INFERNO (1980) – Episode 279 – Decades of Horror 1980s

“There are mysterious parts in that book, but the only true mystery is that our very lives are governed by dead people.”  Well, crap! Aren’t there enough problems being governed by live people? Join your faithful Grue Crew – Crystal Cleveland, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they discuss the beauty and imagery of Inferno (1980), the eighth film directed by Dario Argento, discussed on Decades of Horror.

Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 279 – Inferno (1980)

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Synopsis: An American student investigates the disappearance of his sister and the death of a friend, both connected from New York to Rome by an old alchemy book.

• Directed by: Dario Argento
• Writing Credits: Dario Argento (screenplay) & Dardano Sacchetti (screenplay) (uncredited); Thomas De Quincey (book) (uncredited); Daria Nicolodi & Dario Argento (story) (uncredited)
• Assistant Director: Lamberto Bava
• Special Effects by: Germano Natali (special effects), Fabio Traversari (special effects assistant) (uncredited)
• Visual Effects by: Mario Bava (visual effects) (uncredited), Fabrizio Bava (visual effects assistant) (uncredited)
• Selected Cast:
  • Leigh McCloskey as Mark Elliot
  • Irene Miracle as Rose Elliot
  • Eleonora Giorgi as Sara
  • Daria Nicolodi as Elise De Longvalle Adler
  • Sacha Pitoëff as Kazanian (as Sacha Pitoeff)
  • Alida Valli as Carol, the caretaker
  • Veronica Lazar as The Nurse / Mater Tenebrarum
  • Gabriele Lavia as Carlo
  • Feodor Chaliapin Jr. as Professor Arnold / Dr. Varelli (as Feodor Chaliapin)
  • Leopoldo Mastelloni as John, the Butler
  • Ania Pieroni as Music Student
  • James Fleetwood as Cook
  • Rosario Rigutini as Man
  • Ryan Hilliard as Shadow
  • Paolo Paoloni as Music Teacher
  • Fulvio Mingozzi as Cabdriver
  • Luigi Filippo Lodoli as Bookbinder (as Luigi Lodoli)
  • Rodolfo Lodi as Old Man in the Library
  • Dario Argento as Emilio Varelli (voice) (uncredited)
  • Lamberto Bava as Pedestrian (uncredited)

Inferno (1980), the second of Dario Argento’s The Three Mothers, is almost as beautiful as the legendary Suspiria (1977), the first of The Three Mothers. The story, built around a mystical alchemy book aptly titled The Three Mothers, may be even more indecipherable than Suspiria’s. A man is looking for his missing sister; that much is obvious. Beyond that, who knows? However, the film is filled with innovative kills, beautiful cinematography, and radiant lighting. Mario Bava and son Lamberto also add no small contribution to the film’s look. The talented Daria Nicolodi is also on hand to make it an official Argento film. There is no lack of topics to discuss.

At the time of this writing, Inferno (1980) is available to stream from Kanopy, PlutoTV, Roku, Mubi, and Prime. It’s also available on physical media as a Blu-ray formatted disc from Blue Underground.

Every two weeks, Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror 1980s podcast will cover another horror film from the 1980s. The next episode’s film, chosen by Crystal, will be Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)! It’s four segments and the wraparound are directed by Joe Dante, George Miller, Stephen Spielberg, and John Landis. The film also comes enveloped in tragedy and controversy. This one should be… interesting.

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