Infierno

Una película de terror de Dario Argento, tradicionalmente onírica y visualmente elegante, pero esta vez tan «sin historia» que por momentos te olvidas de qué va. (11.04.2002)

Inferno tiene unos efectos visuales realmente cautivadores y algunas escenas se quedan grabadas en la memoria por su «belleza». Pero el problema es la falta de historia. Una trama sencilla que casi se limita solo a enmarcar una secuencia de episodios, en los que los personajes van al matadero en escenas bastante largas y agónicas, y la trama no avanza a ninguna parte. Inferno también está por detrás de su predecesora en cuanto a actuaciones y música. Sin embargo, merece la pena verla. (04.06.2018)

Although I wholeheartedly endorse Lucio Fulci’s dictum whereby Argento is as adept as a composer of captivating scenes as he is inept as a scriptwriter, I didn’t mind the lack of story arc in this case, because Argento finally resigns himself to trying to shock us (read: annoy us) with a plot twist, presumably concocted for him by the chimpanzee from Phenomena. This one’s strictly about atmosphere and a beautiful color palette. Then again, just between you and me, the last twenty minutes or so, following the rat attack, again suffer from the highly spurious, implausible catastrophe of a script. That’s not something I’d expect to ever happen in a film by the aforementioned Fulci, not to mention Bava, Lenzi or other master directors. Argento is not my cup of tea. (30.08.2020)

My overall impression is a bit hesitant because Inferno is a considerably uneven film. On one hand, its impressiveness, style, and atmosphere cannot be denied, but on the other, it gives the impression of being confused in many aspects, so confused that I doubted the director's intention - it seems more like the magic of randomness worked. The film resembles a confused dream, a nightmare that troubles us shortly before awakening. A good choice for horror fans, but supporters of a clear plotline and explanatory endings should stay far away from Inferno. Overall impression: 60%. (09.10.2009)

Visually, this is probably Argento’s most intoxicating and beautiful film. A surreal atmosphere, beautiful colours and so little of a story that it could fit on a pinhead. I didn’t like Inferno at first, like Suspiria, but a second viewing helped me appreciate it. A piece of advice: if you’re beginning with old horror stuff from Italy, leave Argento’s witch flicks for last. Inferno is really beautiful, but there could really have been at least a little bit more of a plot, hence the four stars. (30.06.2008)