Opera - Dark Publications

Location: Home » video » Blue Underground » Opera

Similar Items:

•	Inferno
•	Suspiria (2-Disc Special Edition)
•	Deep Red
•	The Bird With the Crystal Plumage (2-Disc Special Edition)
•	Tenebre - Special Edition

Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
When a young opera singer takes over the leading role in an avant-garde presentation of Verdi s Macbeth she triggers the madness of a crazed fan who repeatedly forces the diva to watch the brutal murders of her friends. Will the woman s recurring nightmare hold the key to the identity of this psychopath or does an even more horrific evil lay waiting in the wings?The legendary Dario Argento (DEEP RED SUSPIRIA) co-wrote and directed this savagely stunning thriller featuring some of the most shocking sequences of the maestro s entire career. Previously available in the U.S. only in heavily edited form this horror classic has now been restored from original Italian vault materials and is presented uncut uncensored and loaded with Extras.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: HORROR UPC: 827058106498 Manufacturer No: BU1064

Customer Reviews: Read 69 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding October 10, 2004
12 out of 20 found this review helpful

This seems to be the least loved Argento film of his prime era(1975-87) other than Phenomena. I'm afraid I've gotta dissent and say that I think this is his best film other than Suspiria. The plot/characters aren't too exciting, but it's got by far the most impressive camerawork of those films, and the most interesting set design and staging of the giallo/quasi-giallo films from that era. All in all, this is a fantastic horror/thriller with endless style, great setpieces and breathless pacing. Definitely a must see for anyone interested in such things.

The setup involves the injury of the star of a staging of Verdi's Macbeth, which leads to previously unknown Betty starring in the production. She's praised, but attracts the attention of a crazed killer, who murders people while forcing her to watch. (He ties her up and forces her to watch by taping needles directly in front of her eyes, so they'll cut her she closes them.) All in all this is not the most fascinating plot in the world. I'm told that this is a reworking of Phantom of the Opera, but I wouldn't know, as I've never seen that. (Well, I did read Phantom of the Auditorium years back...) The characters are quite flat and the acting is somewhat uneven. Most of it is decent, but Cristina Marsillich isn't so great as Betty. Actually, the main problem is the way she is characterized: As pathetic and simpering, which makes her a bit obnoxious at times. Also, the killer's identity is almost painfully obvious, and his motivation is... odd. Fortunately, the plot tends not to matter much in Argento's films, and they waste particularly little screen time with it here. We have a fair bit of exposition explaining pretty much what I wrote before, then 3 horror pieces with only brief interludes between them, a brief plot point where they decide how they'll identify the killer, and then the extended climax.

As usual, style is the real star of this film, and it shines here. It has lots of beautiful but cold upscale European architecture, with a bit a ominous colored lighting now and then, a la Supiria/Inferno. The camera moves constantly with ominous prowling and dreamy, ethereal steadicam shots, as well as some nice, strangely angled and decidedly off-kilter shots. Naturally, all this visual finesse is used to create some startling horror setpieces. Though the film is fairly interesting through out, it's the middle 2/3 or so that really standout. The 3 major horror pieces here are outstanding. Though the goriness of Argento's films tends to be overstated, the knifing in Opera, the first of these 3 scenes, is simply brutal, as the killer jams a nasty, triangular knife up underneath the victims jaw so that the tip of the blade comes up the back of his mouth. And the rest of the scene, while not as graphic, really portrays the brutality and horror that would come along a stabbing murder, as the killer repeatedly tries to get at the victim through his flailing arms. In this and the next scene the killing is interspliced with numerous shots of Betty's face as she witnesses the killing. The whole needle-eye thing seemed a bit weird to me when I first heard about it, but it creates a striking image, particularly when there's a single stream of blood coming down her face, like a tear. This juxtaposition really works, and makes the scenes a lot more effective. The scene backstage is the weakest of the three, but it's still very good. Early on it shows a rather large pair of scissors fall off a table to the ground, in slow motion. This isn't the most subtle bit of foreshadowing you'll ever see, but man does it work. Very ominous. And the most disturbing part of the film comes at the end of this scene, as the killer needs to retrieve a little locket, which the victim swallowed. First he pries open her mouth with the scissors, which is disturbing enough, and then has to perform an amateur tracheotomy on the corpse. You don't actually see much of anything, as it focuses on the backend of the scissors, but that's enough, particularly when combined with the hideous sound effects. The next horror piece, in Betty's apartment, is the absolute standout. It generates some real tension, as Betty and her Agent hide in the kitchen, and then search for a safe escape route, and also contains the much famed slow motion bullet-through-the-peephole-through-the-head-into-the-phone killing. Suffice to say it is worthy of it's reputation. Though brief, it is a perfectly constructed piece, and oddly beautiful in it's way. (Most notably in the final shot, as the corpse and shattered phone fall to the ground in unison)

Sadly, the film falters a bit towards the end. (Spoilers ahead) It's got a double climax, and neither of them is anywhere near as good as the 3 major horror pieces just prior to it. Still, I don't dislike the second climax as much as most people. The only thing that really bothers me is the explanation of how he got away. (the police mistook a dummy for his corpse) I once watched a documentary on spontaneous combustion, and that's far more than I need to know about flaming corpses to tell one apart from a plastic dummy.

I'm about outta space, so I'll close by saying I really like the soundtrack. Some of the actual opera music is annoying, but the rest is good, varying from electronic music, to pseudo-operatic stuff to heavy metal. Unlike most, I think the heavy metal works pretty well. It's generally used after the killing is already underway, so it doesn't destroy tension, and I think it actually adds intensity to the scenes. And hey, I like heavy metal.

Buy it

3 out of 5 stars

A real eye-opener . . . November 16, 2001
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

Dario Argento movies aren't noted for their plausibility or realism, and this entry is no exception. Critics and fans have complained endlessly about Argento's earlier work (SUSPIRIA and DEEP RED) being classic examples of the horror genre, whilst his latter efforts (TRAUMA and PHANTOM OF THE OPERA) sadly lacking in any department. This 1987 production has the unfortunate position of being sandwiched in between the 'old' Dario and the 'new'. The story has a young opera singer taking over the leading role in a 1980s 'style over content' rendition of MACBETH. Unknown to her, she has attracted the attention of a crazed fan who first kidnaps her, then forces her to stand and watch as he butchers and murders her friends, lover, etc. in front of her very eyes (in a clever trick - the killer cellotapes needles under her eyelids to keep her watching the graphic carnage). The film goes on like this for about an hour, (a) the killer shows up (b) he kidnaps the singer and (c) a murder scene (accompanied by a terrible heavy rock soundtrack which destroys any tension the film had built up). Argento uses Point of View camerawork, which at first is diverting, but at around the 20 minute mark you become lost and wish he would have held back on this device.

Argento's 'inventive murder' sequences which have trademarked the directors work are evident in OPERA. The show-stopper has to be the bullet through the key hole scene, which is truly stunning. Infact, all of the film is technically excellent and inventive, it's just a shame the screenplay isn't very involving and the UK 'Cockney style' dubbing never helps the viewer connect to the characters in the movie. The film isn't disturbing or particularly that gory (which in itself is strange, as the movie has been unavailable in the UK for a long time - I hope the BBFC and Anchor Bay remedy this soon), and one wishes that the cast would act a little more naturally, ie: When the singer witnesses the graphic stabbing of her boyfriend, she hardly seems to be bothered about the whole event! (I don't know, perhaps the translation was wasted on me after all!)

Anchor Bay's 2 disc edition is another triumph. The transfer is superb and the movie looks like it was just made, and not 14 years old. The trailers are interesting to see how the marketing differs in the Orion released US version to the original italian ad. An informative documentary holds things together and a bonus disk offers the soundtrack (which I really should get around to playing one time!) All in all, a great disc for Argento fans, but if you are a casual horror fan looking for cheap thrills - this movie ain't it.

5 out of 5 stars Dario Argento....The Horror Film Scientist!!!!!!!!   December 5, 2001
8 out of 9 found this review helpful

Don't expect any "out of your seat jumper"scenes or super gore in this movie,remember,this is an Argento movie and he is one of the few Italian directors that doesn't have to use extreme gore closeups or hard core death scenes to get your attention.This movie is 2nd to his masterpiece, "Susperia". Opera is not a slow film with a dragging story line that takes forever to build up.From the opening Argento moves in for the kill and grabs the viewer,and then rocks your brain with bold effects and stunning camera wizardry.I highly reccomend the unrated version with the extra sountrack disc.You just don't see horror like this any damn more...what a shame.

5 out of 5 stars One of the greatest horror films ever made   July 19, 2001
7 out of 10 found this review helpful

Everything about this film is great. The music, the camerawork, the direction, the story and now with the film being widescreen, in THX approved sound and in a collectible 2 disc dvd--this will be an amazing experience. Anyone who has seen great suspense films or great horror films must add this to their collection--trust me. The scene where the girl is in her apartment alone and she puts in her eyedrops so she can not see--and then the killer arrives will have you cherishing filmmaking, suspense stories and ingenous camerawork; not to mention beautiful operatic music. Perhaps Dario Argento's most moving and extrodinary film.

5 out of 5 stars Explores The Theme of Twisted Relationships and Illusions   October 10, 2001
7 out of 9 found this review helpful

Argento's film isn't just about a psychopathic killer who stalks pretty young opera diva Betty, it's a study in the theme of twisted relationships, the way people can become enmeshed or entangled with someone without knowing how, or why, by blindly assuming that someone is a "certain" way just by taking appearances into consideration, which can be deceiving. As Maitland McDonagh, famed Argento scholar wrote, this film is about "eyes," how we see people and ourselves and relate to others because of illusion. Just take a look at the cover of the video and see the proof for yourself. This film is not just about getting some sadistic kicks from watching Betty undergo these horrendous tortures, but much much more.

NOT for the faint of heart! Be forewarned.

Also, might I mention the filmmaking and storyline truly is impressive, as well as boasting a superb soundtrack. I highly recommend this film to anyone who is an armchair psychologist or just enjoys movies which are eccentric, not in a bad way, but in a very visually stunning sense.

Powered by Associate-O-Matic

T-shirts, Posters

Pentagram T-shirts, bags, etc...

Gothic Posters