Beyond the Darkness: Argento Done Dirt Cheap (and that's kinda the point?)

Alright fellow cinephiles, moviebuff_marc here, wading into the murky depths of Italian horror again. Just finished "Beyond the Darkness" (aka "Buio Omega") and...wow. It's a trip. Think Argento's "Suspiria" if it was directed by someone who'd only SEEN "Suspiria" through a beer-stained lens at a drive-in. Plot's simple enough: kid's girlfriend dies, he digs her up with the help of a seriously creepy housekeeper, and things promptly go...sideways. My theory? It's not trying to be high art. It's pure, unfiltered Euro-trash exploitation, but with a weird, almost endearing kind of sincerity. The gore effects are cheap, the acting is...well, it's there...but there's something about the sheer audacity of it all that keeps you watching. That scene where he's literally having dinner with the corpse? I mean, c'mon! It's disturbing, sure, but also oddly fascinating. Plus, that soundtrack has a certain prog-rock charm. Think Goblin went power pop. I honestly believe director Joe D'Amato (or whoever REALLY directed this thing) knew exactly what he was doing. He wasn't trying to make a profound statement about grief or anything. He just wanted to deliver some cheap thrills and gross us out...and he succeeded! It's like comfort food for horror fans of a certain age. Not exactly nutritious, but damn if it doesn't hit the spot sometimes.Anyone else get that vibe? Or am I totally alone on this one? Final thought: if you go it expecting high art, you'll be disappointed. But grab some popcorn, maybe a brew or two and prepared to suspend disbelief...it’s fun in a messed up way!