Crafted by UK-based Italian composer Alessandro Baldessari, 'Dario Argento PANICO' is the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack for the documentary retrospective and intimate portrait of Italian giallo master Dario Argento. Premiering at the prestigious 2023 Venice Film Festival, this evocative soundtrack immerses listeners in a diverse array of styles, conveying a rich spectrum of emotions and enhancing the narrative arc of the film. The soundtrack was commissioned by Giada Mazzoleni, film producer and head of Paguro Film.

The collaboration between Alessandro Baldessari and director Simone Scafidi started with a conversation, during which Simone articulated his vision for the documentary and invited Alessandro to explore the theme of the doppelganger. Written and recorded between 2022 and 2023, Baldessari's compositions preceded much of the filming process, enabling him to craft a musical narrative that offers a distinctive perspective. The music serves as a parallel reflection on the film's themes - duality, love, grief, family dynamics, anxiety, suicide, and, notably, panic - profoundly enriching the storytelling experience.

Baldessari's meticulous approach to composition is evident in the soundtrack's cohesion, achieved through recurring melodic and rhythmic motifs, rather than using a single sound palette. A notable example is the use of Dario Argento's name transformed in a musical motif and subtly integrated into the piano pieces that underscore many pivotal scenes.

The soundtrack features a diverse range of tracks, from the pulsating energy of 'Panico Titles' to the tender introspection of 'Suicide and Memories' and the haunting melodies of 'Ominous Doppelganger.' Notably, the film ends on the notes of the entirely string-based composition 'Partenza,' offering a stirring conclusion to the sonic journey. The album includes two bonus tracks and the track 'Tre', from Baldessari's previous work, 'Nostalghia'.

The music has been written, played, and mixed by Baldessari, who, for his first full-length film, wanted to curate every aspect of the soundtrack.

Published by Cassis Publishing and distributed by the esteemed Italian distributor Artist First, 'Dario Argento PANICO - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack' will be available digitally on February 23, 2024, on all major platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Amazon Music, YouTube Music), as well as on the label's Bandcamp page.

Dario Argento PANICO is directed by Simone Scafidi, it features exclusive interviews with Argento, as well as such filmmakers as Guillermo del Toro, Gaspar Noé and Nicolas Winding Refn. Dario Argento PANICO offers an insightful journey through the life and legacy of the legendary Italian filmmaker, revealing his profound impact on horror and his lasting influence on cinema.

The film debuted on Shudder on February 2, 2024 for the U.S. Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand and for the occasion the IFC Center in New York presented a theatrical retrospective of Argento’s films from January 31 – February 8. Entitled 'Panic Attacks: The Films of Dario Argento,' the program featured the U.S. premiere of Dario Argento PANICO, along with screenings of Suspiria, Inferno, Deep Red, Tenebrae, and other classics from the horror master.