Alessandro Baldessari – Dario Argento: Panico

Dario Argento PANICO is the original soundtrack composed by Alessandro Baldessari for Simone Scafidi’s documentary on the iconic Italian horror director, Dario Argento. Premiering at the 2023 Venice Film Festival, the soundtrack captures a wide emotional spectrum, reflecting themes such as duality, love, grief, family dynamics, anxiety, and panic.

Written between 2022 and 2023, Baldessari’s compositions were developed before much of the filming took place, allowing him to create a musical narrative that deeply resonates with the film’s storyline. The score is defined by recurring melodic and rhythmic motifs, rather than relying on a singular sound palette. A unique feature is the transformation of Dario Argento’s name into a musical motif, subtly woven into piano pieces that underscore key scenes.

From the driving force of “Panico Titles” to the melancholic “Suicide and Memories”, and the haunting conclusion of “Partenza”, Baldessari’s compositions offer a dynamic and immersive listening experience. The album also includes two bonus tracks, along with “Tre”, a piece from Baldessari’s previous work Nostalghia.