Tenebrae

A bestselling crime novelist becomes both the object of admiration and the target of blackmail by a mysterious, obsessive fan. A killer who imitates the murders from the writer’s latest hit novel Tenebrae begins stalking the author himself, accusing him of being a “Great Corrupter”. The spiral of violence tightens until it threatens to suffocate everyone involved. Only the author himself may be able to stop it. Dario Argento sets a remarkable record here – thirteen murders in a single film – and, in keeping with tradition, the gloved killer’s hand once again belongs to him. In a sophisticated metafilmic game, the director returns to the style of early giallo while simultaneously pushing its logic to the extreme. The result is both shocking and terrifying. For some viewers, this is not merely grand genre entertainment but a cerebral, almost clinical work – an essay on art told through the tools of cinema itself. It has to be seen to be believed.

Stanisław Bardadin

Dario Argento (b. 1940) – Italian master of cinematic macabre and maestro of giallo, producer of emerging talents and author of numerous screenplays (including spaghetti westerns). Before becoming a director, he collaborated with, among others, Sergio Leone and Mario Bava. Argento’s films explore the metaphysics of evil, often delving into themes of magic, alchemy, and the coexistence of the material and immaterial worlds. His distinctive poetics, mastery of suspense, and ability to create an atmosphere of dread have had a profound influence on contemporary horror cinema. He comes from a family of filmmakers; today, the tradition is continued by his daughter, Asia Argento.

14th New Horizons IFF Catalogue

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