Review of Opera (1987) by Ryan K — 30 Aug 2007

Argento has here orchestrated an incredibly innovative horror film set against Verdi's Macbeth. His sense of style is what is most evident here with his stunning visuals -- including many gorgeous shots of ravens in flight set to music.

The film builds like the dynamics of an opera, continuously building and falling until reaching the apogee of the final crescendo and then quickly drawing away. The occasional rock music is a clear indication of the era in which it was made and an unfortunate disturbance to the overwrought style of the rest of the film, but it is still clear that although giallo had all but died by the early 80s, Argento had the power to church out one of the best examples of the genre (as well as one of the best examples of his own filmmaking) much after everyone else had moved on.