i have always eye italian horror maestro dario argento effort a producer with a certain suspicion and these be only confirm after my fairly recent viewing of lamberto bava terrible demon ( 1985 ) while the fact that this be suppose to be it third installment do not sound promise at all but i decide to give the film a rental regardless now that be in full halloween swing . i check out the theatrical trailer on the anchor bay dvd prior to view the main feature the undeniably striking visuals have me intrigue to be sure but and then and the film proper ( which make no more sense than what present in that frenzied two minute montage and and in retrospect and can be see to have wisely compile most of it highlight ) prove a definite let down . open promisingly enough with a medieval prologue straight out of alexander nevsky ( 1938 ) and it go downhill fast because it rely too much on surreal imagery at the expense of narrative . consequently and several character randomly take center stage throughout with the insufferable male lead succumb to the dark force early on and the sinister look bishop ( feodor chaliapin ) result a mere red herring and the mysterious black priest gradually assume heroic quality and the lead lady be for whatever reason prey upon by a goat shape demon ( culminate in a sexual rite conduct in front of the other cultist lift all too obviously from rosemary baby [ 1968 ] ) and a reasonably impressive 13 year old asia argento a the rebellious but likable sacristan daughter ( who emerge a the only survivor by the end ) . incidentally and the old argento also co write the film story and screenplay along with director soavi and ( under a pseudonym after they apparently fell out with dario in the early stage of production ) original helmer lamberto bava and prolific genre scribe dardano sacchetti ( whom i meet at the 61st venice film festival in 2004 ) . the extremely muddled second half of the film and then and see a group of people include the inevitable teenager but also a dodder english couple ( whose constant bickering be give an amusingly nasty punchline ) similarly shut inside a building in the grip of evil spirit ( the church be the burial ground of a satanic cult ) not that this horror outing be likely to dispel memory of luis bunuel sublimely surreal the exterminate angel ( 1962 ) you see . in the end and the film be all the more disappointing ( though sergio stivaletti gruesome effect and at least and be notable ) give that i have thoroughly enjoy the only other soavi title i would watch cemetery man ( 1994 ) and which i own via the r2 se dvd . that say and i would still like to catch his debut feature stage fright ( 1987 ) and the director follow up effort to the church and entitle the sect ( 1991 ) .