The Card Player

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Audience Member Look, I'll come clean. I've outright written off Argento's post-Opera work without putting the work in, but that's because the films I have seen have upset me so greatly — and in no way a good way — that it felt like putting in the work to watch another one after Sleepless felt like, well, work. This was originally going to be a sequel to The Stendhal Syndrome and titled In the Dark, but everything changed when Asia Argento declined to be involved. The biggest issue is that the story is intrigiuing but as you wait for the visuals, nothing much happens. If this were any other director, I'd be fine with this movie. But with Argento, perhaps unfairly, I want more. I want bullets tearing through keyholes and eyeballs, bodies crashing through windows, menacing forests and colors that burn their way into my ventral occipital lobe. Instead, this looks no better than a TV procedural. The Card Player is a masked and black gloved killer who kindaps women in Rome, then challenges the police to play internet poker with him for their lives. If the police lose, they get to watch someone get tortured and killed Red Room-style online. There's a great close with a train bearing down on the killer and a victim who play poker right up to the end. Sure, the effect that follows is poor, but getting there isn't horible. What is bad is that this entire movie is based around watching people play video poker. While we can argue whether or not Argento was inventing Twitch, the fact is that 1972 Dario would shoot a poker game like cards were flying at us filled with mysery and menace. Instead, we simply watch cards slowly get dealt out. Man, Dario. I really want to see you do something great. And I get it. You already did. Maybe I should take it easier on you. But we always want more from the ones we love. Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member While far from his strongest films, The Card Player at least has moments that remind the viewer why he's considered a Master of Horror. This is undermined by strange leaps of logic, lackluster dialogue, and the signature bad dubbing. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Yet another movie that makes you ask where and when Argento lost his magnificent visionary talent. Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member well I was liking the movie and then the ending happened. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Audience Member Argento's The Card Player Brings The World Of Classic Crime Thriller Flicks Into The Computing World And Does It Successfully. Argento Is On Top Form, So Is His Cast & Crew. A Must See. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Dario Argento has crafted some of the most memorable horror films in the genres history. However he has lost his touch starting in the mid 90's. The Card Player may have been a great concept on paper, but on-screen it fails to deliver anything truly entertaining. This film fails to deliver what Argento's classic films did so well back in the day. This is a dull affair with poor acting, directing and storytelling. The film simply doesn't have that spark that made Argento's work memorable. This film is just bad and will disappoint the diehard Argento fan. I've been a fan of his for a while now, and I had heard mixed things about The Card Player. However this was a big letdown and it shows signs of a director that is quickly running out of ideas. I think it's a shame because Argento is one of the legends of horror, but this one just fails on every level. If the script would have been reworked and the cast better chosen, maybe this film would have had a chance, but as it stands, The Card Player is just another run of the mill Giallo with 21st Century elements to make it more interesting for today's audience, but in doing so has no substance to its concept. Well, it's bad, and if you love old school Argento movies, don't watch this one as all his trademark elements are nonexistent. I think it's a shame because this film could have been great, but this is just a boring movie with poor buildup, a bad cast and awful storyline that could have been reworked many times to make this a worthwhile Giallo that ranks up there with some of Argento's best. Unfortunately it's a forgettable film not worth your time. Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Card Player

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