Il Cartaio (The Card Player)

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20%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 10

21%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 3,173
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Il Cartaio (The Card Player) Photos

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Movie Info

A serial killer with a knack for video poker and a taste for blood taunts a determined policewoman in director Dario Argento's attempt to bring the traditional giallo into the digital age. Detective Anna Mari (Stefania Rocca) is sitting at her desk when a message from an anonymous online gambler bearing the moniker "The Card Player" invites her to join a game of video poker. When the game screen loads, Mari is horrified to learn that the stakes of the game are higher than she ever could have imagined, as an unidentified female in an over-pixilated web-cam window screams for her life. Though the chief initially refuses to take part in the killer's horrifying game, the death of the innocent victim leads Mari to seek more unconventional means of tracking the murderous gambler. As the killer continues to taunt police, British policeman John Brennan (Liam Cunningham) is brought in to help solve the case. When the killer ups the ante by kidnapping the police chief's daughter, it's only a matter of time before the killer and Mari herself are locked in a pulse-pounding, life-or-death game in which anyone could hold the winning hand.
  • Rating:
    NR
  • Genre:
    Art House & International, Horror, Mystery & Suspense
  • Directed By:
    Dario Argento
  • Written By:
    Franco Ferrini
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:

Cast

Stefania Rocca
as Anna Mari
Liam Cunningham
as John Brennan
Silvio Muccino
as Remo
Adalberto Maria Merli
as Police Commissioner
Claudio Santamaria
as Carlo Sturni
Fiore Argento
as Lucia Marini
Cosimo Fusco
as Berardelli
Mia Benedetta
as Francesca
Giovanni Visentin
as C.I.D. Chief
Claudio Mazzenga
as Mario
Conchita Puglisi
as Marta
Micaela Pignatelli
as Professor Terzi
Luis Molteni
as Pathologist
Carlo Giuseppe Gabardini
as Anti-Hacker No. 1
Alessandro Mistichelli
as Anti-Hacker No. 2
Francesco Guzzo
as Anti-Hacker No. 3
Pier Maria Cecchini
as Flying Squad Chief
Jennifer Poli
as Christine Girdler
Elisabetta Rocchetti
as Second Victim
Irene Quagliarella
as Friend of the Second Victim
Vera Gemma
as Third Victim
Ulisse Minervini
as Alvaro
Antonio Cantafora
as Vice Squad Chief Marini
Mario Opinato
as Inspector Morgani
Gualtiero Scola
as Crime Scene Investigator
Emanuel Bevilacqua
as Slot Machine Arcade Owner
Adriana Fonzi Cruciani
as Bunny
Carla Fonzi Cruciani
as Bunny's Sister
Elena Falgheri
as Teacher
Michele Pellegrini
as Young Man
Isabella Celani
as Doctor
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Critic Reviews for Il Cartaio (The Card Player)

All Critics (10) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (2) | Rotten (8)

View All Critic Reviews (10)

Audience Reviews for Il Cartaio (The Card Player)

  • Jun 21, 2013
    Dario Argento has crafted some of the most memorable horror films in the genres history. However he has lost his touch starting in the mid 90's. The Card Player may have been a great concept on paper, but on-screen it fails to deliver anything truly entertaining. This film fails to deliver what Argento's classic films did so well back in the day. This is a dull affair with poor acting, directing and storytelling. The film simply doesn't have that spark that made Argento's work memorable. This film is just bad and will disappoint the diehard Argento fan. I've been a fan of his for a while now, and I had heard mixed things about The Card Player. However this was a big letdown and it shows signs of a director that is quickly running out of ideas. I think it's a shame because Argento is one of the legends of horror, but this one just fails on every level. If the script would have been reworked and the cast better chosen, maybe this film would have had a chance, but as it stands, The Card Player is just another run of the mill Giallo with 21st Century elements to make it more interesting for today's audience, but in doing so has no substance to its concept. Well, it's bad, and if you love old school Argento movies, don't watch this one as all his trademark elements are nonexistent. I think it's a shame because this film could have been great, but this is just a boring movie with poor buildup, a bad cast and awful storyline that could have been reworked many times to make this a worthwhile Giallo that ranks up there with some of Argento's best. Unfortunately it's a forgettable film not worth your time.
    Alex r Super Reviewer
  • Jul 27, 2011
    The concept is very interesting with this one and the kills are good. The love story, however, dragged the film down and made it too conventional.
    Matt P Super Reviewer
  • Jan 12, 2011
    Cyber-thriller about a thrill-seeking killer who kidnaps women and then lures the police into a game of online poker to play for the lives of the victims. This one misses the mark, which is a shame because the plot has pontential but it was nowhere near as suspenseful as it could have been. Acting all-round is quite poor except for Liam Cunningham who livens things up whenever he's on screen. Music was cheap techno-garbage which does nothing to add to the tension. Gone is the style and clever camera work that Argento employed in his 70s and 80s films. A real let-down... probably the directors worse film to date.
    Lee ? Super Reviewer
  • Apr 13, 2009
    Here, the victims lives depend on a game of online poker. And that aspect of the film is great and works really well. Sadly, Argento has given up on visual style, chucks in a needless love story - in fact, the Irish guy adds nothing to the film whatsoever. And the twist is straight out of Saw II, only it makes no sense. Hard to believe this is from the director of Phenomena.
    Marcus W Super Reviewer
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