Tenebre

A 1982 Italian Horror film from master horror film maker Dario Argento. It stars Anthony Franciosa, Veronica Lario, John Saxon, and Daria Nicoldi.

The film was released in Italy and through most of Europe without any reported censorship problems, but was classified and banned as a Video Nasty in the United Kingdom. Its theatrical distribution in the United States was delayed until 1984, when it was released in a heavily censored version under the title Unsane.

Franciosa stars as Peter Neal, a American writer of violent mystery novels. In Italy to promote his latest work, he is accompanied by his literary agent Bullmer (Saxon) and his assistant Anne (Nicolodi). He is unaware that he is also being followed by his embittered ex-wife Jane (Veronica Lario).

Prior to Neal's arrival in Rome, a young woman is brutally slashed to death by an unseen killer. The murderer sends Neal a letter informing him that his books have inspired him to go on a killing spree. Neal is soon contacted by the police, who put Detective Giermani (Giuliano Gemma) in charge of the investigation.

While the killings continue, Neal notices that TV interviewer Christiano Berti (John Steiner) appears to have an unusually intense interest in the novelist's work.

Just when you think you know who the killer is, he is violently killed himself.

Tropes used in Tenebre include:
  • Big Bad - Subverted with the reporter Cristiano Berti who indeed kills the first few victims but is killed by Peter Neal who then takes over as the Big Bad.
  • Too Dumb to Live - The cops. Only two cops go to a VERY VIOLENT crime scene. Also, Maria who instead of escaping from the house of the killer elects to call somebody from that house.
  • Fanservice - The lesbian reporter Tilde's girlfriend, who is naked for almost entire duration of her role.
  • Gorn - Its Dario Argento. What do you expect?
  • The Killer in Me- Peter Neal has always had repressed feelings of misogyny and violence. He takes them out by writing in his books. But once somebody starts killing due to his books, he loses any control he had, kills the actual killer and embarks on a spree of his own.
  • Red Herring - All male characters but particularly John Saxon's sleazy agent.
  • Twist Ending
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