TENEBRAE (1982)
2-Disc Standard 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray
Label: Synapse Films
Region Code: Region-Free
Rating: Unrated
Duration: 101 Minutes 4 Seconds
Audio: English or Italian DTS-HD MA 2.0 Dual-Mono with Optional English Subtitles
Video: Dolby Vision (HDR10) 2160p Ultra HD Widescreen (1.85:1), 1080p HD Widescreen (1.85:1)
Director: Dario Argento
Cast: Anthony Franciosa, Christian Borromeo, Mirella D’Angelo, Veronica Lario, Ania Pieroni, Eva Robins, Carola Stagnaro, John Steiner, Lara Wendel, John Saxon, Daria Nicolodi, Giuliano Gemma, Mirella Banti, Ippolita Santarelli
After the one-two punch of the supernatural tinged fantasy horror of Suspiria (1977) and Inferno (1980) Dario Argento once again returned to the stylish black-gloved whodunit thriller genre which had brought him to prominence with a stylish video nasty that amped up the violence and brought a new vivid style to the sub genre with Tenebrae (1982). American murder mystery writer Peter Neal (Anthony Franciosa, Curse of the Black Widow) is a best-selling novelist throngs of devoted readers. At the story begins Neal arrives at an New York City on his way to Italy to promote his new novel 'Tenebre'. Shortly before his arrival in Italy a gorgeous young woman Elsa (Ania Pieroni, the Mother of Tears from Inferno!) is caught shoplifting Neal's new novel from a department store, she avoids a charge of petty theft by arranging to meet with the store loss prevention officer at her home for something most assuredly promiscuous. While walking home she is accosted by a horny bum who chases her down the street, she just barely escapes his grasp after slamming his hand in security gate of her flat. She's not safe however, inside the flat she is attacked by a razor-wielding maniac who crams pages from 'Tenebre' down her throat causing her to choke on the pulpy pages before her throat is slashed with a straight- razor, the scene ends with a geyser of arterial spray. We're only a few minutes into the movie and the first kill is already something quite special, and with that the murder mystery is properly afoot.
Arriving in Italy the author is joined in by his upbeat publicist Bullmer (John Saxon, Black Christmas), his personal assistant Anne (Daria Nicolodi, Shock) and another young Italian assistant named Gianni. While settling into his hotel room Neal receives a letter from the killer which has veen slipped under his door, indicating that 'Tenebre' has inspired his blood lust. The alarmed author phones the authorities and Detective Giermana (Guiliao Gemma, Silver Saddle) and his partner Inspector Altieri (Carola Stagnaro, Opera) arrive soon after, questioning the author about the note and how it may relate to the earlier murder of the shoplifter. Argento's is borrowing a page from his earlier works wherein a visiting artist-type is immersed in a murder mystery, though Argento does throw a wrench into this one which switches up the dynamic a bit. Neal becomes entrenched in the investigation which puts those around him in danger of falling prey the black gloved razor-slasher who is murdering what he calls "filthy, slimy perverts" from the face of existence.
Tenebrae (1982) is rightfully remembered for the acrobatic lensing of cinematographer Luciano Tovoli (Suspiria), particularly an elegantly crafted crane shot that ascends one side of a villa peering through the windows, continuing over the rooftop and down the opposite side revealing the black-gloved killer breaking into a first floor window. Once inside the killer dispatches of two young women, journalist Tilde (Mirella D'Angelo, Caligula) whom earlier had an angry confrontation with the author, and then her prostitute female lover Maria (Lara Wendel, Zombie 5: Killing Birds). Both kills are absolutely iconic and have been used on numerous releases as cover art, its hard not to appreciate these elaborate and visceral kills.
No one close to the author is safe, including the hotel manager's daughter Maria (Lara Wendell) whom after a disagreement with her boyfriend (director Michele Soavi, The Church) unwittingly wanders into the murderer's lair while escaping a vicious Doberman pinscher. Improbably the murderer has conveniently left the key in the backdoor, allowing her entrance. Once inside she discovers photographs and mementos from the killings, when the murderer returns home, having forgotten the key 'natch, he is displeased by her presence and hacks her into pieces with an ax.
Throughout the film the killer is prone to bizarre flashbacks from his youth, images of being emasculated by a woman on a beach who mouth-rapes him with her red high heels, very odd stuff. Perhaps odder still is that the the woman is portrayed by transgender-actress Eva Robins (Mascara), who was born a male but due to a rare syndrome developed feminine characteristics during puberty, yet more weirdness on-top of weirdness, this is the kind of stuff you will only find in these Italian whodunits, its just another later on intrigue.
During a TV interview with reporter Christiano Berti (John Steiner, Cut and Run) it becomes apparent that the reporter has an strange obsession with the writer, lobbing a series of oddball questions and statements at the author. Later Neal recognizes a turn of phrase used by the reporter from the murderer's letter. It's an Argento whodunit, do of course he does not call the authorities, instead Neal and his young assistant Gianni head to the reporter's home, after becoming separated from the author the assistant witnesses the reporter take an ax to the face, scared witless Gianni runs away and discovers Neal unconscious on the ground, apparently knocked unconscious by the unseen killer with neither man being able to I.D. the killer. Next publicist Bullmer is stabbed to death in broad daylight in the center of a bustling public square... and that is all I can say for fear of ruining the film for those whom have not yet watched it.
That final disorienting moments of the movie are dazzling, beginning with the dismembering of an woman's arm that ignites a geyser of blood spray which paints a white wall a deep red, truly a vision of blood-red awesomeness that sets off a chain reaction of events that never fails to satisfy upon repeat viewings, the finale is a delirious tour de force of misdirection and bloodshed.
Tenebrae ends on a crazed, bloodcurdling scream that is the perfect punctuation to such a stylish, violent and classic slice of Italian whodunit horror. Argento's famous eye for horror also extends to his taste in gorgeous European women, the movie is heavy with sex appeal, including Ania Pieroni, Mirella D'Angelo and Lara Wendell, it is worth noting is that Tenebrae is one of Argento's more erotic outings. Unfortunately, longtime Argento collaborator and scream queen Daria Nicolodi is relegated to a smaller part here, she does what she can with it though, and her shrieking does provide the nerve-shattering crescendo to the whole affair.
The stunning cinematography of Luciano Tovoli (Suspiria) is among the best of any Dario Argento film, gorgeous stuff. Noteworthy is that setting this movie apart from Argento's previous films Tenebrae is bathed in swaths of bright light instead of dark shadow, even the night shots are overly brightly, which look fantastic, such a stylish and sharp looking movie. Italian prog-rock band Goblin sadly do not appear on the score having disbanded in 1980, but three fourths of the band (minus the drummer) appear as Simonetti-Pignatti-Morante to score the movie, the electronic-synth-rock fusion is fantastic and is an integral part of the movies tone and atmosphere, as with all of Argento's movies it just wouldn't be the same without the score, fitting it like a black glove.
Audio/Video: Tenebrae (1982) arrives on 4K Ultra HD from Synapse framed in the original 1.85:1 widescreen aspect ratio the movie looks simply wonderful, with the Luciano Tovoli (Suspiria) camerawork nicely preserved in wonderful UHD with vibrant Dolby Vision enhanced colors, deep inky blacks, a lush filmic grain field and an abundance of fine detail. The WCG infused colors easily advance over the Blu-ray counterpart, primaries are kicked-up a notch, the blood looks glorious, and the blacks are superior with excellent contrast and pleasing depth and clarity. The 4K resolution also pulls out more filmic detail in textures of fabrics and facial close-ups, it an appropriately razor-sharp image. The Blu-ray edition was fantastic, but this new 4K UHD presentation is fucking perfection through and through.
The disc includes dual English and Italian language DTS-HD MA Mono 2.0 audio tracks with newly-translated English subtitles for both options. The tracks are immaculately clean and without issue, dialogue and the synth-rock score from Simonetti, Pignatelli and Morante sounds like an earful of audio nirvana, well-balanced and crisp throughout, there's a wonderful depth to it.
Onto the extras we begin with an Audio Commentary from Maitland McDonagh, author of Broken Mirrors/Broken Minds: The Dark Dreams of Dario Argento. I love that we are getting an Argento commentary from a woman's perspective considering the accusations of cinematic misogyny on the part of Argento, particularly from someone as knowledgeable of the director as McDonagh. The conversation is a smart dissection of the movie which addresses the claims of misogyny, the score and the unusual setting/tone and style of the film. She also speaks about her personal experience obtaining bootlegs of Argento's movies back in the early '80s before they were widely available in the US, going so far as to hire a I translator who watched movies with her, translating the Italian dialogue into English. Also includes is a second Audio commentary by authors and critics Alan Jones and Kim Newman, and then a third Audio Commentary by Argento expert Thomas Rostock.
The other extras include the High Rising Production movie length Giallo documentary Yellow Fever: The Rise and Fall of the Giallo featuring interviews with Maitland McDonagh, Directors Umberto Lenzi, Ruggero Deodato (House on the Edge of the Park), Richard,Stanley (Hardware) author and critics Michael Koven, Alan Jones, Kim Newman, screenwriters Dardano Sacchetti (The Beyond) and Jace Anderson (Mother of Tears), and of course Dario Argento himself. It begins with a nice definition of the black gloved killer sub genre, explaining the roots of the genre, going beyond influential directors like Hitchcock (Vertigo) and Mario Bava (Blood and Black Lace), but back to the mystery novels of Agatha Christie and Cornell Woolrich, American noir movies from the 1940s, the German movies of Edgar Wallace from the 1960s and the influence of Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni (The Passenger) on Argento The doc is Argento-centric but does also touch on the movies of Lucio Fulci (Lizard in a Woman's Skin), Sergio Martino (Torso), Umberto Lenzi (Eyeball), Massimo Dallamano (What Have You Done to Solange?) and Aldo Lada among others. During the bit on Fulci actress Barbara Boucher remembers the Maestro as being very difficult but well-planned, her interview is great, I love when she explains why she enjoyed playing bitches on film. This is great stuff, easily worth owning this disc just for the doc by itself, though this is not a definitive Giallo doc, as stated it tends to be very Argento-centric.
As Synapse teamed-up with Arrow Video for their 4K releases we also get the addition of extras that were included on previous Arrow editions, these come by way of
the 19-min Being the Villain, a newly edited archival interview with actor John Steiner; the 12-min Out of the Shadows, an archival interview with Maitland McDonagh; the 17-min 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; the 16-min Screaming Queen is a fun though too brief interview with Nocoldi who is quite candid about everything, she speaks candidly about her disappointment with the role she was offered, the climactic series of blood curdling screams, her unhappiness with the English dubbing of her voice in nearly all her films, and the censorship of the film in the 90's when starlet Veronica Lario became the Italian Prime Minister's wife; the 15-min The Unsane World of Tenebrae, an archival interview with Dario Argento who references the film as his answer to critics whose perception of him as a misogynists colored the film, his real-life inspiration, working through his dark impulses through filmmaking, why he returned to the giallo following Suspiria and Inferno, and taking on Michele Soavi following the departure of his longtime assistant director Lamberto Bava; the 10-min A Composition for Carnage, an archival interview with Claudio Simonetti features the usual appearance of Goblin/Daemoni composer expanding on why Argento chose not to use Goblin on Inferno, why Goblin don't appear in name on this soundtrack, the film's particular electronic-rock fusion, and the censoring of the film's artwork in Germany; there;s also a brief 13-sec Archival Introduction by Daria Nicolodi. The disc is buttoned-up with International and Japanese “Shadow” Theatrical Trailers, 2-min Alternate Opening Credits Sequence, 2-min “Unsane” End Credits Sequence and a selection of International Image Galleries. Other extras on the disc include Alternate Opening Credits Sequence, the Original "Unsane" (U.S. version of Tenebrae) End Credits Sequence with alternate music cue, the original International Trailer and the Japanese Theatrical Trailer under with the alternate "Shadow" title card. Stacking this up against the 3-disc 40th Anniversary Limited Edition set from Synapse, what we do not get is the 90-min "Unsane" U.S. version of the film, and of course the super-cool packaging extras. This 2-disc standard release version arrives in a black keepcase with a Reversible Sleeve of Artwork featuring both a terrific new illustration and the original Italian movie poster, as well as a Slipcover with the new illustration
Special Features:
Disc 1 (4K Ultra HD Blu-ray) – Original Version
- 2022 4K restoration from the original camera negative
- 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio
- Original Italian and English front and end titles and insert shots
- Restored original DTS-HD MA lossless Italian and English 2.0 mono 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 (01:29:24)
- Being the Villain, a newly edited archival interview with actor John Steiner (19:22)
- Out of the Shadows, an archival interview with Maitland McDonagh (12:20)
- 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 (17:16)
- Screaming Queen, an archival interview with Daria Nicolodi (16:06)
- The Unsane World of Tenebrae, an archival interview with Dario Argento (15:14)
- A Composition for Carnage, an archival interview with Claudio Simonetti (10:05)
- Archival Introduction by Daria Nicolodi (00:13)
- International Theatrical Trailer (03:14)
- Japanese “Shadow” Theatrical Trailer (02:09)
- Alternate Opening Credits Sequence (02:14)
- “Unsane” End Credits Sequence (01:51)
- Image Galleries: Italian Promotional Materials (10 images), German Promotional Materials (39 images), Spanish Promotional Materials (8 images), Japanese Promotional Materials (17 images), US Promotional Materials (4 images), Miscellaneous Images (9 images)
Disc 2 (Blu-ray) – Original Version
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio
- All the same content as Disc 1
Screenshots from the Synapse Films Blu-ray (Spoilers):
