Let's talk Dario Argento...

Just a heads up: a very limited edition blu-ray of a restored Suspiria is up for preorder as of today, and if the response is any indicator it won't be available for long (as I keep learning the hard way with these limited edition releases). It looks pretty fantastic (screenshots behind the link):

http://synapse-films.com/news/suspiria-comparison-pictures/

^ region 1

I’ve been working my way through Argento, have seen Deep Red, Suspiria, Inferno, and Tenebrae so far. Suspiria is my favorite, but I only watched it after seeing Guadagnino’s version, which I also really loved, even more I think. They are related but are very different films

Deep Red was so great. Tenebrae kept me up at night.

i'm loving digging through these now

Deep Red just really makes me appreciate how good his visuals are. the entire scene of chiseling open the hidden window at the abandoned house and the reveal of the artwork on the wall in the house and it's sudden reveal of a missing piece are marvelous.

I enjoyed Bird with the Crystal Plumage. excellent framing, not quite the heights of Deep Red, and a few draggy bits, but....whoknew I liked giallo after all

Phenomena is so awesome. I love how Jennifer Connelly manages to clean all the maggots and bile off her with that one errant fresh water pipe. All the stuff with the "infinite doorway visions" toward the beginning were incredible.

is Creepers different enough to be worth watching?

that film had real potential, but I couldn't get past the bad acting

referring to Phenomena

I didn't hate Phenomena, but I watched it with an astute friend who thought it was entertaining but awful, and that affected my opinion.

I most liked Suspiria and Deep Red. Tenebrae and Inferno were also interesting but not as good.

There were diminishing returns for me after that

This is not about Argento but there's no all-purpose giallo thread:

I LOVE Italian genre cinema of the 60's and 70's. Love the politics, clothes, design, the anything goes vibe and of course the soundtracks.

However, I am no good at dealing with gore and particularly violence against women in films, so have ignored the giallo genre while delving deep into spaghetti western and poliziotteschi.

So my question is, anyone know of any good efforts in the genre that lean more towards mystery or (even better) conspiracy thriller rather than the gore/horror side?

You might well favour the adjacent Poliziotteschi genre - essentially, Italian cop thrillers of the 1970s. These movies share some of the same DNA with Giallo - including not only a similar sense of seventies style but also, it has to be admitted, some fairly unreconstructed sexual politics and brutal violence - but with a greater emphasis on crime, corruption and politics (again, often of a pretty reactionary, all crims are scum kind). Some of Morricone's best 70s soundtrack work was done for Poliziotteschi.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poliziotteschi

I've watched tons of poliziotteschi, as per the previous post. :) "Milano Calibro 9" (smart) and "Street Law" (stoopid) are my faves.

Oops yes.

Saw him tonight introducing The Bird with the Crystal Plumage at Lincoln Center. It really is quite impressive as a first feature. The editing, which he hand-waved away in the Q&A (basically saying he edits when he shoots), is remarkably tight and good. Few if any contemporary directors would have the courage to edit like that. Was also struck for the first time by the humor in his writing… something that a large audience reminds you of when you hear the laughter in the room.