TENEBRE (1982)

Flashback blended

Blood red herring

Poised

Title: Tenebre
Year: 1982
Director: Dario Argento
Format: Blu-ray
Label: Arrow Video

Notes: This is the fourth Argento film I've seen and the first where I wasn't sure whether he could get away with his shtick. This is basically a pure slasher with continual killing but strives for greater meaning with its sub textual references to authorial influence on violent crimes. The deaths and much of the photography are stylish but the dubiously dubbed dialogue and some inexplicably scenes (where did the killer dog come from exactly?) let down the film.

Still, let's concentrate on the positives. Argento's familiar use of a roving camera lurking behind the subject works as well as ever. There's one scene that screams Hitchcock allusion. The blood-filled violence is over the top but highly effective. The use of red herrings and foreshadowing is good although you don't need to guess who dies - it's everybody. The final twist is a good take on the obvious and fits the plot. The main music theme by 3 members of Goblin is a cracker.

Finally, it's again worth noting the quality of the presentation supplied on this Arrow release. The transfer looks exquisite and really sells the strong visual design and cinematography.