History Film / Inferno

A 1980 Italian horror film by Creator/DarioArgento, not to be confused with the novel of the same name.

* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler: Kazanian who drowned a few cats out of annoyance and ended up being eaten by rats and stabbed to death for knowing it too much. Also Carol who was in cahoots with the coven if not a member herself and ended up burned to death.]]

* TheButlerDidIt: [[spoiler: Subverted, though it's implied not for lack of trying.]]
* TheFaceless: In contrast to Suspiria, where [[spoiler: the entire faculty belongs to the coven]], the faces of Tenebrarum's coven and servants are appropriately masked by shadow at all times.
* FailureHero: Unlike Suzy in Suspiria, Mark had done nothing to contribute to the villains's defeat. Tenebrarum died in the fire that she had unintentionally caused on her own through one of her murders.

* PopStarComposer: [[EmersonLakeAndPalmer Keith Emerson]] wrote the music.

* EnforcedMethodActing: Leigh Mc Closkey was forced to do his own stunts during the firey climax, as his stunt double had broken a leg.

* SoundtrackDissonance: Perhaps the best music for sneaking around the BigBad's lair isn't bombastic OminousLatinChanting set to synthesized and up-tempo organ. However, it makes sense in terms of being a key component to Argento's visual aesthetic.

* SoundtrackDissonance: Perhaps the best music for sneaking around the BigBad's lair isn't bombastic OminousLatinChanting set to synthesized and up-tempo organ.

* AlienGeometries: The far out architecture of Rose's apartment (to say nothing of the [[{{Suspiria}} Tanz Akademie]] or the [[MotherOfTears Palazzo Varelli]]) makes more sense when you realize it was designed by a medieval alchemist.

* EarlyBirdCameo: [[spoiler: Mater Lachrymarum,]] who serves as the main antagonist in [[spoiler: MotherOfTears]], makes a brief appearance in this film, although played by a different actress.

* SwarmOfRats: [[spoiler: Kazanian encounters these after drowning a sackful of cats. Just deserts, perhaps.]]

* SoundtrackDissonance: Perhaps the best music for sneaking around the BigBad's lair isn't bombastic OminousLatinChanting set to synthesized and up-tempo organ.

A 1980 Italian horror film by DarioArgento, not to be confused with the novel of the same name.

* PinballProtagonist: Played straight, but arguably proof that TropesAreNotBad. [[spoiler: Mark]] survived and may have played a role in the death of Mater Tenebrarum, but even at the end has little more than faint hints as to what happened.

* VideoNasty: Was placed on the list in 1984, was dropped just a year later, and was released uncut in 2010.

* AlienGeometries: The far out architecture of Rose's apartment (to say nothing of the [[Suspiria: Tanz Akademie]] or the [[MotherOfTears Palazzo Varelli]]) makes more sense when you realize it was designed by a medieval alchemist.

* AlienGeometries: The far out architecture of Rose's apartment (to say nothing of the [[Film/Suspiria Tanz Akademie]] or the [[MotherOfTears Palazzo Varelli]]) makes more sense when you realize it was designed by a medieval alchemist.

* AlienGeometries: The far out architecture of Rose's apartment (to say nothing of the [[Suspiria Tanz Akademie]] or the [[MotherOfTears Palazzo Varelli]]) makes more sense when you realize it was designed by a medieval alchemist.

* AlienGeometries: The far out architecture of Rose's apartment (to say nothing of the Tanz Akademie or the Palazzo Varelli) makes more sense when you realize it was designed by a medieval alchemist.

* HeyItsThatGuy: Alida Valli as Carol, the caretaker, and Leigh Mc Closkey (of {{Dallas}} fame) as Mark.
* {{Narm}}: "Help help, the rats are eating me!"

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: James Woods was considered for the lead role, but was already committed to {{Videodrome}} at the time.

The second film in a loose trilogy (between {{Suspiria}} and the {{Mother Of Tears}}), in terms of storytelling Inferno is the most alien of the three. While Suspiria walked a thin line between murder mystery and surreal horror, Inferno dispenses with any sort of narrative structure, instead running on a dream logic that makes no concessions to reality. This has made it extremely polarizing among fans of Argento, and of Italian horror in general. To its credit, many notable fans, including critic KimNewman, consider it one of the most underrated horror films of the 1980's.

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* HeroFailure: Unlike Suzy in Suspiria, Mark had done nothing to contribute to the villains's defeat. Tenebrarum died in the fire that she had unintentionally caused on her own through one of her murders.

Rose Elliot, a poetess living in New York, purchases a book from a local antiques dealer. Written by an alchemist known as Varelli, thebook explains how the author was comissioned by three evil (and very powerful) witches to construct stately mansions for them, from which they rule over the world with insanity, grief and despair. Realizing that the apartment she now resides in might be the home of Mater Tenebrarum, the Mother of Darkness, Rose writes to her brother Mark, currently studying music in Rome, to warn him of her fears.