Caution: This article contains spoilers for the documentary feature, ‘Dario Argento Panico.’
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Something that is genuinely intriguing about the horror genre, is how little is known about the greats that have stuck terror into our hearts. Because one would think in this modern era of storytelling and social media, where everyone’s lives are put on display, that the titans of the industry, the ones who made horror the juggernaut it is today, would have their stories displayed in front of us. But some of the losses in the genre that have come our way, alongside an obvious desire to keep to themselves unless they’re telling tales of terror, has kept their stories away from us.

But as time continues to march on, and classics are discovered by new generations, the demand to know about the men that shaped the genre’s current course, has grown to a fever pitch. And slowly but surely, we are seeing more interviews, more podcasts and more everything about these greats. In fact, Shudder is now home to quite the pivotal documentary about one of the most important men to ever grace the genre, Dario Argento. Who let’s be honest… is someone we know little about outside of his contributions to the genre and his incredible work ethic, since he continues to make films well into what is normally considered to be our twilight years.

But Dario Argento Panico really does change all of that. For documentarian Simone Scafidi had the opportunity to not only sit down with Dario to discuss his illustrious career, which he gladly does but he also takes the time… to explore Dario’s life as a whole. From his humble and unique origins as a boy that was born into celebrity and cinema. Since his mother and father were indeed connected to that world and clearly, it rubbed off on the man that is oft called ‘The Maestro.’ To the point where he started his humble beginnings behind the camera, which in turn gave rise to the legendary films we know today and fawn over. All of which is presented to us in a very linear fashion, and that brings forth a fascinating chronicling of the Maestro’s life. 

Wherein the story spends time exploring each one of Dario’s films, and how they were crafted, and some of the memories that all involved harbor about the particular story they worked on. Which does indeed provide us with the insight we crave. Such as how Dario crafted the madness of Suspiria and the brilliance of Deep Red, and what brought the iconic music of Goblin into some of his notable works. Which are details you just don’t often see in documentaries about the greats, since the person are what is oft celebrated while their works are acknowledged in brief. But here, it really is about Dario’s work and his contributions and that leads to more unique moments.
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Since this process also allowed for legends of the industry to speak to their reflections upon Dario’s work and how it impacted them, the beauty they found from it and the meaning and subtext they gleaned from it. Giving rise to fascinating reflection upon his work, that is also enhanced by way of interviews with family members and friends regarding his work, regarding their personal experiences with Dario and the particular project in question. Which allows for us to see a far bigger picture about his life and his impact upon others both positive and negative, since not everyone can speak to a flawless experience in working with the Maestro.

However, that does paint quite the comprehensive picture, one that speaks to Dario’s life and his work and really gives us an understanding as to who he is, how his work came to life. If anything, the only complaint that arises from this documentary, is that it doesn’t offer us enough when it comes to Dario’s creative process. Simply because it covers so much and dives into so much. But even then, that’s a small complaint to offer. For you do learn a great deal about the Maestro here and really come to understand his vast and fascinating body of work in a new light and that, makes this a worthwhile watch for anyone that is eager to pull the curtain clear of true genius and learn how a family man gave life to so many nightmares.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Six of ‘Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Over the course of the past few weeks, the AMC+ and Sundance Now series, Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale, has provided us with quite the fascinating story. One that has shown us a world filled with witchcraft and has explored how the world might handle that being the norm. Alongside some fascinating bits of commentary on the power of grief and how that can cause incredible trouble and how our world de-volves into mob mentality. Which has given us much to ponder upon and much to discuss in these recaps. But alas, after weeks of discussions and breakdowns regarding the intelligent thoughts this show offers, this week’s episode offered something different.

For this week, featured the beginning of the worst-case scenario. That tipping point we referred to during last week’s tale. For this episode quickly informed us that while Sarah did indeed survive the spoils of trying to unleash a powerful spell designed to save the town of Sanctuary from falling into utter chaos, the spell was a failure, and she lost her powers in the process. Leaving her helpless and emotionally wounded as she tried to figure out how best to stop the madness that was spreading now at an exponential rate. For Abigail was still hell bent on clearing her son’s name and making it seem as though, Sarah was somehow responsible for all of Abigail’s family’s ills, and that prompted her… to push the town past the tipping point by way of two ugly decisions.

The first, was to offer up another rally. One where she stoked flames and hate and claimed incorrectly that Sarah’s resurrection of her son when he passed away years ago, was some kind of evil awakening. One that corrupted his soul and motivated him to do the horrible things he had done. Words that resonated with some but not all, which prompted Abi to push her husband Michael, to keep Jack sick so that it seemed as though a witchy virus was moving about, to keep the fear stoked and the keep the hate flowing and that… is what caused the tipping point. Because Michael’s weird little cocktail of drugs and sicknesses… was enough to make Jack ill enough… to perish.

Which pushed the town over the edge. To the point where mobs were moving about to find Sarah and that prompted DCI Knight to scoop her up and save her from harm, all while finally putting the pieces together as to who might be responsible for Dan’s death. Since we all came to learn in this tale that Izzy, had ties to powers untold, and likely knew nothing about them because of the fact that her family’s history wasn’t mired in witchcraft. But she had gifts, and she had a deep understanding of spells. To the point where she likely caused harm. A reality that would have quickly closed the case and likely would have offered Izzy a humane sentence. But alas, the tipping point was breached. To the point where one biased police force followed the fury of their leader and now… lives are hovering on the brink.

For Harper and Sarah were beaten and thrown in police cars and now they will stand in front of an angry mob of people they once called neighbors and friends. All because mob mentality has taken hold because Abigail’s broken heart and spoiled nature was not mended or satiated. But before we ponder deeper upon what horrors await from that, we can revel in the majesty of one scary tale. One free from commentary and one that simply showcased, the worst parts of humanity. How fear can rule us, and how fury can drive us to awful things, and now… we will have to bear witness to the culmination of that, when next week’s harrowing season finale airs, and it will be fascinating to see if there is any hope for this once idyllic town, or if mob rule and one woman’s grief will devastate everyone in some form or fashion. Until next time.