Tenebre (1982)

This cult classic from Dario Argento has been more popular than ever since its theme song was sampled heavily by the French electronic band Justice in the song "Phantom Part II" for their debut album "Cross". The music isn't the only good thing about this film. There's lots of gore, sex, suspense, and some corny dialogue (i saw the American dub) that can be a bit funny. There's also some long tracking shot during the movie too. Worth a DVD rental, for sure.

What can say about what is not only one of Dario Argentos best films but also,in my view,the best Italian Giallo horror film of all time?...well lets see.The story is as follows...Peter Neal(an excellent Anthony Franciosca)has travel-ed to Rome to promote his new horror novel "Tenebrae" when things starting going wrong....first his suitcase go missing....and then news spreads around the city that someone is brutally killing young women in the style featured in the book....but just who is the killer....and can Peter Neal find them?"Tenebrae"is a brilliant but rather gory eighties horror masterpiece.Photographed by Luciano"Suspiria"Tolvoli and played out to a fantastic Goblin score it remains a classic of it's time and a must of all giallo fans.

From the writer-director of Deep Red & Suspiria, Tenebre (also known as Tenebrae) marks Dario Argento's return to the very subgenre of horror he does better than anyone else and presents the filmmaker at the top of his game. Stylishly directed, dipped in blood-soaked violence and keeping its mystery alive until the very end, it remains one of the finest works of his filmmaking career.The story of Tenebre follows an American author who arrives in Rome to promote his latest murder mystery novel, only to find that his book may have inspired a serial killer to go on a killing spree. As the body count start going up with no suspect in sight, he provides full cooperation to the police to apprehend the killer at large but becomes far more embroiled in the case than he anticipated.Written & directed by Dario Argento, Tenebre is riveting from its opening moments and makes fab use of all his trademarks & visual flair. Goblin's score once again drives majority of the events that transpire in the film and expertly sets the mood as per the requirements of the scene. Argento's direction also exudes a high level of comfort, for giallo horrors have always been his playground.The overcast conditions & cold surroundings encapsulate the film with an eerie ambiance which is then all the more amplified by its vibrant camera-work, stark colour palette & Goblin's sinister score. Cinematography is a definite highlight, for the vivid manner in which its camera is utilised in many segments not only heightens the viewers' senses but also intensifies the desired impact of those moments.Rome has never looked as desolate as it looks in this picture, for all the city landmarks & crowded locations are stripped away from the final print. Editing is brilliantly carried out, the twists n turns keep surfacing at regular intervals, plus the plot manages to stay ahead of its viewers at all times. And despite its over-the-top violence & ketchup-laden make-up, it remains one of Argento's most violence flicks to date.Coming to the performances, the cast comprises of Anthony Franciosa, Daria Nicolodi, John Saxon & Giuliano Gemma, with Franciosa impressing the most. Carrying the entire film on his shoulders, Franciosa does enough to make his character likable, Nicolodi does well for the most part but she goes absolutely bonkers in the final moments, Gemma does well with what he's given while Saxon is the weak link here, surprisingly.On an overall scale, Tenebre is a skilfully crafted, cleverly narrated & unabashedly violent example of giallo horror that not only finishes as one of Dario Argento's best films to date but also ranks as one of the greatest works of giallo horror. Brimming with multitudes of themes, riddled with twists on every corner & jam-packed with brutal killings, each more savage than the last one, Tenebre is as thrilling as it is barbaric and features a finale that no one saw coming. Definitely worth a shot.

I just got done watching this mess of a film and felt that I just HAD to write a review on it. Why does this film have such a high rating? The acting is horrible, the editing is rotten and the "twist" I figured out within the first fifteen minutes. Other users talk about how bloody this movie is and the amount of nudity is in it. I must have been watching a whole different version because the one I was watching had very little nudity and hardly any blood, except at the end, and a victim has her hand or arm cut off, not in the version I saw. I watched a version called Tenebre, not Unsane, on Amazon Prime and it said it was unrated but I think it was HORRIBLY cut. I have watched only one other Argento movie and that being Cat O'Nine Tails and that one was bad as well. I saw that this movie had such a high rating from viewers that I should give it a try. WRONG!!! I've seen better acted movies from Troma films. If this is what Italian Gallo is, I'll just stick to my American films.