By MICHAEL GINGOLD
The Italian horror maestro and a number of his fellow fright filmmakers speak in the new documentary.
Shudder revealed today that it has acquired DARIO ARGENTO PANICO for the U.S., Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, with a streaming debut set for February 2. Simone Scafdi’s documentary, which premiered at this year’s Venice Film Festival, explores the man and his movies, featuring exclusive interviews with Argento as well as Guillermo del Toro, Gaspar Noé, Nicolas Winding Refn, Michele Soavi, Claudio Simonetti, Asia and Fiore Argento, OPERA star Cristina Marsillach and others. The synopsis: “DARIO ARGENTO PANICO creates a detailed journey through the life and legacy of the legendary Italian filmmaker, revealing his profound impact on horror and his lasting influence on cinema. In the secluded ambiance of hotel rooms, Dario Argento crafted his greatest cinematic creations, seeking solace from the outside world to delve into his nightmares. Now, he finds himself in a hotel room to return to the very setting that ignited his creative fervor to conclude his latest script and participate in an intimate interview, all while being followed by a film crew documenting his life for a movie about his illustrious career.”
DARIO ARGENTO PANICO will have its U.S. premiere as part of “Panic Attacks: The Films of Dario Argento,” a series that will run at New York City’s IFC Center January 31-February 8. Argento classics that will screen as part of this retrospective include SUSPIRIA, INFERNO, DEEP RED and TENEBRAE.
“We are so proud that Shudder, the most prestigious international platform dedicated to genre cinema, has chosen DARIO ARGENTO PANICO,” says producer Giada Mazzoleni. “In doing so, Shudder not only celebrates the cinema of the greatest living Italian director, but also recognizes his merit in having forever changed the way of making cinema worldwide. This is thanks to his imaginative cities and directing of actors in scenes that have contributed to defining the highest and noblest level of fear on the big screen: that of panic.”
“Following our release of DARK GLASSES, Shudder is once again privileged to partner with icon of the genre, Dario Argento,” says Shudder VP of Programming Samuel Zimmerman. “To call Mr. Argento influential would understate it. His pioneering work in horror and giallo is as indelible as it is frightening, creating images that live forever in the eyes and minds of audiences and artists across the globe. PANICO digs deep to craft an intimate portrait of the master, eye-opening to admirers and newcomers alike.”
