Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Inferno Blu-ray Movie Review

Is Blue Underground's latest a hot must-own disc?

Reviewed by Martin Liebman March 8, 2011

Our very lives are governed by dead people.

There are but a few filmmakers who can truly lay a claim to the title "Master of Horror;" it takes not only exceptional skill behind the camera but also a unique vision, an unflinching commitment to the genre, and a catalogue of impressive A-list titles that need not be mainstream successes but at least acknowledged classics within the Horror community. Dario Argento is not only one of the finest living Horror craftsmen, he's at the top of the list. The Italian director, whose credits include Suspiria, Opera, The Stendhal Syndrome, and The Bird With the Crystal Plumage, is an acknowledged maestro of all things terrifying, his films built around a surreal sense of terror that is manifested not only through brutal on-screen violence but also his uncanny ability to claw his way under his audiences's skin, to stir deeply within their bowls, and to penetrate their very psyches with a taste of the horrifyingly unknown. Inferno is another of Argento's pictures, a kinda-sorta follow-up on/sequel to Suspiria, and one of his better accomplishments. Though the picture tends to meander at times and features some questionable acting, it's generally a polished, engaging, and highly kinetic glimpse into the search for evil in its purest form.

Fear.

A young woman living in New York City, Rose Elliot (Irene Miracle, Midnight Express), reads an ancient Latin book called The Three Mothers. She's disturbed by what the book has to say, claiming that three unholy sisters rule the world from three cities: New York, Rome, and Freiburg. She hurriedly pens a letter chronicling the book's claims to her brother Mark (Leigh McCloskey), a music student living in Rome. Rose is unable to find all the answers she seeks within the book's pages -- even after speaking with the mysterious gentleman who sold her the tome, Kazanian (Sacha Pitoeff) -- and begins her own investigation, leading her to discover horrifying secrets within close proximity to her own home. Mark makes haste and heads for New York after his music school friend reads the letter and presents her own concerns to him. What Mark finds will forever alter his outlook on life and death while reshaping his own destiny and getting to his darkest, most sinister fears.

Inferno is vintage Argento. While the film might lack the pure energy and intoxicating lifeblood of Suspiria, it's nevertheless a wonderfully moody and enveloping picture, one that uses set design, shadow, and color to wonderful effect. What the film lacks in pacing -- it can be a bit slow at times, though arguably deliberately slow -- Argento makes up for in his mastery of slowly revealing secrets and setting the stage for the picture's horrifying culmination. Inferno might aggravate audiences in search of something that's more relentlessly paced, but Argento's ability to mesh atmosphere with tension and plot more than make up for the film's lack of rat-a-tat energy. Indeed, the film is a hallmark work of art in terms of its set design, color scheme, and general appearance. Argento's picture might be systematic in pace and structure, but it's anything but in terms of its sheer visual prowess; the film just exudes a creepy feel that's often punctuated by a genuine sense of dread and the unknown. What gore there is ranges from tame to incredibly hardcore, but Inferno is definitely more of a character and mood picture than it is just another fleeting excuse to douse the screen with blood and guts.

On the other hand, Inferno suffers a bit thanks to some stilted, choppy acting; fortunately, Argento's craftsmanship and the picture's general mood lessens, but doesn't completely hide, the forced and listless performances. The film also opens by sending a barrage of information towards the viewer that's simply too much to consume in such a small amount of time and at the beginning of the film when there's no footing on which to stand and no support structure to help carry the load. It's more of a frustration than anything else, but for a picture that's otherwise fairly straightforward, it's a fair bit too much to digest at such an early stage. Otherwise, Inferno is a pleasure to watch, a film that understands the importance of story and atmosphere taking precedence over pace and violence. Inferno is further complimented by a period techno-electronic soundtrack that's not provided by Argento collaborator Goblin but instead by Composer Keith Emerson, whose music definitely has a Goblin-esque vibe to it that's also mixed, it seems, with an underlying foundation that feels like something straight out of a Rock Opera by The Who.

Inferno Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Inferno's Blu-ray debut is a good one, and Blue Underground's 1080p high definition transfer is nothing short of a revelation in terms of the film's aged elements. Sure there are a few missteps -- very slight banding in one scene, a handful of non-distracting white speckles in spots, a bit of background noise -- but this is generally a rich, crisp, and classy Blu-ray transfer. The image retains a fair bit of grain to give it a nice cinematic texture, which only serves to reinforce the image's positively sparkling array of wonderful detailing. Brighter scenes fare the best -- exterior building façades are awash in incredible texturing -- but the image also yields excellent blacks and wonderful shadow detailing even in the darker scenes. The picture features many bright primary colors that are often highlighted within an otherwise darkened frame; whether these flashy colors or more bland earthy tones, Blue Underground's transfer handles Argento's unique color scheme quite well. The image lacks the absolute crispness of newer titles, but the transfer remains faithful to the film's vintage 30-some-year-old look.

Inferno Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Inferno's DTS-HD MA 7.1 lossless soundtrack doesn't fare quite as well as its 1080p video counterpart. There's an overall mushiness to the track that weasels its way into every area: music, dialogue, and sound effects. There's certainly nowhere near as much space or precision compared to more modern mixes, but then again this is a limited, decades-old track that's probably enjoying its finest overall presentation in that same stretch of time, and certainly on home video. Still, the track lacks a bigger soundstage, often playing as rather center-focused. Music does spread out, but the absence of greater clarity minimizes the value of greater spacing across the front channels. Sound effects, too, play as muddled and indiscreet. Whether the absence of a sense of pressure while underwater or the lack of real energy, size, and danger in a raging fire, the track fails to convey much in terms of realistic effects. Bass can be terribly indistinct, while high-pitched screams, too, are absent a more realistic tenor. Dialogue is suitably crisp through the center channel. This is not a bad track, it's simply one hindered by an out-of-date sound design.

Inferno Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Inferno warms up a few extras, notably a trio of interviews. Oddly enough, the disc seems to have a built-in autoplay feature/glitch that starts the movie immediately at chapter 16.

• Art & Alchemy -- Interview with Star Leigh McCloskey (1080p, 15:05).
• Reflections of Rose -- Interview with Star Irene Miracle (1080p, 13:33).
• Interview with Writer/Director Dario Argento and Assistant Director Lamberto Bava (480p, 8:20, Italian with English subtitles).
• Inferno Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 3:25).

Inferno Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Inferno may not be Argento's best, but it's a good representation of his vision and style. Some stiff acting, a sometimes meandering and sluggish pace, and a bit too much information provided too fast and too early in the film may bring it down a notch, but these are certainly not deal-breaking problems. Those who love a good and deliberate, moody, and deep-down scary movie will find plenty to like about Inferno. Blue Underground's Blu-ray release of Argento's 1980 Horror movie yields an upper-level 1080p transfer, a passable lossless soundtrack, and a few extras. Recommended.