Tenebre Argento

(aka "Shadow" or "Sotto gli occhi dell'assassino" or "Tenebre" or "Under the Eyes of the Assassin" or "Unsane" )

directed by Dario Argento
Italy 1982

A hybrid horror, both thriller and slasher, not to mention chopper and shocker, this confirms what Suspiria and Inferno led one to suspect. When it comes to plotting, Argento is one hell of a basket weaver: with holes in his story big enough to sink credibility, he cheats and double-crosses like mad to conceal the killer's identity. Successful crime writer (Franciosa) arrives in Rome to promote his new book 'Tenebrae', an event which triggers off a trail of bloody murders in the manner described in his book. By the end, the entire cast save one has undergone savage cutting, something which would have benefited the film itself, which is unpleasant even by contemporary horror standards. It does confirm Argento's dedication to the technicalities of constructing images - Grand Guignol for L'Uomo Vogue, perhaps - but you'll still end up feeling you've left some vital digestive organs back in the seat.

Excerpt from TimeOut Film Guide located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: October 22nd, 1982 - Italy

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DVD Comparison:

Anchor Bay (16X9) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Anchor Bay - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Sazuma - Region 0 - NTSC

Thanks to Ole of DVDBasen and Jayson Kennedy for the Screen Captures

(Anchor Bay (16X9) - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT vs. Anchor Bay - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Sazuma - R0 - NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
The new 16X9 Anchor Bay is also available in the Dario Argento Box Set with Tenebre / Phenomena / Trauma / The Card Player and Do You Like Hitchcock?
Distribution	Anchor Bay (16X9) Region 1 - NTSC	Anchor Bay Region 0 - NTSC	Sazuma (Austria) Region 0 - NTSC
Runtime	1:40:24	1:40:24	1:36:41
Video	1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 4.80 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	1.91:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.38 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.91:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 4.94 NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Anchor Bay 16X9
Bitrate: Anchor Bay
Bitrate: Sazuma
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0), Italian (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)	English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0), Italian (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)	English Dolby Digital (5.1) English Dolby (2.0) or German Dolby (2.0).
Subtitles	None	None	English, Danish, Dutch, Finish, German, Norwegian, Swedish and none.
Features	Release Information: Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1 Edition Details: • Commentary by director Dario Argento, Composer Claudio Simonetti and Jounalist Loris Curci (in English) • Featurette: Voice of the Unsane (17:12) • Two behind-the-scenes segments Special Camera (4:15), Sound Effects (2:04) • Widescreen non-anamorphic Theatrical trailer (3:13) • Alternate End Credits Music DVD Release Date: May 27th, 2008 Keepcase Chapters 20	Release Information: Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment Aspect Ratio: Widescreen letterbox - 1.91:1 Edition Details: • Commentary by director Dario Argento, Composer Claudio Simonetti and Jounalist Loris Curci (in English) • Widescreen non-anamorphic Theatrical trailer (3:13) • Two behind-the-scenes segments Special Camera (4:15), Sound Effects (2:04) • Alternate End Credits Music DVD Release Date: March 16, 1999 Keep Case Chapters 20	Release Information: Studio: Sazuma Productions (Austria) Aspect Ratio: Widescreen - 1.91:1 Edition Details: • Interview with Dario Argento (Munich 1991) (15:30). • 3 Deleted Scenes WS - Nonanamorphic 1.75:1(0:28, 0:13, 0:23) • Trailer WS: Nonanamorphic 1.75:1 (3:04) • Biographies and filmographies of cast and director. DVD Release Date: May 31st, 1999 Keep Case Chapters 19

Comments:

ADDITION: Anchor Bay 16X9 - May 08': Well, aside from anamorphicity there is no other update from the previous Anchor Bay. It has the exact same extras. Even the 16X9 enhancement doesn't appear to have a demonstrative effect on image improvement, but technically, it should look superior on an advanced systems.

Still no subtitles and the same audio options.

The Argento set seems a decent deal if you don't have all of the individual titles already (or depending on which ones you have). Phenomena (also boosted to 16X9) has a more noticeable improvement and that comparison is forthcoming. Stay tuned!

***

The picture quality is pretty much the same as Anchor Bay and Sazuma both took their print from the Roan Group LD. If I was forced to lean one way I think the Anchor Bay is slightly sharper as I can notice a touch of contract boosting in the Sazuma. Both have noticeable scratches.

The Austrian DVD is shorter as there are missing scenes and are treated as deleted scenes ( and shown in the Extras ) : ex. the end of the scene where Nicolodi and Franciosa enter his hotel room and a quick insert shot of a stab -under 10 seconds in total. The Anchor Bay shows the film with these scenes and adds about 4 minutes to the total time.

The Extras, I gave to Anchor Bay for the commentary, but the Sazum ahs some nice additions as well including the 15:00 minute interview with Argento. I suppose the bottom line is that you should make your won determinations. If you want the so-called "deleted scenes", if you want the Argento commentary, but basing it solely on sound and image it is a toss-up.

- Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus

Anchor Bay (16X9) - Region 1 - NTSC

( Anchor Bay - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Sazuma - R0 - NTSC - RIGHT)

Screen Captures