Mother of Tears (2007)

This second semi-sequel to 1977’s “Suspiria” (and final entry in the loosely connected “Three Mothers” trilogy) is astoundingly, embarrassingly bad. It’s hard to believe that this laughable, sloppy mess was directed by Dario Argento, whose filmography is peppered with magnetic genre entries like 1982’s “Tenebre” and 1987’s “Opera.” But most of all, it’s appalling that Argento has rewarded fans of the series for their patience with such execrable, downright misogynistic garbage. There are several upsetting scenes that revel in the perversion of the female body and the glorification of female suffering, while also containing a barrage of unnecessary and distracting nudity. Lead star Asia Argento (who is also the director’s daughter) is surprisingly compelling and dedicated, but a pointless shower scene – where her father’s camera lingers uncomfortably on her nude body – highlights the movie’s commodification of women’s bodies, which makes the finished product entirely indefensible.

Rating: ★ (out of 5)