'Inferno' is the closet to 'Susperia' (in aesthetics and themes) of the five Dario Argento films I've seen since. Despite a lack of cary over characters 'Inferno' is in fact a lose sequel, part of a trilogy not concluded until 'The Mother of Tears' in 2007 (which I have added to my list).
The story centers on Leigh McCloskey as an American music student in Rome, who returns to New York after receiving cryptic messages from his sister. (This films "American" scenes are pretty obviously shot in Europe which adds to the surrealism.)
Instead of a ballet school the string of deaths here are connected to an old apartment building. This structure is the seat of one of the "three mothers", ultra powerful witches who are said to "control the world" from their respective homes in Frieberg, Germany, New York City and Rome. (We saw the German one in Susperia and see the American and Italian ones here.)
'Infernio' follows a pretty similar story arc to its predecessor, with even the ending being basically the same. More muted then 'Susperia' there are still memorable scenes and elements including the extended opening sequence, principly it's under water segment, and the unwitting architect of all three witches residences being torturously kept alive as a slave long after the world believes him dead.
Though the intent was to expand upon the first films mythos it arguably makes it less interesting. I had more difficulty getting into this one then the other Argento films I've watched, I may have reached a point of saturation with Dario for a bit. I will probably need to revisit this but for now I give it **1/2
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