980), set in New York, and this year he delivers the finale, Mother of Tears (opening June 27 at Landmark's Ken Cinema ), set in Rome. (You can listen to the KPBS Film Club for our discussion of the film.)
Mike from Chula Vista
June 28, 2008 at 11:30 PM
I din't like it that much, we lost him forever.
Aaron Soto
from san Diego
June 28, 2008 at 11:32 PM
The third and final work in Dario Argento's "Three Mothers trilogy" - is such an over-the-top, gorehound-friendly, crazy splatterfest that many of the director stylistic touches will undoubtedly go overlooked - because some will decide to leave the theater after the third or fourt disembowelment.
But come on people! This is Dario Argento, the guy who put the guts into giallo cinema. If you wandered into the theater thinking this was going to be Fellini, then you've got the wrong Italian director. "The Mother Of Tears" f*** rules!
Plus ex-Goblin, Asia Argento and Udo Kier, so much fun!!!!
Pete from San Diego
June 28, 2008 at 11:41 PM
If Mother of tears was directed by Uwe Boll everyone would make fun of it and we would see some honest review, instead we get the "the master of horror is back", please!
Cathy Alberich from Tj
June 28, 2008 at 11:48 PM
Best Argento film since "The Stendhal Syndrome".
Sure the performances, dialogue and CGI are almost always objectively bad, but "Mother of Tears" taps into an atmosphere of dread that gets under your skin, and stays there, far better then your regular Hollywood horror film.
Beth Accomando
June 29, 2008 at 12:18 AM
Well I neither felt that the master of horror was back nor that he was gone forever but rather somewhere in between. I'm not blind to his flaws, I just love his work despite them. Mother of Tears isn't Suspiria but it has great moments. Check out Jenifer and Pelts, though, because I think Argento shows some flair and nasty fun in those TV works.
"The guy who puts the guts in giallo..." Aaron you should making Argento's posters! Thanks for your comment and for your constant support of horror.
And Cathy, I agree that this was better than the standard Hollywood film.
Thanks to all for your comments.
Max
July 01, 2008 at 08:57 AM
Not like Suspiria? It's not even close to Inferno.
Definitely a disappointment from Dario Argento.
Yes, it's much better than the dreaded Phantom of the Opera but we've come to expect so much from him that even this is a letdown.
Alas, it's still way better than most of the recent so called horror from Hollywood. Such is the state of the genre nowadays.
Beth Accomando from San Diego
July 01, 2008 at 05:13 PM
I know this isn't Argento at his best but I refuse to give up on him and will take what moments I can.
Gee Max you must have had a busy weekend of watching movies based on all the comments you have posted. Thanks for your continued input and love for movies--even if they keep disappointing you. I hope you can find something this summer to satisfy you.
Max
July 02, 2008 at 12:02 AM
It wasn't bad, Beth. I was batting .333 with Wall-E being the best I've seen so far. I have a suspicion that Wall-E maybe the best for the summer.
Of course, Hellboy and Dark Knight is coming this month as well. Those two, I'm looking forward to.
Beth Accomando
July 02, 2008 at 01:42 AM
Yes! Dark Knight and especially Hellboy II. I love Guillermo Del Toro. So those are the top two films I am looking forward to.
