Breakinger A Brilliant Conflict

Nessieldwi Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

KnotStronger This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

Sabah Hensley This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

Stephen Pearce 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.

Stephen Abell I can never resist an opportunity to watch a Dario Argento film so I was happy when I had the chance to view Tenebre once again; it's been too long.Argento is not only a master of horror but a true master of death and murder, which he proves in this little mystery tale.When American author Peter Neal (played by Anthony Franciosa) arrives in Rome on his book tour for his latest novel "Tenebre" he is shocked when people linked to his book begin to be murdered, and in some instances in the same manner as the book.One of my favourite scenes in the movie is when the hotel owners daughter is dropped off after a night out and is then pursued by a very tenacious Doberman Pincher. Argento does a brilliant job of building the tension and keeping it up through to her demise. His use of lighting, colour, and music build a tautness that keeps the viewer on the edge of their seats. It's nice that he tones down his visual style a little for this film otherwise it could have been too overpowering and distract from the story.Argento's story is strong and filled with believable and relatable characters, which all the actors portray brilliantly adding to the strength of both the story and film. It is also one of first of his stories that aren't ambiguous and confusing.I would always recommend Dario Argento films as he has a style all of his own with a visual style which works perfectly with his movies. This one, more so, as most lovers of mysteries and thrillers should find something to enjoy in it.

CinemaClown 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.

Giallo Fanatic Is when you fearfully expect one certain thing to happen. Unlike horror, which is sudden and random. Terror builds up and is foreshadowed. This movie in my opinion succeeds in terror, I found it terrifying. Not horrifying. I loved the plot. With its crazy plot and plot twists, it certainly helped the movie to make me terrified. Anyway the story is convoluted and Dario as usual doesn't spoon feed his audience with the answers leading some people to believe there are plot holes in the movie. (Requieres repeated viewing). All I will say is the movie is cut in two parts and connecting those two parts requires logical reasoning. (Referring to the shiny ornament in the middle of the movie, with organ pipes playing in the background). So the movie doesn't fall into everyone's taste meaning it is not mainstream, mainstream movies usually explain everything to the audience. Tenebre doesn't. Also it is bizarre, moody and ultra-violent. Also the Goblin soundtrack will turn some people off but they are the reason why I love this movie. What I also love about this movie is it is atmospheric and artistic. What the movie does is it first establishes mood before every murder and make us wait for it. It doesn't just mindlessly show someone getting killed every 15 minutes. It builds up tension and uses that tension to make the murders more terrifying. As an example I want to mention that wonderful crane shot with the Goblin music, it left me in awe. It was great cinematography. What the point of the crane shot is to give the feeling of the murderer scouting the location. (Have you ever played the Hit-man games?) Also to add tension and make the audience wait for imminent death. There was also the segment with the Doberman, which had the get away from a dangerous situation just to get into a more dangerous situation. Where she should have been safe she ended up being in greater danger. It was full of tension. It was bizarre yes and for some out of place, but it added irony and I love irony. The violence made me uncomfortable, but that is how I want violence portrayed. Even by our standards it was uncomfortable. By the way, this movie is also a slasher so it means it is more bloodthirsty than 'Profondo Rosso' and 'Suspiria'. It is also the most sexually oriented containing nudes. So more bloodthirsty and more sexual, I honestly love that. A lot. The tone of the movie is very psycho-sexual. Which isn't so foreign in an Argento movie, but sexual deviancy being one of the main themes the tone fits well. Another theme is revenge. Passionate revenge. Anyway I also loved the POV of the killer, it made the movie more unsettling to watch since it forced its viewer to take "part" of the killing. The screaming at the end of the movie evokes strong emotions and dread. It is one of the craziest endings I've seen to be honest. It shook me to my very core. Remembering the scene gives me the chills.The movie gets 10/10 from me and it is my favorite Argento movie, although I don't consider it to be the best Argento movie (Profondo Rosso is definitely his best, in my opinion).