Police officer Anna Mari (Stefania Rocca) is challenged to play online poker by a madman who has kidnapped a woman. The rules are simple: if she loses, the victim dies; if she wins, the victim goes free.
Dario Argento made his comeback to the giallo genre with Sleepless, and he continues in his beloved genre with The Card Player.
Even though this is a giallo by Argento, it feels quite different from his earlier works. The closest comparison would be The Bird with the Crystal Plumage from 1970. The film contains many of the elements Argento is known for, but in many ways, it feels like he’s holding back—especially in terms of visuals. Not that the film lacks violence or gore—far from it—but it’s missing those atmospheric visual moments Argento has delivered so many times before. That said, he still does a solid job, though the film plays more like a straightforward detective story than the surreal thrillers we usually expect from the Italian master. More disappointing is Claudio Simonetti’s score, which may be his weakest soundtrack to date.
Aside from that, most elements work well—acting and effects are solid, and the story is quite engaging at times. However, one of the film’s flaws is how easy it is to guess who the killer is, which drains much of the suspense. There are also a few obvious plot holes that can’t be ignored. While The Card Player doesn’t measure up to Argento’s best or most iconic films, it’s still enjoyable for Argento fans and enthusiasts of Italian cinema. Others might want to skip it.
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