Its very hard to review Argento's films, because they genuinely aren't quite like anything else.
His cinematic world shifts between the 'real' world and a 'dream' state, with some leaning more heavily towards one than the other... but this is what gives him the space to deliver his best work
While I definitely agree that the way some of the characters behave and respond to the events around them requires some suspension of disbelief - we also have to accept that Argento's on screen world doesn't try to be the real world - and much like in dreams, things take place that defy rational explanation.
Does everything that happens in any Dario Argento film make absolute sense? No. Does it need to? Not at all!
In Opera, Argento brings together everything that he had been refining over the previous 20 years;
One scene (spy hole) stands out as one of the best pieces of visual effects that I've seen in any film.
I would say that Opera is the swan song of the gialli films, providing one last almost perfect giallo some 15 years after their peak.
An essential film for any Argento fan, giallo fan, or horror fan
His cinematic world shifts between the 'real' world and a 'dream' state, with some leaning more heavily towards one than the other... but this is what gives him the space to deliver his best work
While I definitely agree that the way some of the characters behave and respond to the events around them requires some suspension of disbelief - we also have to accept that Argento's on screen world doesn't try to be the real world - and much like in dreams, things take place that defy rational explanation.
Does everything that happens in any Dario Argento film make absolute sense? No. Does it need to? Not at all!
In Opera, Argento brings together everything that he had been refining over the previous 20 years;
- the visuals are probably the best of any of his films. There's barely a frame that wouldn't look great as a framed colour print.
- the development of suspense and tension, while not quite as intense as Suspiria is still exceptional
- the use of camera technique to create a sense of claustrophobia is perfect
- the blend of score and songs is excellent, and the sound design is amongst the best of any of his films - leaving space where its needed
One scene (spy hole) stands out as one of the best pieces of visual effects that I've seen in any film.
I would say that Opera is the swan song of the gialli films, providing one last almost perfect giallo some 15 years after their peak.
An essential film for any Argento fan, giallo fan, or horror fan