This Giallo horror directed by genre icon Dario Argento focuses on an author who finds himself in the centre of a series of killings which link themselves to his latest work, the eponymous 'Tenebrae'. Working alongside his secretary and his agent's apprentice, the writer attempts to unravel the mystery surrounding these deaths before the killer comes for him. It's a mixture between a slasher and a whodunnit, although its ultimate 'answer' seems somewhat perfunctory and doesn't really provide anything other than a logical end for the moody bloodshed (and, indeed, the picture itself). Though it's perhaps surprisingly straightforward when compared to some of his other work, Argento still manages to infuse the flick with his own unmistakable style. This includes a couple of bizarre, near contextless dream sequences/ flashbacks that don't make much sense until the plot has wrapped itself up but are intriguing enough to hold your attention. There's something so otherworldly about all of the director's films, with characters who behave just slightly oddly - almost as if they're aware they're starring in some sort of macabre production but are unable to do anything but play their part - and dreamlike cinematography that lends an ethereal air to the entire affair. Even at their least interesting, they're still interesting (which is more than can be said for a lot of other movies). The feature's black-gloved killer isn't shown until right at the very end, with each murder either obscuring their face or remaining confined to their POV (another of the director's trademarks), which leads to some suspenseful sequences that see our victims essentially stalked by an invisible threat. For the most part, the narrative is a tad run-of-the-mill. It just serves as a way to get from kill scene to kill scene, really. However, it moves at a brisk pace and only has a couple of somewhat dull sections. It does exactly what it needs to, and comes together so nicely that it's impossible not to get a real buzz even long after the credits have rolled and you've finally stopped dancing in your seat to Goblin's gorgeous music (the score is absolutely fabulous and is one of the best parts of the entire piece). Overall, this might just be my favourite of the iconic director's efforts, mainly thanks to its totally glorious finale, which is a tour de force of genre prowess that only Argento could achieve. Although it's a bit hammy at times and a little slow at others, this is perhaps the ultimate Giallo and it scratches a very specific, hard-to-define itch. It's really enjoyable and has a few fantastic set-pieces (its final scene is clearly its highlight). 8/10.
Review of Tenebrae
