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Fri, Apr 21, 2023
The summer film series will screen a dozen new restorations from the Italian horror icon
For summer 2023, the Wexner Center for the Arts at The Ohio State University will present a 12-film salute to one of the most respected names in horror: Dario Argento. Happening July 6–August 17, Retrospective: Dario Argento will present some of the filmmaker’s most popular titles along with lesser-known films rarely seen on the big screen, all in new 4K DCP restorations from Cinecittà in Rome.
“The horror genre is currently enjoying a level of popularity among movie goers like never before, from low-budget schlock to more mainstream examples such as Nope, Hereditary and The Menu,” notes Head of Film/Video David Filipi. “We’re excited to take this moment to celebrate Argento, whose work has influenced directors such as George Romero, John Carpenter, and Takashi Miike, as well as the modern slasher genre as a whole.”
Originally a film critic and screenwriter, Argento made his debut as director with The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1971), which will launch the Wex series on Thursday, July 6.
In the five decades since, Argento has developed a passionate following among horror lovers and fans of giallo movies—stylish, violent, and sexually charged works combining elements of horror and mystery—through films such as Suspiria, Deep Red, and Tenebrae. All of these will be featured in the summer series.
Retrospective: Dario Argento was organized with the support of Camilla Cormanni and Marco Cicala, Cinecittà. Exclusive to the Wex, select screenings will be introduced by members of Columbus's thriving community of horror fans and a limited-edition retrospective print by Kentucky cartoonist J.T. Dockery will be available at the Wexner Center Store. More details will be announced closer to the screenings.
The schedule is below, followed by information about single and series tickets for the program and other visitor information.
The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, image courtesy of American Genre Film Archive
The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970) Thursday, July 6 | 7 PM
Introduced by Laura Wimbels, Creator and Host of Lenora’s Midnight Rental
Tony Musante stars as an American writer living in Rome who witnesses a knife attack and becomes obsessed with solving the mystery of who wielded the weapon. Crystal Plumage features a soundtrack by composer Ennio Morricone. (96 mins., 4K DCP)
The screening will be introduced by Cleveland-based Laura Wimbels, creator and host of Lenora’s Midnight Rental, a monthly YouTube show that spotlights the Golden Age of VHS viewing, especially horror films for The Found Footage Festival.
The Cat o’ Nine Tails (1971) Friday, July 7 | 7 PM Introduced by Hope Madden
Karl Malden stars in one of Argento’s most accessible films as a blind crossword puzzle designer who teams with reporter James Franciscus to investigate the death of a scientist who is killed in a suspicious train accident.
The screening will be introduced by critic, author, and filmmaker Hope Madden of Columbus Underground and MaddWolf.com; in 2022, she also directed the horror comedy Obstacle Corpse and released the horror novel Roost. (112 mins., 4K DCP)
Four Flies on Grey Velvet (1971) Saturday, July 8 | 7 PM
From its haunting environments to its memorably creepy masked killer, Four Flies on Grey Velvet is a nightmare from start to finish. The film follows a rock drummer (Michael Brandon) who’s blackmailed and menaced after accidentally stabbing a man who has been following him. (104 mins., 4K DCP)
Deep Red (1975) Thursday, July 13 | 7 PM Introduced by Erik Herrmann
Widely considered to be one of Argento’s best, this giallo classic focuses on the murder of a famous psychic and the jazz pianist (David Hemmings) who teams up with a reporter (Daria Nicolodi) to search for clues. Italian prog rock band Goblin provides the score.
Before the screening, Erik Herrmann, an assistant professor of architecture at Ohio State's Knowlton School, will discuss Argento’s use of color and its influence on his approach to color in architecture. (127 mins., 4K DCP)
Suspiria (1977) The Black Cat (1990) Friday, July 14 | first feature at 7 PM, second feature at 8:45 PM
This double feature pairs Argento’s masterpiece with his rarely screened contribution to the Edgar Allen Poe-inspired omnibus film Two Evil Eyes.
Featuring another great soundtrack by Goblin, Suspiria stars Jessica Harper as an American ballerina who arrives at a German academy to further her training—that is, until the bodies start piling up. (92 mins., 4K DCP)
The Black Cat stars Harvey Keitel as a photographer who becomes obsessed with a feline that has entered his life. (66 mins., 4K DCP)
Mother of Tears (2007) Saturday, July 15 | 7 PM
In Mother of Tears, the filmmaker’s daughter, Asia Argento, plays an American art restorer who unknowingly unleashes a wave of gory chaos on Rome when she opens an ancient urn that once belonged to a trio of witches. (102 mins., 4K DCP)
Opera (1987) Thursday, July 20 | 7 PM
A bloody homage to Phantom of the Opera, the film stars Cristina Marsillach as a promising actress who lands the lead in a production of Macbeth when the lead is hit by a car, but soon finds herself stalked by an obsessive psychopath who’s killing everyone around her. Soon Betty is stalked by an obsessed psychopath who kills her boyfriend, her costumer, and anyone else close to her. (107 mins., 4K DCP)
The Five Days (1973) Thursday, July 27 | 7 PM
Argento’s lone departure from the horror genre is a farcical buddy comedy and a period piece. Starring Italian music legend Adriano Celentano, The Five Days follows an escaped thief and a baker in Milan who witness a parade of memorable characters and situations during the tumultuous final days of the 1848 revolution against Austria. (122 mins., 4K DCP)
Tenebrae (1982) Thursday, August 3 | 7 PM
Anthony Franciosa stars as an American murder mystery writer who’s in Rome to promote his latest book when he begins to receive letters from a killer who claims that the writer’s books have inspired him to go on a killing spree. The film also stars John Saxon and Daria Nicolodi, and features an original score by Goblin. Many consider Tenebrae to be Argento’s response to his critics. (101 mins., 4K DCP)
Phenomena (1985) Thursday, August 10 | 7 PM
An oddity even by Argento standards, Phenomena stars Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly as a teenage telepath at a Swiss boarding school who has a special connection with insects. The presence of a serial killer in the area leads the student to team up with a local entomologist (Donald Pleasence) and his monkey assistant to try to channel her powers to solve the murders. (116 mins., 4K DCP)
Trauma (1993) Thursday, August 17 | 7 PM
One of two films made by Argento in the US, Trauma stars Argento’s daughter Asia as a psychiatric hospital escapee who tries to stay one step ahead of a serial killer that’s targeted her family. (110 mins., 4K DCP)
Retrospective: Dario Argento takes place July 6–August 17 at the Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St. on the Ohio State University campus. Tickets for each program are $9 general admission, $7 for members and adults 55 and over, and $5 for students. A series pass is also available for $72 general admission, $56 for members and adults 55 and over, and $40 for students.
A reduced parking fee of $2 is available for select Film/Video events in the Ohio Union Garage.
For more information, call 614-292-3535 or check the Wex's "Your Visit" page.
Support for Film/Video Programs provided by Rohauer Collection Foundation.
