Argentine filmmaker Gaspar Noé’s latest film
Vortex is a thematic departure from his other films, and the unexpected addition of legendary Italian filmmaker Dario Argento in an acting role came with one strange caveat. Noé is known for being a transgressive artist, helming controversial films like 
Irreversible, 
Enter the Void, and 
Climax. His upcoming film 
Vortex revolves around an elderly couple wrestling with the crushing reality of dementia, told in an appropriately stylized split-screen presentation. The reasons behind Argento’s involvement, however, are somewhat surprising.,Italian filmmaker Dario Argento is primarily known for his directorial efforts, blazing a trail in the 60s and 70s in the Giallo sub-genre of horror films. His filmography includes 
Deep Red, 
Suspiria, and 
Tenebrae, and he solidified his unique cinematic thumbprint with dynamic camera movements, memorable soundtracks, and copious amounts of blood and gore. Dario Argento’s influential work is still inspiring filmmakers like James Wan and Edgar Wright today. However, Argento rarely acts; his credited acting roles are confined to bit parts and voiceover narration.,Related: Italian Horror Master: Dario Argento’s 10 Best Movies (According To IMDb),Argento agreed to star in Gaspar Noé’s new film Vortex under one specific condition: his character needed to have a mistress on the side. In addition to casting veteran French actress Françoise Lebrun as Elle, Noé searched for the perfect candidate for Vortex’s male lead Lui who was the appropriate age and capable of loosely improvising in French. When Argento expressed interest in acting under this condition, Noé had no problem reworking the character to be an Italian film critic living in France who has a mistress much younger than he.,Argento’s surprising decision to act in
Vortex could open the door to a late-game resurgence for the Italian filmmaker. His most recent films 
Mother of Tears, 
Gaillo, and 
Dracula 3D were not well-received by either critics or fans, indicating that he might be past his prime. However, if
Vortex is successful, Argento might be open to more acting roles that showcase his hidden talent as a performer. Working with a similarly intense filmmaker like Gaspar Noé might also inform his future work and reinvigorate his passion for filmmaking, which will prove true or false in Argento’s upcoming film
Black Glasses, slated for a 2022 release.,Gaspar Noé’s
Vortex features his signature experimental visual flair being filmed and presented in a split-screen format, and Argento’s stunt casting is the only shocking factor. This film marks an unexpected shift in both filmmakers’ careers; Noé is known for challenging, viscerally intense films, while Argento is known for his directorial efforts, not his acting roles. Noé’s 2015 film 
Love was a slight departure from his other films, but it featured extended scenes of graphic sexuality and a 3D gimmick that fell in line with the rest of his filmography. Noé has matured personally and as a filmmaker, making
Vortex a unique project for him that is propelled by the unexpected casting of a beloved horror filmmaker.,Next: Dario Argento’s World Of Horror Covers The Iconic Director’s Career