Dario Argento (Rome, September 7, 1940) is an Italian film director, screenwriter, and producer, universally recognized as a master of the thriller and horror genres. He began his career as a critic and screenwriter, co-writing the story for Sergio Leone's *Once Upon a Time in the West*. He made his directorial debut in 1970 with *The Bird with the Crystal Plumage*, the first installment of the so-called "Animal Trilogy," which established him as a leading figure in genre cinema. He achieved his greatest success with *Deep Red* (1975), considered his masterpiece and a seminal work of the *giallo* genre, also famous for its soundtrack by the band Goblin. He later explored supernatural horror with the "Three Mothers" trilogy, which began with the international cult film *Suspiria* (1977), acclaimed for its visionary aesthetics and expressionistic use of color. His other significant works include *Tenebrae* (1982) and *Opera* (1987). Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards, including a Special David di Donatello and the Pardo d'onore (Honorary Leopard) at the Locarno Film Festival.