dr.schliemann: As soon as I read the thread's title, some movies came to mind, but then I read your post and get confused. What do you exactly mean speaking of B-movies?
I am asking this because, in my opinion, only a couple of the movies you listed are real "B" movies and you surely should not put Suspiria and Deep Red in this category.
groze: First, I suspect Dario Argento is a pretty big name in Italy, right now, and his movies are more "artsy" then other directors', but we have to face it: his early movies did have some cheesy effects and really bad acting, and Suspiria is one of them. They may not be as "b-movie" material as some of the other movies I mentioned, but they're not a-listers, as well. He also comes almost every year to the horror b-movie festival hosted in Lisbon, MoteLX (LX being the official international abbreviation for Lisbon), so I wouldn't think he was upset with his films being considered b-movies.
Now, I really have to thank you, Italians, for Mario Bava, Lucio Fulci, Dario Argento and, on a whole different note, Sergio Leone, The Master. I'm being very, very serious about it. I highly appreciate your suggestions, getting to know more Italian directors, albeit trashy movies ones', is something I'm looking forward to.
Grazie!
Well, Argento is surely well known, and considered a master of his genere, but I didn't say what I said for this reason.
I simply don't consider "Suspiria" and, most of all, "Deep Red", movies with bad acting. They could be low-budget, as many productions here in Italy, and they are surely not blockbusters, but you can see yourself their raitings on IMDB.
I mean, I respect your opinion, but you put Friday the 13th series, Texas Chainsaw Massacre series, A Nightmare On Elm Street series, ecc in the "classics" category: well, in my opinion, some of them are very bad ones, worst than "Deep Red" in every way. Halloween 3, for instance, is real crap.
Speaking of Argento, his first movies are great: do you know he even worked with Leone to "Once upon a time in the west"? Then came the decline: his last movies, in particular, are so bad I can't even think he directed them, just to clarify that I am not so indulgent to him.
Giallo is probably the peak of his downfall, and I haven't seen "Dracula 3D" yet!
Sorry for the late reply, and, about my suggestions, you're welcome. I am going to add one, since you don't seem to be into trashy ones (and that's understandable!), even if sometimes you could have fun looking at those.
"The Serpent and the Rainbow" (1988) by Wes Craven. English trailer
here.
