Tenebre

I first saw Tenebr(a)e under the moniker "Unsane" (which is supposedly missing ten minutes of gore and some extensive camera-work). I really enjoyed the film, so I bought the rerelease print from Anchor Bay, and I must say, the restored, uncut, letterboxed print looks and sounds wonderful.

There's no need to go into the plot other than to say Anthony Franciosa stars as American horror novelist Peter Neal and, while he's in Rome on a book tour, murders are being committed by one of his crazed fans. I read somewhere that Argento is king of stringing together a plot and cheating audiences just so they can't guess the identity of the killer, and with this as evidence, I agree 100%. It's nearly impossible to figure out this plot before it's fully explained.

Luciano Tovoli's camera-work/cinematography is brilliant, especially the luma crane shot (which goes up one side of a building, over the roof and down the other side in one unbroken taken). There's also an extremely well-photographed and directed sequence featuring a girl being pursued by a rabid Doberman. Now they would do those two scenes with computers, and I think that obliterates the charm of the hands-on film-making process.

In short, this film puts Hollywood thrillers like "Copycat" "The Bone Collector," and "Se7en" to shame, and it's apparent all three films stole ideas from this one (and from other films in Argento's oeuvre).

The Italian mastermind behind the giallo movement, Argento once again provides another enthralling crime investigative thriller poised with provocative imagery and plenty of throat slashing. This representing my third foray into his filmography, I was both sceptical and excited to see what he would produce. As soon as that 80s horror score kicked in almost immediately, I was invested. The author of the recent hit "Tenebrae" travels to Rome for promotional events, but is quickly caught up in a murder mystery to which the killer utilises phrases from his book leaving clues to the next victim.

The backbone of the narrative is reminiscent of his directorial debut 'The Bird with the Crystal Plumage', but with Argento's style evolving throughout the years. He showcases his talent for balancing suspicious characters (the list is endless) with evocative camera techniques that allow the tension and suspense to naturally grow. Beautiful one take shots to enhance the eerie quality, POV handheld movements enabling the audience to enter the suspect's mind and inventive use of mirrors to reflect slashed corpses. It's clear that Argento, at this stage in his career, exhumed confidence in his directing. The editing however frequently felt disorientating. Quick cuts were exhaustingly utilised during scenes of frantic nature, such as a woman fleeing to her room whilst grabbing onto her towel, which detracted from Argento's minimalistic approach.

The story itself, whilst consistently engaging, contained a few segments that were questionable at best. Stabbing someone in the middle of a high street in broad daylight, with people only noticing when he is lying in his own pool of blood, lacked believability. Evidently Rome is a dangerous place during giallo season, but still. The final reveal was unsurprising due to the amount of suspects being killed off, and consequently was absent of surprise.

Ironically the countless female kills did paint the narrative in a coat of sexism, fortunately the second half counteracts that indicative viewpoint. A criticism that Argento's work has succumbed to in the past, therefore reacting to this by changing the deaths in the second act. Not particularly subtle, evolving the story to fit around this criticism was evident, however it made for a refreshing pace. The performances were perfectly hammy, although Franciosa weighed in a surprisingly strong nuanced performance as the sturdy author.

As giallo films go, this is most certainly one of the most accessible. Whilst not necessarily Argento's strongest narratively speaking, for I did prefer 'The Bird with the Crystal Plumage', it honed in on his trademark aesthetic style. Erotically staged murders with exquisite lighting accompanied by a euphoric score. If you are new to the sub-genre or want to trial Argento's techniques, then this will most likely be the easiest film to watch.

Tenebre (1982) is a cold, dark and sterile film from Dario Argento. In sterile I mean the clinical and septic surroundings that the city dwellers live in. Some of the sets are painted bright white and lighted in cool hues. The film is about a murder mystery writer named Peter Neal who comes to Rome on a business trip/vacation. During this trip, some murders are committed by a strange demented killer who's a big fan of Peter Neal. The film's translated title Shadow describes the film perfectly. To say how it relates to the film would be all too telling.

Some of the set pieces in this film are some of the most graphic and violent ones that Argento has ever concieved. They fit neatly within the confines of this tightly shot and directed thriller. One of Argento's best films (besides his opus Suspiria). I strongly recommend this picture. My favorite of the set pieces takes place in the final third of the movie. It's well worth the wait. Believe me.

A+

The successful American writer from Rhode Island Peter Neil (Anthony Franciosa) travels from New York to Rome to promote his new best-seller Tenebre. He is received by his agent Bullmer (John Saxon) that schedules an interview in a talk show. As soon as Peter arrives, there is the murder of a shoplifter and Detective Germani (Giuliano Gemma) is assigned to the case. He meets Peter and tells that the killer was inspired by his novel to commit the crime. Peter receives a letter from the murderer and soon two lesbians are murdered. The killer writes that perverts must be eliminated and Peter suspects of the host of his show. However, when you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains might be the truth.

"Tenebre" is one of the best "giallos" by Dario Argento. The story is very well constructed and technically speaking, there are long traveling with the camera and magnificent sound effects. The haunting music score from Goblin is also awesome. The VHS released by Anchor Bay in widescreen is spectacular and has extras in the end after the trailer. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): Not Available

Note: On 02 March 2017 I saw this film again on DVD. Note: On 07 June 2020 I saw this film again on DVD.

Title (Brazil): "Tenebre"

With its leather-gloved killer, amazing score, spectacular and innovative camera-work, and wonderfully gory murders, Tenebre delivers everything you could ask for in a giallo. Like many Italian murder mysteries, the story takes some swallowing, but if you can accept the convoluted plot, there's plenty of fun to be had.

Peter Neal (Anthony Franciosa) is a best-selling novelist who becomes involved in real life murder mystery when the victims of a razor-wielding killer are found with pages from his latest book stuffed in their mouths.

One of director Dario Argento's best movies, Tenebre is packed to the rafters with the kind of stuff that make good giallos such a trip to watch. As pretty girls are stalked and killed by a raspy-voiced maniac, the director offers genuine clues and red herrings aplenty, allowing the audience to have fun trying to figure out who the killer is. The movie's stunning cinematography is accompanied by one of Goblin's greatest scores, transforming what may have been mundane moments in the hands of a lesser director into pure works of art (in one amazing scene the camera simply prowls slowly around the outside of a building, but with Argento in control, it is simply breathtaking!).

Murder has never been so stylish, and even the most grisly deaths are stunningly captured. A particularly memorable moment has a young girl stumble into the house of the killer, before being chased through a garden; this scene is shot from the axe-wielding maniac's point of view, and is incredibly effective.

Fans of gore are also catered for with several gruesome murders, the best of which involves bucket-loads of arterial spray decorating most of a wall. Juicy!

Argento reveals the identity of the killer in a suitably silly finale (all gialli have them), before offing the murderer in a fittingly gruesome manner.

Check out Tenebre and witness one of the great works from one of Italian horror's finest.