3 star glorious conversion of a somewhat dated “cult classic”.
Tenebrae, first released in 1982, was written and directed by iconic Italian horror maestro, Dario Argento (Suspiria, Phenomena) and has enjoyed a 4K restoration courtesy of Arrow Video. Unfortunately however, his celebrated return to Giallo has not aged as well as it might have done.
“Now, Tenebrae is about human perversion and it’s effects on society. I’d like to know how you see the effects of deviant behaviour on our lives.”
Tenebrae tells the story of Peter Neal (Anthony Franciosa – The Long Hot Summer), an American author who is visiting Rome in order to secure a book deal along with his agent Bullmer (John Saxon – A Nightmare on Elm Street).
Soon after he arrives, he begins to receive letters (made using newspaper cut-outs), featuring quotes from his latest work, Tenebrae. Alongside the letters, the police begin to find bodies, killed using the methods mentioned in the book, the first victim having pages torn from the book stuffed into her mouth.
Then begins a race against time for Captain Germani (Giuliano Gemma – Day of Anger, Corleone) to decipher the meaning of the letters as they get more threatening and stop the killer before he strikes again, or even kills the author he seems to be stalking.
Like any good crime writer, Peter Neal has two over-enthusiastic sidekicks in the form of Anne (Dario Nicolodi – Delirium) and Gianni (Christian Borromeo – Stigma) and likes nothing better than to do his own digging into events, with the usual less than successful results.
“There was only one answer to the fury that tortured him.”
This style of film worked in the early eighties, but it doesn’t translate well to modern day viewing at all. The 4K UHD conversion is excellent, which I think may be part of the problem, they have taken away what little sense of mystery a slightly fuzzy picture may have provided. The eighties soundtrack also makes no sense to modern ears, not much good for creating atmosphere.
There was actually an entire scene devoted to a beauty pass of a concrete monstrosity of a house (including tiles) which served to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were indeed inside a building. Where all the action was allegedly taking place.
On the plus side, for male viewers there doesn’t seem to be a single bra in the whole film. And one of the victims seems to be contractually obliged to permanently have her left breast hanging out. If it’s gore you are looking for then this film offers it in spades especially towards the end as arterial blood splurts left right and centre.
There are loads and loads of special features included with this release of Tenebrae, as well as a choice of versions and an English or Italian soundtrack.
All in all, if you are a die-hard Dario Argento fan, then this latest release is all singing and all dancing and will offer everything you need. If not, you may be disappointed.
“I grieve for this child, her death was the only way I could be free to go on. I will eliminate those who disgust me.”
Tenebrae is available to buy now on Limited Edition 4K UHD and Blu-ray
LIMITED DUAL FORMAT EDITION CONTENTS
• New 4K restoration from the original camera negative by Arrow Films
• Limited edition packaging with reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Obviously Creative
• Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring writing on the film by filmmaker Peter Strickland and Argento biographer Alan Jones, an interview with cinematographer Luciano Tovoli and a new, in-depth analysis of the film by critic Ashley Lane
• Fold-out double-sided poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Obviously Creative
• Six double-sided, postcard-sized lobby card reproduction artcards
DISC 1 (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY) – ORIGINAL VERSION
• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray™ presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original Italian and English front and end titles and insert shots
• Restored original lossless mono Italian and English soundtracks
• English subtitles for the Italian soundtrack
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the English soundtrack
• Audio commentary by authors and critics Alan Jones and Kim Newman
• Audio commentary by Argento expert Thomas Rostock
• Audio commentary by Maitland McDonagh, author of Broken Mirrors/Broken Minds: The Dark Dreams of Dario Argento
• Yellow Fever: The Rise and Fall of the Giallo, a feature-length documentary charting the genre from its beginnings to its influence on the modern slasher film, featuring interviews with Dario Argento, Umberto Lenzi, Luigi Cozzi and more
• Being the Villain, a newly edited archival interview with actor John Steiner
• Out of the Shadows, an archival interview with Maitland McDonagh
• Voices of the Unsane, an archival 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, an archival interview with Dario Argento
• A Composition for Carnage, an archival interview with Claudio Simonetti
• Archival introduction by Daria Nicolodi
• International theatrical trailer
• Japanese “Shadow” theatrical trailer
• Alternate opening credits sequence
• “Unsane” end credits sequence
• Image galleries
DISC 2 (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY) – “UNSANE” VERSION – LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE
• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray™ presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• The re-edited 90-minute US version, specially recreated for this release from the new 4K restoration of the full-length 101-minute version, exclusive to UHD
• Two audio options: a recreation of the original theatrical experience, complete with jump cuts and sudden audio shifts, and a new, more seamless edit created for this release, both in restored lossless English mono
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Original “Take Me Tonight” stereo EP recording, performed by Kim Wilde
DISC 3 (BLU-RAY) – ORIGINAL VERSION
• High Definition Blu-ray™ (1080p) presentation
• All the same content as Disc 1
| Director | Dario Argento |
| Genre | Horror, crime |
| Starring | Anthony Franciosa, Guiliana Gemma, John Saxon, Daria Nocolodi, Christian Borromeo |