Tenebrae — Tenebrae( UHD & Blu Ray)
Tenebrae was the 8th feature film from Dario Argento. It saw the director squarely resetting giallo- a genre he helped invent & define- into the 1980’s, with its sleek at points acrobatic camera work, brutally creative murders, and a bounding ‘n’ pulsing electronic soundtrack. I think it’s fair to say it’s easily one of the best examples of the genre from the decade, and certainly a career highlight- with an intriguing- at points gruesomely/ darkly playful unfold, coldly stark air, and a rather unexpected killer reveal/resolve. Here from Synapse Films is a dual format UHD & Blu-ray release of the film. Featuring a new 4k scan of the film, three commentary tracks, a feature-length doc about the genre- and a selection of new & archive extras.
Tenebrae (aka Unsane) appeared in the year 1981. Argento wrote & directed the picture- which after a brief glance of New York City, is filmed in and around Rome. I’d hope that Dario Argento will need no introductions to M[m] readers- but to give a rough rundown of his career, and how it relates to the giallo genre. He has twenty-one features to his name- starting with his early highly influential & impactful Giallo’s like The Bird with the Crystal Plumage(1970) and Four Flies on Grey Velvet (1971). Moving onto expand the genre into more dark fantasy areas with films such as Suspiria (1977) and Inferno (1980). Though he’s made films in other genres-the giallo has remained his focus, with his latest release 2022’s Dark Glasses being a more thriller-leaning take on the form.
The film opens with pre-credits a black-gloved figure sitting ripping pages out of Tenebrae – which we shortly find out is the new novel from bestselling American novelist Peter Neal. As the pages are ripped, we hear the person harshly whispering lines from the book, regarding why someone decides to become a killer- as the ripped pages are thrown on a fire.
Next, we see author Neal (Anthony Franciosa) riding to the airport on a bicycle to the airport, while his chauffeur drives his luggage. He’s getting a flight from his home in NYC to Rome- to promote Tenebrae, which is already a bestseller in Italy. Awaiting him when he touches down is his agent Bullmer- played with wonderful charm by John Saxon ( Enter The Dragon, Black Christmas, A Nightmare On Elm Street).
As the press junket unfolds- someone has started killing a series of women with a straight razor just like in Neal’s book, and add to this someone is posting him notes & ringing him with a harsh whispering voice directly threatening the author.
Brought into catch the killer is smartly suited & fictional crime buff Detective Germani(Giuliano Gemma) who is also a fan of Mr Neal work- with him, of course, being added to list of possible culprits- like his unbalanced ex-wife Jane(Veronica Lario), the camp though intense TV interviewer Christiano(John Steiner), feminist journalist Tidle(Mirella D'Angelo).
The killings are often very bloody - with impressive throat slashings, axes in heads, limbs hacked for spraying on white walls death, brutal impalements, etc. These are soundtrack by the pulsing electro beat, bounding bass, and darting synth key score by Claudio Simonetti, Fabio Pignatelli, and Massimo Morante- formerly of Gobin, who of course scored classic Argento films like Deep Red (1975) & Suspira(1977).
Blended into the cooly slick giallo setting- we have wonky & wavery psychosexual flashbacks where a group of teen boys are interacting with a red high-heeled woman on a beach. Adding more mystery & uneasiness to the mix.
Acting wise Franciosa is excellent as the self-assured author who gets slowly but surely out of his depth, as a brutal murder mystery unfolds around him. As already mentioned, Saxon is his normally charming & likeable self. Another worthy mention is Daria Nicolodi as the author's assistant Anne.
Tenebrae still retains its impact with its use of sleek & impressive camera work, swift & intense violence, and generally engaging unfold. Sure as one is familiar with the resolve that rewarding twist has gone- but you can still admire the whole things unfold, and the subtle clues to the killer's reveal dropped throughout the film.
This relatively recent double disc set takes in a new 4k scan of the film- this is both visually and audibly polished up, with great bold & crisp colours and the score really pops.
On the extras side, there is nothing wholly new here- the only thing is a newly re-edited interview with actor John Steiner (16.22) where he moves from talking about how he got into acting via the stage, and how he landed up in Italy acting in film.
On the purely archive side we get three separate commentary tracks- one by authors and critics Alan Jones and Kim Newman. One by Argento expert Thomas Rostock, by Maitland McDonagh, and one by author of Broken Mirrors/Broken Minds: The Dark Dreams of Dario Argento. There’s Yellow Fever: The Rise and Fall of the Giallo( 1 hour 29mins) is a 2016 documentary by Calum Waddell. And I must say it’s an excellent look at the genre- starting from its origins, influences and key tropes. Moving onto early examples of the genre- which of course features a fair few Argento films. At around the fifty-minute mark the focus moves onto Tenebrae, with the remainder of the film looking at the misogynistic side of the genre. Before finishing up on discussing how & why the genre declined, as well as notable additions to the genre in the early 2000s to mid 2010’s. We get a great selection of interviews with genre experts/ critics, as well as interviews with genre directors such as Argento, Ruggero Deodato, Umberto Lenzi, Luigi Cozzi. So all in all, it is a must-watch documentary on the genre.
Otherwise, we have the following: Out of the Shadows -interview with Maitland McDonagh. Voices of the Unsane- featurette containing interviews with writer/director Dario Argento, actresses Daria Nicolodi and Eva Robins, cinematographer Luciano Tovoli, composer Claudio Simonetti and assistant director Lamberto Bava. Screaming Queen, an archival interview with Daria Nicolodi. The Unsane World of Tenebrae-interview with Dario Argento. A Composition for Carnage- interview with Claudio Simonetti. Introduction by Daria Nicolodi. International theatrical trailer. Japanese “Shadow” theatrical trailer. Alternate opening credits sequence. “Unsane” end credits sequence, and Image galleries
Tenebrae is most certainly one of the most effective, consistent, and influential of Argento’s 1980s output. The new 4k scan makes the film look as good as it ever has- with a weighty selection of extras. Pity there’s not much on the new side- but it’s understandable- and what we do have on the archive side is most worthy.