[news] [reviews] [features] |
|
![]() |
TENEBRAE (Anchor Bay Entertainment DVD)
Rating:
Tag-line: None, on this release. Apart from 'Full Uncut Version'. Death Toll: Ten people, all killed by very sharp objects. Cutting Remarks: Finally, one of Dario Argento's slashiest flicks ends up uncut in the UK. The last time it was released, admittedly, it was only missing a couple of seconds of an arm-chopping, but they were two of the most remarkable seconds in any Argento movie. The story concerns Peter Neal (Anthony Franciosa), a writer of giallo thrillers, who is shocked when life starts imitating his art. As you'd expect from Argento, this is a highly stylized piece of work in the main, but strikingly brutal when it comes to the murder scenes. Talk about matter of fact: axes slam into heads and backs, and cut-throat razors do just what they say on the tin. The contrast between this slaughter and Argento's beautifully set-up 30-second tracking shots, makes Tenebrae a unique experience. Of course, it has to be admitted that the plot, and the climactic twists, are hardly the most convincing aspects of the production. But this remains one of the director's most powerful works. Most Memorable Demise: The lady who gets her fore-arm chopped off with an axe. Sweet Jesus! Look Out For: A fantastic axe-in-the-back scene, towards the end. No, not the arm-chop girl... Killer Quote: "Calm down, it's all over now" - a very unwise thing for anybody to say in a slasher movie. DVD Details: Widescreen presentation, optional 5.1 sound, audio commentary with Argento, composer Claudio Simonetti and journalist Loris Curci, two behind-the-scenes segments (special camera effects documentary and sound effects documentary), alternate end credits music, theatrical trailer, biographies. There is also a piece of filmed analysis, with Brit journalist Xavier Mendik stroking his chin over Tenebrae in a rather tedious fashion - although he does reveal that the film's red shoe girl in the dream sequence was a transsexual, which should be a shock to any man who has been 'admiring' her since 1982. Last but not least, there's what appears to be a 1982 interview with Argento and his then-wife Daria Nicolodi. It's slow, but lengthy and detailed. Release Date: Out now. [Check it out at Amazon US] [Reviews Menu] [Home] © Copyright Slasherama 2002-present |