I dunno. Ha. I don't really like Bava that much, though I appreciate his work.
Argento is another story. He seems like an extension of some stuff Hitchcock was doing.. but all of his films feel like a dream.. very surreal and artful. Unlike anything else out there. I can see what you're saying, but only a few of his films feel like set piece films to me... the atmosphere alone usually helps him get by.
Though speaking of plot, the storylines usually suck.. or something is lost in translation... I think Deep Red and Bird with the Crystal Plumage actually have great plots for most of their running time, however.
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