This Giallo horror directed by genre icon Dario Argento focuses on an author who finds himself in the centre of a series of killings which link themselves to his latest work, the eponymous 'Tenebrae'. Working alongside his secretary and his agent's apprentice, the writer attempts to unravel the mystery surrounding these deaths before the killer comes for him. It's a mixture between a slasher and a whodunnit, although its ultimate 'answer' seems somewhat perfunctory and doesn't really provide anything other than a logical end for the moody bloodshed (and, indeed, the picture itself). Though it's perhaps surprisingly straightforward when compared to his other work, Argento still manages to infuse the flick with his own unmistakable style. This includes a couple of bizarre, near contextless dream sequences/ flashbacks that don't make much sense until the plot has wrapped itself up but are intriguing enough to hold your attention. The movie's black-gloved killer isn't shown until right at the very end, with each murder either obscuring their face or remaining confined to their POV (another of the director's trademarks), which leads to some suspenseful sequences that see our victims essentially stalked by an invisible threat; it's almost otherworldly, at times. For the most part, though, the narrative is a tad run-of-the-mill. It serves as a way to get from kill scene to kill scene but isn't all that compelling, really. This leads to a few somewhat dull sections and undeniably makes the affair less interesting than it perhaps could have been with a stronger grip on how to explore its solid concept. Another issue with the piece is its odd choice of techno-pop music, which makes you want to dance far more than it does hide behind your couch. In the end, though, this is a generally enjoyable Giallo experience. It's a bit hammy at times and uninspired at others, but it's entertaining enough for what it is and it has a few stand out set-pieces, too (its final scene is clearly its highlight). 7/10.
