Tenebrae (1982)
Directed By: Dario Argento
Where to get it: Arrow
The Prologue
It has been long over-due that I finally take a peek at some Arrow UK releases. And at this past weekend’s convention in Nashville, I finally got my hands on one. That disc was the Blu-ray of Dario Argento’s classic, Tenebre, or as it is here, Tenebrae. This was the only Arrow releases in the building or I surely would have walked away with more of them. But getting my favorite Argento film on Blu-ray is a nice way to start. Especially when you take into account that you can’t get this on Blu-ray here in the states.
The Movie
A razor-wielding psycho is stalking the horror writer Peter Neal, in Rome to promote his latest work, Tenebre. But the author isn’t the obsessive killer’s only target, the beautiful women who surround him are doomed as one by one, they fall victim to the murderer’s slashing blade… Will fiction and reality blur as fear and madness take hold? Watch in terror as by turns the cast fall victim to the sadistic imagination of Dario Argento, Italy’s master of horror.
When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth..Truer words have never been spoken and you must take those words to heart when you watch Tenebre (Tenebrae to you UK fans an owners of this disc), a story where an American writer in Rome is stalked by a serial killer bent on harassing him while killing all people associated with his work on his latest book (Which by the way is called Tenebre).
There’s just something about this movie I just like, folks. It has all the blood and gruesome kills that we’ve come to love with Argento but the thing that seals the deal for me with it is the fact that unlike such films of his like Deep Red, nothing drags here. And that goes a long way with me. Also, when Dario inserts his sense of humor into things like he tends to do it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb, and when you mix it all together just right you get a VERY good film. It has been said that Dario considered Anthony Franciosa, who plays the lead role of Peter Neal, to be the most difficult actor he has ever worked with, but it doesn’t show on screen as he plays the role perfectly, in my humble opinion. One of Dario’s favorites, Daria Nicolodi (She was also in Deep Red) is back as well playing the role of Anne, she holds her own as well.
If there anything negative I could say it’s that one of the films best scenes is also the hardest to watch due to the logic. In one scene a girl is chased by a gate climbing dog (A hound from hell in every sense of the word but not literally) who seems hell bent on tearing the poor girl apart. Long story short, and I’ll say this so I won’t give too much away, she ends up in a house where a sharp pair of scissors is laying right in front of her..Now I must ask, why didn’t she use these scissors?? I can’t speak for all of you but I’d be using those to shank my way out of danger had I been her. None the less when it comes ending time folks, I think you may all be shocked..I know I was. I guessed every scenario possible, but not the correct one..I guess When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth for sure.
The Conclusion
The movie is a classic, there is no question about that. But how was the transfer? Well, the colors are really vibrant. Some of the scenes in a darker setting (especially at the end) look outstanding and rival some of the better Blu-rays out there as far as older films to HD go. But there is some grain that remains in the film all the way and is most noticeable during bright day scenes. So by no means is it perfect, but it isn’t bad. And as always with Arrow, you get 4 possible covers for this release, a booklet, double sided posters, and tons of nice extras that any Tenebre fan is sure to love.
(8/10)
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