Jesse D
A Nightmarish Symphony of Beauty and Terror
Dario Argento’s Opera is a fever dream of style, elegance, and brutality, a film that turns the grandiosity of the opera house into a blood-soaked spectacle of terror. From its sweeping set pieces to its inventive, almost hypnotic camerawork, Opera is one of the most visually stunning giallo films ever made, a true masterwork of horror aesthetics.
The opera house itself is a gothic marvel, its towering balconies and cavernous stage draped in deep reds and golds, a place of both artistic grandeur and impending doom. The way Argento moves through this space—gliding, swooping, and tracking through its corridors and rafters—gives the film an almost dreamlike quality, as if the audience is caught in an endless nightmare of beauty and violence. And then there are the birds. The infamous bird’s-eye shots, taken from the perspective of the crows, are breathtakingly eerie, soaring over the audience like death itself watching from above.
At the center of it all is Cristina Marsillach, whose delicate features and luminous presence make her the perfect Argento heroine—both fragile and strong, haunted yet defiant. Argento frames her like a tragic opera star, often bathed in ghostly blue lighting or caught in suffocating close-ups, her wide eyes reflecting the sheer horror unfolding around her. And then there’s the peephole kill—one of the most unforgettable shots in horror history. A bullet fired through the door meets its target in grotesque slow motion, an image so precisely crafted that it feels almost like a perverse painting, a moment of carnage frozen in time.
But Opera isn’t just about beauty—it’s about contrast. Argento’s brilliant decision to juxtapose classical opera music with jarring, pulsating heavy metal during the murder sequences adds an extra layer of chaos and unease. The elegance of Verdi and Puccini is shattered by the raw energy of electric guitars, mirroring the way art and violence collide in the film’s world.
The lighting and atmosphere in Opera are also pure Argento magic. Deep blues, rich reds, and bursts of golden light give the film an otherworldly quality, almost like a haunted painting come to life. Shadows stretch impossibly long, reflections distort reality, and even the stillness feels charged with menace. It’s a film where every frame is meticulously composed, every movement designed to unsettle.
In the end, Opera is more than just a giallo—it’s a visual symphony of terror, a film that transforms a place of artistic beauty into a grand stage for nightmares. Few horror films feel as meticulously designed, as lush and eerie, as hauntingly stylish. Argento’s vision is in full force here, and the result is a film that lingers like a ghostly aria long after the final curtain falls.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/24/25
Full Review
Allan C
I’d make the case that OPERA is Dario Argento’s last great film, telling the story of an opera singer stalked by a mysterious Phantom of the Opera-like killer. Prior incarnations of The Phantom always had a tinge of romanticism to them, but he’s basically a serial killer, which Argento leans into in the loose retelling of the oft-told tale. As with most Argento films, it’s the set pieces, music, and visuals you most remember, but OPERA has a better story and characters than most of his films. Although Argento reportedly clashed with lead actress Cristina Marsillach, later calling her the most difficult actress he had ever worked with, her opera understudy heroine is one of the most well-rounded of any of his female protagonists. Still, it’s the horrific set pieces that really stand out. The Phantom in this incarnation forces the hapless opera singer to watch him kill those close to her by tying her up and taping needles under her eyes so she cannot close them without blinding herself. Besides this ghastly close-up image of needles precariously close to terrified eyeballs, there are some incredible set pieces, such as a bullet shot through a door peephole, a mysterious voyeur creeping through the heroine’s apartment air ducts, and a fantastically suspenseful finale with (SPOILER ALERT!) our heroine trapped in a burning room at the opera house. OPERA features some dynamite cinematography from the directory of photography on GANDHI and TOMMY, including a fantastic opening shot of the entire opera house reflected in a raven’s eye. There is also some enjoyably funky music from Brian Eno of Roxy Music and Claudio Simonetti of Goblin. Unfortunately, the soundtrack also features unpleasant and distracting heavy metal music, which did not age well at all. I’m a fan of heavy metal, but it’s out of place here and does not fit the feel of the film. More Eno and Goblin-like music would have worked way better. My other main complaint about the film is that it has an unnecessary second climax to the film set in the Swiss Alps. Anyone who read Thomas Harris’ RED DRAGON will know the ending used here, but Michael Mann wisely excised this second climax from his version of the story in MANHUNTER. This film would have greatly benefitted from doing the same. Still, the film’s many assets outweigh its deficits and make it a well worth watching. OPERA is one of Argento’s more memorable films and is a must-see for giallo fans everywhere!
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
02/09/25
Full Review
Sams K
Absolutely great, a masterpiece of the genre. I don't think the false ending structure fits with the movie, I think it ruined the whole work, but still a very good one by Argento.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
10/29/24
Full Review
Thom G
Opera is another masterpiece from the master of horror, Argento! It delivers a suspenseful giallo at its finest, complete with tension, blood, terror, sensuality, innocence, and poetry. An incredible camera work wraps it all up beautifully. Watching Opera also makes you realize that many recent horror films haven't brought anything new to the table.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
04/11/24
Full Review
Aaron V
The main character is tied up and forced to watch people close to her get mutilated and killed. Afterwards she is set free. This happens a few times and never does she go to or even attempt to contact the police. Now, I know horror movies are notorious for characters doing illogical or flat out stupid things, but this is SUCH a glaring issue that it detracts from the rest of the film after the killings. Suspension of disbelief right out the window...even so, would still recommend it to anyone that likes horror movies, especially slasher flicks. I guess maybe Argento just could not afford to include a police presence in this film? I don't know. Even with the stupidity of the story it is enjoyable. Or maybe because of it?
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
03/02/24
Full Review
Alec B
Insane, even for Argento (a major plot point hinges on ravens getting their revenge) but the whole idea of forcing the central character, and by extension the audience, to view the violence is undeniably great.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
02/26/24
Full Review
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