Argento's stylish Giallo was real return to the genre he loves best after the supernatural Wich-fests Suspiria and Inferno. In this film the blood is splashed against White backgrounds, the hypnotic dream sequences leave the viewer disorientated. Argento paints a shocking masterpiece which evolves around Sexual perversion and Psychology.

The plot starts when a famous American author Peter Neal enters Rome to promote his new book Tenebre which is about killings based on Sexual Perversion. Bizarrely a series of copy-cat murders starts to happen right there in Rome.The film goes through the 'Who did it' bits and ends with the usual Argento Shocking Plot twist. It's clear that the Peter Neal character is based around Dario himself. In which he fields of various accusations about sexism, violence and repulsion. Accusations Dario has had to deal with when asked about his very own films.

The Decor in this film is very white, angular modern and sparsely Un-populated. There's no real classical architecture. This gives the film a maze like quality. Dario in a 1983 interview even stated that the film was set in the future. This isn't really apparent, though the film is very modern and gives out the feel of the decadence of the 80's in which the classes grow greater and wider apart. He re-formed 3/4 of The Goblin's to provide a pulsating score which utilized Electronic instruments and far heavier Guitars. In my opinion this is the greatest score ever.

In the film and perhaps Argento's most famous sequence; the Camera swoops over a whole house in which two victims are stalked, aided by the wonderful score of course. The whole sequence must last over 2 minutes. It doesn't further the story in anyway, it's just a wonderful piece of visual trickery which involved a device called a Louma Crane to film it..

The killer in this is eerie and evil. Brandishing a Cut-throat the words 'Filthy, Slimy Pervert' are spited out from the unseen gloved maniac. When a girl seeks refuge in the killers house from a prowling dog the killer whispers 'Spy'. He then chases after her and ends up killing her with a hatchet. It's all very nice.

This probably remains tied for my favourite Dario Argento film alongside Deep Red. It's is a bloody, shocking murder mystery which is riddled with plot-twists and Suspense. Tenebre was released as 'Unsane' in the US cut by more then 10mins. Anchor Bay have lovingly restored this film uncut to DVD carrying the original title. Be wary of the UK version which has slight cuts to the two most famous scenes. The Rooftop scene and the bloody finale of the film in which a women gets her arm amputated and sprays blood all over.

Tenebre aka Unsane 1982 Color Running time: 101min Cast: Anthony Franciosa, John Saxon, Daria Nicoldi Directed by Dario Argento

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