Argento did have some shooting talent but most of his stories where nonsensical and full of plot holes which was kinda a trend in Italian horror filmmaking in the 70s and 80s. They were more concerned with mood and emotional reactions than clear and concise storytelling. The Mother's trilogy is a prime example of chaotic storytelling. Suspiria had some wonderful shots and Goblin provided very eerie music (although misused in some parts) but the flow of the story was abysmal.

@movie_nazi said:

Argento did have some shooting talent but most of his stories where nonsensical and full of plot holes which was kinda a trend in Italian horror filmmaking in the 70s and 80s. They were more concerned with mood and emotional reactions than clear and concise storytelling. The Mother's trilogy is a prime example of chaotic storytelling. Suspiria had some wonderful shots and Goblin provided very eerie music (although misused in some parts) but the flow of the story was abysmal.

Well, most of the horror & thriller films concern with mood and emotional reaction in the first place. I did love his storytelling. Other Italian horror/thriller directors didn't impress me that much but Dario cought me with everything - atmosphere, music, pacing, twists & turns....

@IrinaOma said:

@movie_nazi said:

Argento did have some shooting talent but most of his stories where nonsensical and full of plot holes which was kinda a trend in Italian horror filmmaking in the 70s and 80s. They were more concerned with mood and emotional reactions than clear and concise storytelling. The Mother's trilogy is a prime example of chaotic storytelling. Suspiria had some wonderful shots and Goblin provided very eerie music (although misused in some parts) but the flow of the story was abysmal.

Well, most of the horror & thriller films concern with mood and emotional reaction in the first place. I did love his storytelling. Other Italian horror/thriller directors didn't impress me that much but Dario cought me with everything - atmosphere, music, pacing, twists & turns....

Yeah.. I don't get where movie_nazi or other critics come from in regards to Argento's plots being "nonsensical or full of plot holes". I love the characters (short of the a-hole in Four Flies in Grey Velvet. I dig the movie, but it is the weakest of his "Animal Trilogy"), the plots are complex enough that there is an actual mystery that I want to solve and see "whodunit", the films stick with the main characters, short of going off with side characters for their murders, so there is a flow to his films... I don't know. I mean, what do you want?! It's not like you go into an Argento film not knowing what to expect. It's like wondering why there is so much eye trauma in a Fulci film... what did you think was going to happen?

But like a wise man once said: There's no pleasing some people.