The Card Player
Il cartaio
“A serial killer with a vice for Video Poker”
Synopsis
Policewoman Anna Mari is forced to play a dangerous game with the title serial killer. If she loses, she witnesses the maniac's tortured victims having their throats cut in explicit close-up detail via webcam. She teams up with British cop John Brennan to find out the identity of the murderer.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
4K UHD + Blu-ray Promo TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2025-07-01
Top Cast
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Stefania Rocca
Anna Mari
Liam Cunningham
John Brennan
Silvio Muccino
Remo
Cosimo Fusco
Berardelli
Fiore Argento
Lucia Marini
Adalberto Maria Merli
Police Commissioner
Claudio Santamaria
Carlo Sturni
Mia Benedetta
Francesca
Giovanni Visentin
C.I.D. Chief
Claudio Mazzenga
Mario
Conchita Puglisi
Marta
Micaela Pignatelli
Professor Terzi
Luis Molteni
Pathologist
Carlo Giuseppe Gabardini
Anti-Hacker #1
Alessandro Mistichelli
Anti-Hacker #2
Francesco Guzzo
Anti-Hacker #3
Pier Maria Cecchini
Flying Squad Chief
Jennifer Poli
Christine Girdler, First Victim
Release History & Theatrical Window
October 6, 2004
Wide Cinema Exhibition
May 24, 2005
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$2.6M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$3.4M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
1.3x
+$768K net gain
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Dario Argento
- Screenplay & Story
- Dario Argento, Franco Ferrini
- Original Score
- Claudio Simonetti
- Original Title
- Il cartaio
- Country of Origin
- Italy
- Spoken Languages
- English, Italian
- Runtime
- 1h 43m
- Production Budget
- $2.6M
- Worldwide Gross
- $3.4M
- Production Studios
- Opera Film (II), Medusa Film
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Dario Argento
Dario Argento, Franco Ferrini, Phoebe Scholfield, Jay Benedict
Claudio Simonetti
Benoît Debie
Walter Fasano
Claudio Argento, Dario Argento
Department Leadership Roster
Dario Argento
Director
Benoît Debie
Director of Photography
Claudio Simonetti
Original Music Composer
Dario Argento
Screenplay
Franco Ferrini
Screenplay
Dario Argento
Producer
Walter Fasano
Editor
Marina Pinzuti Ansolini
Production Design
Massimo Antonello Geleng
Production Design
Patrizia Chericoni
Costume Design
Florence Emir
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Card Player.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Card Player.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Card Player
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Card Player about?
Policewoman Anna Mari is forced to play a dangerous game with the title serial killer. If she loses, she witnesses the maniac's tortured victims having their throats cut in explicit close-up detail via webcam. She teams up with British cop John Brennan to find out the identity of the murderer.
Who directed The Card Player?
The Card Player was directed by Dario Argento.
Who stars in The Card Player?
The principal cast of The Card Player includes Stefania Rocca, Liam Cunningham, Silvio Muccino, Cosimo Fusco, Fiore Argento.
When was The Card Player released and how long is it?
The Card Player was released in 2004 with a total runtime of 1h 43m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Card Player?
The Card Player had a reported production budget of $2.6M and grossed $3.4M at the worldwide box office (1.3 return on budget, classified as a budget recovered).
Who composed the musical score for The Card Player?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Card Player was composed by Claudio Simonetti.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Card Player?
The Card Player holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).