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This special limited edition spot gloss slipcover (designed by Suspiria Vilchez) is limited to 6,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
In Rome, Inspector Anna Mari receives a macabre surprise for her birthday when an email lands in her inbox from someone calling themself “The Card Player”, and claiming to be the one responsible for the recent kidnapping of a British tourist. In a sadistic twist, the kidnapper challenges the authorities to a game of online poker to determine whether the young woman lives or dies. When the Police Commissioner forbids his team to go through with the game, the maniac brutally slaughters the tourist before their very eyes via webcam, later dumping the body in a river. As more and more women are abducted from the streets of the Italian capital and subjected to the same treatment, Anna Mari joins forces with Irish policeman John Brennan and young poker whizz-kid Remo in an attempt to beat The Card Player at their own deadly game.
A later giallo offering from the master of the form, Dario Argento’s (Deep Red, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage) THE CARD PLAYER takes all the familiar trappings of the genre and plants them firmly in an early 2000s milieu, complete with a fittingly pulsing, contemporary electronic score by Claudio Simonetti (Suspiria, Tenebrae). Co-scripted by regular Argento collaborator Franco Ferrini (Phenomena, Demons) and featuring gruesome corpse special effects from Sergio Stivaletti (Cemetery Man), Vinegar Syndrome is delighted to present THE CARD PLAYER in its world UHD debut, newly restored in 4K from the original camera negative and loaded with a full deck of both new and archival extras.
4K UHD presented in Dolby Vision High-Dynamic-Range
Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative
Presented in its original English language 5.1 surround soundtrack, as well as its Italian language 5.1 surround soundtrack with newly translated English subtitles
Commentary track with film historians Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson
Playing the Game (27 min) - a brand new interview with actress Stefania Rocca
Digital Nightmare (19 min) - a brand new interview with composer Claudio Simonetti
Like in War (10 min) - a brand new interview with make-up artist Sergio Stivaletti
Sharp Cuts (20 min) - a brand new interview with editor Walter Fasano
Watch Me When I Kill (18 min) - an archival interview with director/screenwriter Dario Argento
Taking Risks (9 min) - an archival interview with screenwriter Franco Ferrini
A Chip and a Chair (12 min) - an archival interview with set designer Antonello Geleng
Game Over (8 min) - an archival interview with actress Fiore Argento
Archival behind-the-scenes featurette (9 min)
Reversible sleeve artwork
English SDH subtitles
Overall rating: 4.4479165 / 5 from 96 reviews.
AI Generated Review Summary
The Card Player is a limited edition 4K UHD Blu-ray with a fantastic transfer, superb sound quality, and fantastic packaging. Customers appreciated the excellent picture quality, interesting extras, and the top-notch quality of the product. The film, directed by Dario Argento, received mixed feedback but is praised for its contemporary electronic score and gruesome special effects.
"Vinegar Syndrome did there part, the transfer looks great with very nice packaging." — Justin B.
"Spectacular artwork for an often overlooked entry in the giallo work of Argento, great extras and perfect packaging" — Justin T.
"The transfer was superb, extras good and the commentary excellent." — Jon B.
Reviews
Fun film
"An enjoyable later period Argento films. The lead actors and video poker plot make this a memorable film. The new restoration in 4k is great, the packaging with the original theatrical poster and newly commissioned artwork is appreciated."
— Zachary P. (5/5)
Good, but could have been better
"In terms of picture quality, it's just awesome. The movie has never looked better. In terms of extras: it's rather disappointing. WAY too many interviews. There should have been a featurette on the various deleted scenes that pop up in the trailer and in the making of. Also: no trailers?? Why?? Plus: why only the international version? The Italian version is even more interesting because of alternate writings, scribblings and at least one crazy credit during the final scene that wasn't used in the int. version."
— Harald B. (4/5)
Enjoyed it
"Not his best film but still very good and a stunning edition"
— Gary J. (4/5)
Great stuff
"Love Argento, great film. Great artwork."
— Jeremy B. (5/5)
Better than I was expecting
"Overall I enjoyed the film and the discs are packed with extras. Worth it."
— Chris S. (4/5)
The Card Player
"Time’s been kind to this somewhat underrated return to form for Argento. Well worth the 4K reappraisal."
— Barb M. (3/5)
The Card Player
"Whilst not one of Argento's better known films, I still thoroughly enjoyed this one. Picture and sound quality are both excellent. Also includes a good selection of extras, including some great interviews."
— Luke S. (5/5)
4k mastering is first rate
"Vinegar Syndrome releases are uniformly first rate. Repeat buyer."
— Peter J. (5/5)
Another great film from Dario Argento
"Sharp sound and thoroughly impressed with the picture quality another to add to my Argento collection lol"
— Peter F. (5/5)
THE CARD PLAYER
"I really liked this one. It wasn’t what I expected, but still very enterntaining. I would watch it again for sure, provided its a good environment and I’ve got some new people to share it with."
— Daniel S. (5/5)
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