You can always count on the new release of an Argento flick to cause a frenzy of commotion among die-hards. For starters, his films are rarely available in the US, so those of us with region free players need to scramble to our local import shop for a copy. Luckily, Argento's latest flick The Card Player, will see an eventual release in the US, courtesy of Anchor Bay, but keep in mind...I did say, eventual. No date has been set as of this writing, so importing is currently the only way to go for those of us with no patience in waiting for our Argento. Anyone familiar with Argento's work will also be aware of the fact that a description of his films are best left to the bare minimum. Most, if not all of his films involve a final reveal of who the killer is. Keeping in mind that this final reveal is more often than not a disappointment, but still, it's best not to know much about who the possible suspects are etc. beforehand. Therefore, I'll be sure to keep things brief.

One fine day, a local Rome police station is taken hostage by unusual means...through an online game of Video Poker. Someone by the name of 'The Card Player' has kidnapped a British tourist, and has her bound and gagged, visible online through a webcam. Police inspector Anna Mari (Stefania Rocca) has already been involved (to some extent it would seem) in the case of the missing tourist, and gathers her coworkers around the monitor. The rules of the game are simple, there are a set number of hands, each time the police lose a hand, the prisoner loses an appendage. If the Police lose the game as a whole, the prisoner loses her life, otherwise she is set free. Simple enough, only the commissioner decides NOT to play the first game they are presented with, and the young girl is of course, killed.

Former Irish policeman John Brennan (Liam Cunningham) is brought in on the case, sordid history aside, he's bright at his job, and a valuable addition to the team. With his assistance, the police begin to play against 'The Card Player' as more young women are eventually kidnapped. Unfortunately, the police are unable to win a game, and these young ladies are inevitably murdered as well, their corpses washing ashore days later. A relationship between John and Anna begins to develop (natch) and they decide to enlist the help of a young poker prodigy, a teenager by the name of Remo (Silvio Muccino). Remo reluctantly takes his spot at the table, and after a win (which frees the kidnapped commissioner's daughter), it would seem as if 'The Card Player' is hip to the police's game. That's all I'm gonna say for now, I'll leave the rest up to you.

First thing's first, this is NOT your typical Argento flick. As a matter of fact, faceless killer aside, I'd go so far as to say that The Card Player is unlike ANY other Argento flick to come before it. For starters, I've already heard the fans' outcry because of the films' lack of onscreen gore. One thing to keep in mind is that many (if not all) of Argento's flicks are not all that gory to begin with (any Argento fan will tell you this). Those of his films' that do include violence, usually only feature a few moments of gore at that, often made famous for their intensity (or Argento's stylish approach towards violence). But the actual onscreen gore itself, is never a determining factor in judging the quality of an Argento flick. That being said, this film is particularly dry, featuring a few 'washed up on shore after the fact corpses' and little else for the gore hound.

The other 'notable ' difference between The Card Player and many (if not all) Argento flicks to come before it, is its obvious mainstream appeal. Especially when you consider the films' themes (computer age, internet, et al) and the fact that it plays off more as a straight psychological thriller than it does horror film. As a matter of fact, I'd be willing to wager that this is one Argento film that MY PARENTS could even enjoy (that's really saying something), and I sure as hell wouldn't sit them down for a screening of Suspiria or Tenebre. While not necessarily a bad thing, The Card Player shares more in common with an episode of CSI, then it does with anything Argento has done prior.

Overall, I'd have to give high marks to both Argento and The Card Player. For what it's worth, the film is pretty tight and has a pretty slick look about it as well. The online/computer portions of the film are fairly realistic (save for an abominable computer virus scene) and generally don't serve to annoy. There are more than a few suspenseful moments, and the film (at 96 minutes) never seems long, it moves along at a nice constant pace. The soundtrack (provided by former Goblin front man Claudio Simonetti) is fairly effective, if a bit underused. It's certainly NOT going to go down in history as one of Simonetti's best works, but it's quite serviceable, nonetheless.

Audio and Video quality are both equally impressive. The anamorphic widescreen image features bold and crisp colors with little to no print damage (there is some slight artifacting however). A few of the darker scenes are just that, pretty dark, but still quite pleasing overall. Both English and Czech dubs are available in 5.1 while the English dub also includes and optional DTS track as well. Optional Czech subs are included, no English. Surrounds are strong (perhaps a bit too strong) but fairly effective.

Extras include a 10-minute behind the scenes montage, no dialogue, just featured music from many an Argento flick, actually quite a nice bonus feature. Also included is a brief still gallery (really just shots from the film) and a Beyond ReAnimator trailer(?) My advice to Argento-philes (new and old alike) is to take a look at The Card Player with an open mind. It's a tight and inventive thriller from a talented director a lot of us have grown to know and love. He may have disappointed us in the past, but The Card Player is definitely worth your attention. Check it out.

Buy it from www.xploitedcinema.com!