I must be in the minority. - Tenebre (1984) Discussion

[–] iscream22 16 years ago

I dont care that you're trashing Argento but I do dislike that your dissing 70s and 80s American Horror directors. Old school horror owns new horror movies any day of the week pal. The Saw movies are SOOOO pathetic. Im not the biggest Argento fan myself but id rather watch Tenebre or Phenomena (watch that one) any day of the week than many new horror flicks.
Wes, Craven, Sean Cunningham, Sam Raimi, George Romero, Tobe Hooper do you think they all suck?!?! SEND THIS MAN TO THE PADDED ROOM!

BTW not ALL new horror sucks. One country that is getting it right is Japan. ESPECIALLY Takashi Miike (not ALL his films are horror but many of his movies are pretty wild = Audition, Ichi The Killer, Dead Or Alive 2, Dead Or Alive Final, Happiness of the Katakuris, One Missed Call *Japanese version*, etc etc

Watch Twin Peaks (1990), its the best damn show ever made and is on DVD!

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[–] jimiphish 16 years ago

I like the directors you listed. I should have been more specific. I was referring to the people who directed crappy films (in my opinion) like "Prom Night" & "Mother's Day". I love the horror genre,but there were some massively lame ones out there.

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[–] willson_x 15 years ago

Prom Night is amazing

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[–] daedalus1337 16 years ago

Well, I agree about THIS film. I didn't like it much, but I LOVE Argento's other work during his 'golden period', with the exception of Inferno. He fell off in the '90s though.

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[–] iscream22 16 years ago

Yeah, Tenebre is not his best work but its watchable. And yeah the Prom Night and Mothers Day stink but I wouldnt really regard those as classics.

But there will always be crappy movies no matter what the genre, however I feel that these days the abundance of bad movies as modern horror films (and many of them are remakes). There are far too many remakes they are remaking Nightmare On Elm Street and Evil Dead, these are both CLASSICS of the genre and I hope they do at least a respectable job.

Someone murder the Jonas Bros and all disney brats PLEASE

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[–] dalldorfw 15 years ago

Stop bashing 'Mother's Day.' Am I the only one who relises that it was ment to be funny?

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[–] kitm_1000 15 years ago

TENEBRE may not be Argento's "best" work, but it will always be my favorite giallo, period. That is, until the day I make my own true American giallo(nonetheless majorly influenced by Tenebre and similar works). I think Argento's "best" is either Deep Red or Suspiria.

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[–] LuckyMatt93 16 years ago

I thought this was one of Argento's weakest. Bird With The Crystal Plumage and Suspiria are probably my only favorite Argneto films. That isn't to say he isn't a good director. It's just that 1. I never really got into his films, and 2. he doesn't hold a candle to Mario Bava.

"You don't know what death is"-Sam Loomis (Halloween 2)

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[–] homesickalien81 16 years ago

i love Argento. his movies are pretty ridiculous, but they are entertaining and gory as hell. and you have to give credit for the long shots, especially the ones with constant camera movement, it takes a certain amount of skill to pull that off.

and i do agree with you to an extent. but beware anything post Opera, he has lost whatever skill he once had.

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[–] pop-1280 16 years ago

To state That you didn't enjoy "Tenebre" or "Suspiria" is to state that you simply don't enjoy Italian giallo's at all, as these (and Argento himself) define the entire genre as a whole.
That's not a bad thing as everyone has their individual taste. In fact in your case its a plus, as you can assuredly simply skip any Argento movie since it wont fit your taste.

L-

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[–] VirginOnPromNight 16 years ago

what is everyone on about? Tenebre is probably the best movie of all his early work. once youve finally gotten over the sheer terror of Suspiria, you realize that Tenebre is actually better to watch over and over again. suspiria scared the crap out of me, but once the shock goes away , it really is not a better overall film than tenebre. i could change my mind though. i go through phases. i like the scene with the dog chasing the hot chick. that scene is cool

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[–] chrisasiama 16 years ago

I definitely think Tenebre is better than Suspiria. I would rate Tenebre and Deep Red as two of Argento's best.

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[–] homesickalien81 16 years ago

i agree. those are also my two favorites of his.

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[–] ReptilianPig 16 years ago

Maybe I'm a thick-headed loser,but this movie bit the big one. The acting is quite bad & there are awfully long-winded scenes (like the crane shot outside the house). I do appreciate some of Argento's visual imagery,but that doesn't carry a movie by itself. Considering that "Suspiria" was a major letdown for me,I should have known better.

Aside from the bit about American directors in which is left out, I agree. There is nothing wrong with you at all. I sat down to this one yesterday afternoon and was extremely bored. Then again, I have been spoiled with fast-paced, action-packed Japanese exploitation / Pinky Violence the few weeks before. Nah, the movie was boring. This is only my opinion, passion people. I applaud you if you could enjoy Tenebre. My shortcomings.

Suspiria is totally raved about, yet I don't feel as connected to it as these ravers do.

Phenomena / Creepers, Deep Red, and even Inferno entertained me much more than Suspiria / Tenebre.

"I'm going nowhere fast... and you're not coming." -LP

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] ReptilianPig 16 years ago

I'm not sure if this was die-rected towards me, fully. You replied to my specific post... so, here is my response:

Wow... I can get people not liking this Argento film, but saying Phenomena was more entertaining, don't understand that.

I can help you understand that - we are all individuals and matters appeal differently to each of us.

His films aren't about story really, it's about pushing the limits. That's why Italian horror was so great. Giallo was all sexual taboos, cool music, drugs and artistic gore. If you honestly don't see what's genius about Argento(to the OP) compared to say Eli Roth or any of the hacks who've directed Saw, you're not a true horror fan.

I have a nice collection of films that push the limits - from pinky violence to all other sorts of exploitation. I don't know why you bring Eli Roth into this. I am no fan of his work, though admit Cabin Fever was digestible for me. You accuse me of not being a true horror fan? That's funny. And really, you cannot call someone untrue to a genre just because they didn't like your cherished Tenebre. I prefer Soavi or Bava(either), as far as Italian cinema goes.

I'll take any of these old films over watered down remakes with MTV style direction and crappy F agoutboy songs.

As I do and will continue doing, also.

"I'm going nowhere fast... and you're not coming." -LP

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] ReptilianPig 16 years ago

I distinctly remember enjoying Torso and should buy the DVD soon. You know a title like that will be OOP in no time (ie Candy Snatchers, Savage Streets)

Yeah, the Eli Roth bit was an extreme, useless, point(as if you've judged me without knowing anything of me)... in my case anyways.

Well, as a fellow Texan and lover of Lynch/NotC - I'm no one to attack yer, either.

- jumping subjects here - Did you go to Texas Frightmare, by chance?

"I'm going nowhere fast... and you're not coming." -LP

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] manmarston-1 15 years ago

As an old school horror fan I love Argento's work. I especially like the older films. My faves- Suspiria, Opera, Tenebre, Bird with the Crystal Plummage,and Deep Red. Don't really like some of his newer stuff. The older films had so much atmosphere, something that I think is really lacking in most modern horror films. Argento can take a shot of the trees blowing in the wind and make it creepy. Bava also is great. In the really early years they had to rely on good acting and creepy atmoshere because they didn't have the gore. Stephen King says it best in Dance Macabre, his quote goes something like this "First I will try to terrify the reader. If I can't terrify, I will try to horrify the reader. And if I can't horrify, I will go for the gross out." That is pretty much all it is today,going for the gross out. I have found myself watching alot more foreign films because of originality. I have found very few newer American horror films to my liking. Although now that I'm older I don't get to watch as many movies as I used to. If anyone has any suggestions let me hear them. I'm always open minded to watch something.

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[–] Chickensmoke 15 years ago

I love Argento movies; Sleepless, Opera, etc. But I found this was sending me to sleep! It was pretty terrible until the ending- but still, it was a man getting killed with a spiky sculpture, ridiculous. I don't understand why people consider this to be a great Argento movie, I may have to watch it again. And when can I buy Suspiria and Inferno on dvd in the UK, anyone?

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[–] evilreincarnated 15 years ago

Argento seems to be an aquired taste with only some films captivating an audience while others fall flat. I've yet to see Tenebre but after seeing Suspiria and Phenomena, he seems interesting but I will also take into account what people have said about this film as I may too find it a tad boring.

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[–] nfaust1 15 years ago

There's more to Argento than mere horror movie action and gore. Certainly not all of his films are great, but the one's that work - as indeed TENEBRE does - offers the viewer an unusual way of seeing, and a truly different method of storytelling.

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[–] eleventh_sun 15 years ago

That's *beep* a horror fan I enjoy everything, sometimes the cornier the better, especially from the 80s. I live for that *beep* But then again I just enjoy anything that's horror.

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