In a churchyard in Viterbo, Italy the discovery of a casket has put fear into the monsignor, in fear of what he has discovered he sends the casket to Rome to an old friend and historian Michael (played by Extras actor Adam James). Before the casket gets into the hands of Michael however, trainee historians Sarah Mandy (Asia Argento) and colleague Gisele open the casket to see its treasures. Three statues, a knife and an unusual tunic are all that sit inside, all featuring ancient writing. Upon opening the casket however Gisele accidentally cuts herself, and when she sends Sarah off to get a book to help decipher the inscriptions she is attacked by an army of deformed creatures and a rather petulant monkey. Having broken Gisele's jaw, they sever her stomach and strangle her with her own intestines, before preparing for an attack on Sarah.

While underground crazies' celebrate beneath Rome, on the surface the city falls into turmoil mothers kill babies, partners attack each other, while other just seemingly go out of their mind. The Third Mother has arrived...

La Terza Madre (Mother Of Tears) is an epic movie that brings together all the best characteristics of Italian movie director Dario Argento. It is a magnificent return to form for the director who has spent much of the last ten years playing with new technologies and looking at new forms of terror. In fact older Argento fans will be pleased to hear that with the exception of some new special effects and an incredibly clear print, there is no difference here between his work of 30 years ago. The horror escalates, the darkness pervades, but all the time the beauty of the surrounding, a talent Argento is world recognised for remains a captivating feature. Argento has never made Rome look more beautiful, so much so the Italians could use his skills to promote the country.

The aspects of Argento's work are clear, and these are standard trademarks for the director. Obvious, but incredibly well hidden plot devices are shown from the offset, but these are things you simply don't see. Review the film again and they stand out, but on first glance they seem invisible. Argento almost pays homage to himself in this movie giving nods to previous classics in his directory of movies: The killer monkey is a nod to Phenomena, the jaw breaking from The Church, repulsion to female sexuality is addressed in a similar manner that he showed in Tenebrae, the terrifying witchery of Suspiria, the bloodiness of Deep Red, and even a semi zombie action nodding to Dawn Of The Dead (and before someone tries to correct me, Argento was heavily involved in the original Dawn Of The Dead and has his own cut of the movie best associated with George Romero).

La Terza Madre must be Argento's biggest budget work to date; there is more atmosphere than ever before, the scenes are bigger and there is massive amounts of filming in Rome at the busiest of times, including a intense and lengthy scene through the sprawling railway network. It seems that if it's a location that might be difficult to shoot Argento drags his cast and crew to the location, it's by no means to the detriment of the movie however.

The witches depicted in this instalment are the most menacing yet, like new romantics with a blood thirsty twist. The witches all look like they are on their way to an 80's concert; but the look in their eyes is enough to give reason for concern.

Argento's special effects continue to be legendary here, the director as ever pushes the envelope that much further than any American or British director would, at that moment that camera's usually veer away from a victim Argento closes his cameras in showing you things that you might not want to see, even in your worst nightmares. With more than one baby murder, and a meal consisting of an incredibly sweet boys organs this movie touches on areas that even Argento usually leaves alone.

This is very much a family movie, but not in the way you might think Director Dario Argento works closely here with his Daughter Asia Argento in the role of Sarah Mandy; Asia is best known in the UK and US for her roles in B. Monkey, XXX, Last Days and The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things which she also directed. Ex long term lover of Dario and mother of Asia Italian acting legend Daria Nicolodi stars as Sarah's mother. While behind the camera Dario is joined by his brother Claudio who had a hand in The Godfather and Love Story as well as Argento's movies since the mid 70's.


Asia delivers what I believe to be her best performance, but I guess this could also be down to the fact that La Terza Madre is delivered in its native Italian tongue with English subtitles, normally Asia finds herself a victim of either a dubbing department or of a broken English ring when she speaks in English both aspects (with exception of The Heart Is Deceitful..) tend to saddle the very capable actress as being a touch wooden. There most certainly is no wood here, and Asia is convincing and at times looking incredibly scared; though its widely reported that working with Argento can be quite an ordeal at times, and worse so when you are family.

The great Udo Keir also stars in the movie as a legendary exorcist. The other cast who all turn out great performances are all pretty much unknown outside of Italy.

There are few people that look back to American horror having allowed themselves to become submerged in Argento's brutally graphic and terrifying worlds and La Terza Madre is certainly no exception. While not quite as gore laden as some of Argento's earlier works the scenes that contain gore are pretty much unforgettable. This movie is bound to cause a few people a rocky journey, and for a few the chance to reinvestigate their last meal.

As with all Argento movies there is another component that makes the films so memorable and this movie is no exception. Claudio Simonetti formally with the Italian prog rock band Goblin (who provided most of Argento's musical scores) delivers a score that while less stated as the likes of Suspiria and Inferno, delivers a hint of the magic that the first chapters had. The score here is cutting like a knife, but more orchestral and choral than previous Simonetti works, and I guess this is a testament to the fact that La Terza Madre is being delivered to an entirely new generation than its two predecessors.

I had the good fortune to be invited to the premier of this movie, and can safely say that the audience was completely moved by it in a number of ways. In a mass screening of approximately 4000 viewers it is a most legendary thing to see on the big screen (screen viewing was good but lacked the impact). But what this proves is that this little horror niche is not so small as others might expect.