Tenebrae

The last of the better known Argento’s Giallo that I hadn’t seen, and I can’t say I’m particularly thrilled –  though after my previous experiences, I wasn’t expecting much. I’ll say it again: Argento does have interesting ideas (mainly technically and artistically speaking), but he’s not that good as a director and the performances of the actors under his baton are amazing sometimes; Tenebrae is a typical example of this. At least there’s an above average number of murders, so there is something to look at and the film is not as boring as some of its predecessors... The climax is quite spectacular and improves the overall impression, but three stars is the most I’m willing to award. (05/07/2009)

A pretty solid giallo from Dario Argento. What I have to praise here is the very good gore and one over the top scene in the final sequence that absolutely captivated me even after 32 years, but as for the story itself, it unfortunately didn't engage me at all and unless there was a murder going on, I was experiencing anxious boredom. (25/05/2014)

Some of the special effects and the ending are a bit rough, but what must be acknowledged about the film is its absolutely great music, for which the band Goblin is responsible, with whom Dario often collaborated. But to be more precise, the music was recorded by only three members of this band, which is otherwise a four-piece. They are listed on the soundtrack as Simonetti-Morante-Pignatelli, not Goblin. But it is their music that elevates the film a little more. (29/04/2016)

In the context of Dario Argento’s filmography, this giallo flick has the most in common with Deep Red – i.e. bloody murders in widescreen. Overall, however, Tenebre is an average film, half a star weaker than the aforementioned classic. The mystery and atmosphere are weaker and even the camerawork is merely utilitatarian rather than  exhilarating. The level of gore escalates with each murder, culminating in a scene at the end for which you don’t regret even a second spent with the preceding weak sauce. Mandatory viewing for fans of the subgenre. (08/06/2003)

When he isn’t playing with crayons, making fun of feminists or staging one of his many baroquely spectacular murders, Dario Argento is constructing and deconstructing a detective story, simply and predictably, yet also entertainingly all the way to the bloody climax with a very unusual demonstration of how to paint a room red. 70% (17/03/2013)