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Talking dirty with Dario: Fifteen minutes with the Master of Horror
18th Apr 08
 When the call came from eatmybrains towers that there was a chance to interview Dario Argento, I almost passed out with excitement. (BTW, the EMB guys don’t all literally live in a tower, of course, that would be absurd. It’s a nice idea though).
Anyway, Argento has remained a hero of mine (and for many of you too, no doubt) throughout a quarter of a century of film viewing. No matter that the films aren’t what they once were, that the interview was to be a phoner or that my recent attempts at Italian were limited to ordering alcohol on a trip to Rome, this simply HAD to happen. This is the man who made Suspiria, Deep Red and Tenebrae. End of story.
Dario, as I found out, is a charming interviewee – even down a crackly phone his enthusiasm and good humour were in strong evidence. Fortunately for us both, his English is certainly superior to my Italian – although a weak line and a 15 minute time constraint meant that our discussion was inevitably compromised. I’ve resisted the urge to paraphrase too much, and to keep the flow of the conversation intact.
The interview was to promote Dario’s recent film, Mother of Tears, his closure of the three mothers trilogy. Collaborating with American schlock merchants Jace Anderson and Adam Gierasch (whose CV includes Spiders, Crocodile and the recent Toolbox Murders), Mother of Tears will have its UK premier at the Coronet Cinema, Notting Hill on 19 April
You can read my thoughts on the film shortly. In the meantime, enjoy the maestro waxing lyrical about alchemy, his Masters of Horror experience and filming ‘the dirty’…
Over thirty years have passed since Suspiria. Why did you wait so long to finish the Three Mother's trilogy?
Dario Argento: When I finished Inferno I felt like I had exhausted the fantastical element of my filmmaking, the alchemical type of movie. I wanted to get back to thrillers, explore different landscapes and return to the giallo. So I made Tenebrae and for five years I didn't think about doing anything with the three mothers. It had become an obsession for me, so I had to leave it alone for a while.
Over the years there were lots of false starts of course.
Dario Argento: Yes! I never stopped thinking about it, and some years ago I was visiting the Biblioteca Angelica in Rome to do some study on alchemy, magic, and religious themes. All this was inspiring me to return to the terrain and finish the story.
 How did you go from there to working with US writers? Your American experience hasn’t always been positive.
Dario Argento: True, true. But I met Adam (Gierasch) and Jace (Anderson) on Masters of Horror. They were very interested to work with me. They were respectful of my work and of the trilogy, and their enthusiasm was obvious.
The working relationship was good and most importantly I liked their ideas.
How do you feel about Mother of Tears?
Dario Argento: I feel great and I’m excited about what the response will be like to the film in London. I’m very curious to see how they will receive the film.
For me the British audience, they understand my work and they appreciate it, ever since Bird with the Crystal Plumage.
The film was an opportunity to be as free and fantastical as I could be. A very pleasurable experience. The script was excellent too, very strong, adult themes.
The look of the film, like much of your recent work, seems more realistic/naturalistic, less baroque and stylised.
Dario Argento: I don’t know. On one level I guess you could say that it’s more realistic and has a more realistic feel, but I don’t know…. the themes are as crazy as anything I have ever done! (much laughter)
 The film is more extreme in terms of sex and violence than the other two, particularly the sexual content. Was this a conscious decision?
Dario Argento: I felt ready to do something strong, sexual …dirty even! I wanted to go as far as possible with that… to do a film with a lot of sex and nudity, about people who are very sexual. I like the dirty aspect of it very much! (laughs loudly)
As do we Dario, as do we! Now, you have had an extraordinary and unique career - what do you consider your greatest success artistically?
Dario Argento: Suspiria….and Deep Red (long pause) and Opera…the full version. They are… my most fully realised films. Opera…the version that Anchor Bay released, the full version, my cut.
And your biggest disappointment?
Dario Argento: I try not to dwell on the disappointments. There are films I have made that I would do differently now, but no one picture that I would single out.
Do you feel pressure from fans and critics who revere your 70s work so much?
Dario Argento: No, no pressure! I always strive to do the very best with any project, any film. I know that the fans love those films, and I respect that.
 How was the Masters of Horror experience compared to your Italian TV work form the 70s?
Dario Argento: Masters of Horror was a good experience. The visual freedom was fantastic. When I met with the producers they told me to ‘film the scripts but make them yours.. be as free as you want to be, as open as possible’. So I said, ‘OK where do I sign?!’
Adult television, adult themes, these are not easy to come by in television. I associate a kind of childishness with television, but not here.
There seems to be a lot of interest in remaking your work right now. How do you feel about that?
Dario Argento: Yes, there is the remake of Suspiria. I believe they are remaking Deep Red as well…and Crystal Plumage.
The financiers are the people involved; they are the people in control. I have no involvement at all.
And how do you feel about the contemporary horror scene?
Dario Argento: {At this point we experience some phone difficulties, although when normal service is resumed Dario doesn’t seem that excited about the question. Admittedly it’s not that inspiring and perhaps he’s tired from having to compensate for my lack of Italian. Either way time, sadly, had run away by that point}
Thank you so much maestro and good luck with Mother of Tears. Finally, when will we see you in London?
Dario Argento: If I am invited, I will come!
(Dario was obviously good to his word as he will be presenting Mother of Tears at the UK screening this weekend)
Posted by
David Hall
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