James discusses his thoughts on Argento’s work and his experiences writing his biography…

What is it about Dario Argento that convinced you to write a book about his career?
“Dario Argento is one of my favourite film directors. His films are unique in the horror genre in that they are stunningly photographed, inimitably stylish and nightmarishly surreal. Such a provocative body of work as his really stands out and he has singlehandedly created some of the most breathtakingly beautiful and disturbing moments in horror cinema. With his stories, the destination isn’t always important, but the journey to it is. His masterful use of music and sound also add to his heady and evocative atmospheres. I had toyed with the idea of writing a book about his film work since I left university in 2003. After I built up a body of published work in my free time writing for various magazines and websites I submitted a proposal to Kamera Books and they gave me the go-head to pen a book about Argento. As well submitting the proposal to the publishers, I also sent them a piece I wrote for an independent New York based magazine called Paracinema titled Dreaming in Red: The Pornographication of Death and Violence in the films of Dario Argento. I believe this went some way to help convince them I could tackle this project.”

There have already been numerous books about his work, including Alan Jones’ Profondo Argento and Chris John Gallant’s Art of Darkness: The Cinema of Dario Argento. How have you approached the material in a new and interesting way?
“As I wrote it I tried to keep in mind what I as a fan would like to read about in a book about Dario Argento. I hope it will act as a basic and accessible introduction to Argento’s film work for those who maybe aren’t too familiar with it already. I also hope that it will appeal to hardcore fans. Hopefully some of my enthusiasm will manifest itself in the writing and it will seem fresh and appealing. An added bonus is that it covers Argento’s more recent work too – including a segment on Giallo. The only other book that is as up to date is a new edition of Maitland McDonagh’s Broken Mirrors/Broken Minds: The Dark Dreams of Dario Argento. This book is the cornerstone of all Argento studies and I can’t recommend it highly enough to anyone who wants to delve that little bit deeper into Argento’s dark world.”

How supportive was Dario Argento and how involved in the development was he?
“Unfortunately Dario Argento himself was unable to contribute his time or participate in the project, but I was lucky enough to interview several people who have worked with him – Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni, Sean Keller and Marco Werba all kindly found time to answer questions and contribute to my research. Links to the interviews I conducted with them can be found on my blog. They really helped throw some valuable insight into what it was like to work with someone as influential and respected as Argento.”

Which of his films in particular have had the greatest impact on you and what is your response to those who state his best work is long behind him?
“My favourite Argento film is probably Inferno. It was also one of the first Argento films I ever watched, so its impact is even more resonant. Outside of the films of David Lynch, another director whose work I admire deeply, Inferno is perhaps the closest any filmmaker has come to capturing the pure essence of a nightmare on celluloid. Everything from the visually stunning lighting, lush cinematography, unique atmosphere pregnant with doomful foreboding and the narrative’s defiance of logic and reason, adds to its nightmarish quality. I especially love the scenes in which Rose explores the labyrinthine basement and the underwater ballroom. The sound effects, the unreal, hellish lighting, the eerily serene atmosphere, the taut uneasiness that hangs heavy as soon as she leaves her apartment. These are the shards that combine to create one of the most beautiful and nightmarish scenes in any horror film – let alone an Argento film.”

To those who say his best work is behind him, I would say in his defense I think Dario Argento is a director who has always been true to his experimental roots and never been content to rest on his laurels. He could easily have churned out carbon copies of the likes of Suspiria and Deep Red throughout his career, but he chose to wander down other paths. Sure, the resulting destinations have not always been successful, but they have at least been interesting and daring. Argento has always been at the forefront of horror cinema and cutting edge technology. He was the first Italian filmmaker to employ the use of CGI in his work and he continues to be an influence to other filmmakers today. Not bad for a man who turns 70 this year!”

How long did the entire writing process take and did you already have a published lined up when you were finished?
“The entire writing process took about six months. The first three months I spent researching and sourcing all the films that I didn’t already own. Some of them were quite obscure and only available without subtitles or on VHS. Others were more readily available. I endeared much painstaking research as I had to spend whole afternoons and evenings watching Argento films and various other Italian horror titles. As you can imagine, I took this part of the research very seriously indeed! The latter three months were spent typing up notes I’d compiled, organizing the structure of the book and then sitting down to write it. Proofreading, amendments and such came later. As I said earlier, I already had a publisher lined up and it was just a question of keeping my head down and meeting the deadline. It was a really great experience and I surprised myself by how disciplined I was. It never felt like a chore, I enjoyed every moment of it and will hopefully have the opportunity to do it again soon.”

Do you have a second book planned and what kind of subject would you wish to tackle next?
“I have been invited to contribute a chapter to another forthcoming book on Argento’s work. As this project is still in its infancy I can’t really tell you much about it I’m afraid. I have a few other ideas for projects I’d like to embark on and the idea of throwing myself into the whole process again to write a book is really appealing. Horror cinema is my passion and where my main interests are and I hope to continue writing about it and maybe even be able to make a living out of it one day.”

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Sarah took some time out from her busy schedule to discuss what it is about the genre that makes her tick…

Why horror? What is it about the genre that interests you so much?
“I get asked this question a lot, but ever since I was a little girl I’ve loved being scared! I remember reading Stephen King novels under the covers with a flashlight in elementary school and begging my parents to let me go see Leprechaun when it first came out in theatres (they said no – I was only in the 4th grade!). Then all during high school I remember renting cheesy horror flicks from the local video store and watching them with my best friend. It probably wasn’t until college when I became seriously interested in the academics and theories behind scary movies, though, and this (believe it or not) made me enjoy them even more!

I could seriously watch horror movies, good, bad and ugly, for the rest of my life and be content! There is just something about horror that thrills me and I’ve always been drawn to the darker and more morbid side of things…”

How does it feel to be a part of what many consider to be a male-dominated genre? How would you compare the way you are perceived to your male counterparts?
“You know, I’ve recently noticed that there seem to be a lot more women horror journalists and fans actually getting recognized than ever before! So I’m not sure if the genre will be male dominated for long! When I first started out, though, it did feel like women’s opinions weren’t being expressed or heard in the horror community. I started Fatally-Yours to add my opinion and make sure women had another voice in the horror community and a woman’s perspective could be heard.”

Which women currently working in the horror genre do you admire the most?  Do you have any filmmaking ambitions of your own?
“I admire any woman that doesn’t rely solely on looks to succeed in the business, but uses their intelligence and talent. I especially admire other women horror journalists, like Heidi Martinuzzi of Pretty-Scary.net, who was always a big influence and inspiration for me.”

Sexuality plays a large part in horror.  But do you feel it is represented correctly?
“I think sexuality in horror is definitely shown from a man’s perspective more so than a woman’s. Horror films are overflowing with female characters getting naked to target the male audience members, but female horror fans rarely get more than a male character with his shirt off. So, it is definitely not shown fairly. Plus, I don’t particularly like my horror and violence mixed with sex – just bring on the scares, please!”

What particular style of horror do you enjoy the most and do you still get scared by movies?
“It’s sad to say, but the more horror movies I see the more and more jaded I get. It takes a lot to scare me, but I am all about psychological scares rather than blatant “boo” scares or gore. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate fun horror as well as gory horror, but for something to truly freak me out it has to get under my skin and stick with me…it has to stay with me long enough that I feel like checking under the bed and hiding under the covers when bedtime rolls around.”

Why do you think that horror has such an appeal, what is it about these types of films that gets under the viewer’s skin?
“Horror is a safe escape and a catharsis, but it also asks the “what if” questions and makes us wonder just what would happen if zombies started attacking or if a killer was stalking you and your friends. Plus, people like getting scared and getting an endorphin rush, much like a rollercoaster!”

Some claim that true horror lies in what the audience isn’t shown, whilst others feel that it is the filmmakers’ responsibility to show everything they can.  Which approach do you find most effective?
“I think it really depends on the storyline. Some stories just demand that everything be put on display for it to be effectively frightening – like most (but not all) zombie or monster movies. Other films work better on a subtle level, and these are the ones that I like better. The ones that delight in messing with the characters’ and audience’s heads!”

Do you feel that repetition and familiarity kills horror?  During the 1980’s it was sequels and now it is remakes.  Do we become desensitized easily, particularly when real life often seems more horrifying?
“It definitely dulls it and makes it less frightening, because with remakes and sequels you already have a basic idea of what to expect. Plus, with each subsequent sequel and/or remake it seems as if the source material is further dumbed down. Ugh! And don’t even get me started on PG-13 “horror” that’s aimed at the tween crowd! Horror should never be that safe!”

Where do you feel the genre will go next and what new themes and ideas are there left for filmmakers to explore?
“There are so many different ways to do things, even with subgenres of horror that seem done to death. Resurrect these subgenres with a slight twist in the mythology or different focus and you’ll entrance the audience all over again.

I also think that more and more horror fans will start turning to independent productions since the studios these days seem to be pandering to PG-13 audiences with their neverending remakes. Indie horror is where it’s at!”

Come visit Sarah Jahier at Fatally-Yours!

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What are your earliest memories of horror and what made you decide to pursue a career as a writer?
“My earliest memories… That would have to be of playing Dark Shadows on the playground at school with my little boyfriend and pretending like I was the most powerful vampire ever! Hahaha.
I have always written stories and poetry. Ever since I was a young girl, I would make up stories and situations to scare the pants off of my friends at slumber parties and when we would hang out. I was always obsessed with the supernatural so most of them would be about ghosts and haunted places that people could go and hear the dying moans of a woman or hear a saw as a man was cutting his victims into pieces to feed to his hell hounds. As I got older I started to write them down and eventually started winning contests at school. It was something that I always knew I was good at so I kept it going in one form or another and here I am today!”

Have you ever been starstruck when meeting an actor or filmmaker? Do you find that the fan inside you sometimes makes an unexpected appearance?
“Haha! Actually yes. Every now and then I will talk with someone and within the first few sentences I start to do the happy dance but none was as hysterical when I got completely starstruck from seeing Mickey from The Monkees! I felt like such a dork afterward but couldn’t contain how excited I got when he was within five feet from me. Its fun though! I think if I ever stop being a “fan girl” then it is time to leave this business and start a new adventure.”

What does horror mean to you? What is it about watching frightened people being terrorized or murdered that some people find so entertaining and do you find it cathartic in any way to watch a character face his or her fears and come out alive at the end?
“Horror is such an creative medium for me. Its a place where you can be scared, you can be sickened, you can even be killed, yet the cameras turn off and the end credits roll and there you are; still alive and in the same position that you were when you started.
I feel that is very cathartic because facing fears in one thing that the human nature is, by all rights for survival and well being, normally fought against. But what happens when you are forced to face it? To face your own mortality. Horror films allow you to explore that. They allow your mind to go into “what if” scenarios and you end up loving every minute of it because you can walk away from it. I personally like to watch them and say things like “Oh, if that were me, I would …”, like I’m preparing for a zombie attack or getting ready to face axe swinging psychos. Better to be safe than sorry ”

How would you respond to those who accuse the genre of inciting violence and corrupting the young? Horror has a long history of censorship around the world, more than any other genre, why do you think this is?
“I would tell those people the same thing I say all of the time about horror films, music, and television. If you would actually sit down and be a parent and explain to your children that what they are watching is fake and make believe, then maybe we wouldn’t have so many messed up kids nowadays. People like to pass the buck and blame everything that they can point a finger at and say “this is the reason our youth has no more morales anymore. These monsters, and fiends, and naked women running around; This ‘hippity-hop’ era and there demeaning of women; People allowing the words ass, bitch, whore, etc on television; that’s what’s wrong with our youth!” But you never hear them follow it up with, “I use the TV set as a baby sitter and won’t take the time to talk to my kids and make sure they know this is for entertainment and that these people are actors. God forbid I take time with my kid, how else could I sit here and tell you how to raise yours?”
Ugh, as you can see this is a very touchy topic for me. It just drives me nuts to hear people passing the buck. Do your job as a parent and let the filmmakers do their jobs and make films that people like me and anyone reading this will truly enjoy. Without the ‘all-too-safe’ restrictions and PG-13 ratings. Its not horror that is the downfall of youth, its the adults who refuse to guide their children in the right direction.”

Are there any horror films that you personally find offensive and do you agree with censorship in certain cases or should artists be allowed to show absolutely anything they want to?
“I think the only films that have ever ’shocked’ me were the ones with no real premise or story but that were solely intended to do so. I wouldn’t say they should be censored though. They are just cheap and uncreative garbage to me that I can do without. But it probably has an audience somewhere.
I believe that filmmakers have a responsibility to their audience and always make sure that they are aiming to entertain, not shock and sicken. There is a difference when you do those two things for the fun of a film to when you base your entire film on such. As long as no people or animals are hurt for the purpose of the film, then more power to ya. Make the film the way you want it but if it sucks, please don’t expect me to like it.”

How supportive have you found other websites and critics, particularly to new writers? Would you say there is much rivalry between different sites and magazines?
“Woah. Haha! Like with other parts of the business you meet two kinds of people. On one hand you have a really great group who are completely supportive and are awesome people to have on your side. Then…you have “the others”. Ha!! There can be a lot of jealousy and cattines among certain sites that will do whatever they can to try to ruin the name of others just to get ahead but fortunately it doesn’t work. It never ceases to amaze me how much work these people put into trying to bring someone else down rather than actually do th jobs and talk about the industry and tell people the great stuff that goes on, on a daily basis. Its disappointing really. We stay dedicated to our purpose, which is giving the fans of horror everything they could ever want; not bashing other people and trying to be bigger stars than the people we write about. Although the ethics and integrity of some sites and people may be below par so to speak, not all are like that. Its the really great people who have become like family that makes me so proud to do what I do.”

Aside from Horror News.net, do you have any other projects lined up for the near future?
“I do! I am set to star in HG Lewis’ and Keith Stoddard’s upcoming film Blood De Madam and have been featured in Reyna Young’s documentary Welcome To My Darkside: Women In Horror!
I have quite a few other projects on the horizon but let’s keep those a surprise for now. Stay tuned!!”

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