Dark Glasses Is Not the Dario Argento Comeback You’ve Been Waiting For

Fans of Italian horror legend Dario Argento (Suspiria, Deep Red, Inferno, Tenebre, Phenomena, Opera) have lengthy hoped that the veteran filmmaker, who turned 82 in September, may need yet one more masterpiece lurking inside. While Dark Glasses is much better than different latest fare, like 2009’s Giallo, it sadly doesn’t contact his classics.

But nonetheless, Dark Glasses—which is receiving each a theatrical launch and a streaming platform on Shudder—is one thing seasoned Argento followers will probably be inquisitive about, with good purpose; it’s Argento’s first function in a decade, and options his daughter and frequent collaborator Asia Argento in a supporting position. Without any supernatural parts, it slots in with the giallo aspect of his filmography, although it lacks the dazzling visuals and lurid thriller of the movies he started his profession with, like The Bird With the Crystal Plumage and Four Flies on Grey Velvet. Ostensibly a thriller, Dark Glasses is fairly low on suspense; probably the most stunning factor about its plot is how linear it’s, one thing that robs the proceedings of the pleasant unpredictability so typically seen in Argento’s work. The rating is regularly intrusive—one other much-loved Argento trademark—however Arnaud Rebotini’s work is hardly as nerve-jangling because the digital Goblin soundtracks that helped elevate movies like Suspiria into tales that felt like they have been actually going down inside nightmares.

That mentioned, the world as skilled by Diana (Ilenia Pastorelli) is loads nightmarish; it’s only a bit extra grounded than, say, Suspiria’s witchy ballet faculty from hell. We get an excellent on-the-nose warning that Diana’s life is about to shift into darkness in her first scene, during which she practically damages her eyes by looking at an eclipse. Not lengthy after, she’s in a horrible automobile accident that blinds her—an particularly tragic flip of occasions provided that she’s being stalked by a manic who’s concentrating on name ladies round Rome. (“God’s punishment,” Diana’s disapproving housekeeper mutters, shortly earlier than Diana furiously fires her.) Adding to that, the accident concerned different victims, together with the younger Chin (Xinyu Zhang)—who blames Diana at first however then decides he’d reasonably hold round along with her reasonably than be caught in an orphanage. Along with a sturdy seeing-eye canine, Diana’s circle of help additionally consists of Rita (Asia Argento), a kindly house well being employee who helps Diana modify to her new actuality.

As a few of Dark Glasses’ cop characters flail round making an attempt to ID the killer (filmgoers could have a a lot more easy time figuring it out), and others flail round making an attempt to find the runaway Chin, the film tries to seize the disorientation Diana feels. Obviously she’s extremely susceptible, and it is smart that Dark Glasses would need to convey that by filming numerous scenes in near-darkness—one thing that will be extra irritating if the story led to a remaining act with surprises or reveals reasonably largely working and shrieking.

If you’re searching for a dose of Argento’s trademark lush, colourful cinematography and achingly attractive model, this isn’t the place you’ll discover it. In truth, in the event you’re searching for a satisfying Argento viewing expertise in any respect, this isn’t the film to push play on. If you’re new to the director, Dark Glasses ought to completely not be your first publicity to his work. Put plainly, this film might be so a lot worse (exhibit A: 2012’s excruciating Dracula 3D)—however the Argento devoted comprehend it might be so a lot better, too.

Dark Glasses is now enjoying in choose theaters and can develop to extra on October 14; it arrives on Shudder in the present day, October 13. And, because it occurs, Shudder additionally has a variety of different Argento motion pictures in its library; it simply added Opera and The Stendhal Syndrome to go together with Deep Red, Tenebrae, Inferno, Phenomena, Trauma, and The Cat o’ Nine Tales, in addition to two motion pictures he co-wrote however didn’t direct: Demons and Demons 2.

Want extra io9 information? Check out when to anticipate the newest Marvel and Star Wars releases, what’s subsequent for the DC Universe on movie and TV, and every part it’s worthwhile to learn about House of the Dragon and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.