Movielogr
The Card Player (2004)
Directed by Dario Argento
Twitter Facebook Google+Most recently watched by sleestakk
Overview
Policewoman Anna Mari is forced to play a dangerous game with the title serial killer. If she loses, she witnesses the maniac’s tortured victims having their throats cut in explicit close-up detail via webcam. She teams up with British cop John Brennan to find out the identity of the murderer.
Rated NR | Length 103 minutes
Actors
Stefania Rocca | Liam Cunningham | Silvio Muccino | Cosimo Fusco | Fiore Argento | Adalberto Maria Merli | Claudio Santamaria | Mia Benedetta | Giovanni Visentin | Claudio Mazzenga | Conchita Puglisi | Micaela Pignatelli | Luis Molteni | Carlo Giuseppe Gabardini | Alessandro Mistichelli | Francesco Guzzo | Pier Maria Cecchini | Jennifer Poli | Elisabetta Rocchetti | Irene Quagliarella | Vera Gemma | Ulisse Minervini | Antonio Cantafora | Mario Opinato | Gualtiero Scola | Robert Madison | Emanuel Bevilacqua | Robert Dawson | Adriana Fonzi Cruciani | Carla Fonzi Cruciani | Elena Falgheri | Michele Pellegrini | Isabella Celani | Fiore Cosimo | Lynn Swanson | Franco Vitale
Viewing History (seen 1 time)
| Date Viewed | Device | Format | Source | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/27/2025 | Home Theater | 4K Blu-ray | Owned | 5.5 stars |
| (Average) 5.5 stars |
Viewing Notes
This starts off bad, gets better, and then ends in such a non-sensical way, all but dismissing a motive for the killer under cover a flimsy, one line explanation. I don’t always expect Argento films to make sense from a plot standpoint, but it’s kind of a requirement for giallos in that they’re essentially whodunnits, are part of the fun of watching a whodunnit is to try to follow the clues and the investigative work of the police to figure out not just the who, but the why.
The first half of the film is too focused on the online card-playing scenes which are just boring. Near the three-quarter mark we start to get some actual fucking police work as they start working some clues that lead them closer to the killer, only to have that dismissed in the final act as irrelevant.
The score is good, the acting so-so, and the writing ranges from good to mystifying. The 4K transfer looks good. I’d question why this even needed a 4K release but then I’d have to question why I do the VS membership, so let’s not go there!
1 month ago
lol “I’d question why this even needed a 4K release but then I’d have to question why I do the VS membership, so let’s not go there!”
Best not to question any of these release choices! Haha