Opera

Opera, released in 1987, is a groundbreaking Italian horror film expertly directed by Italian maestro Dario Argento, who pioneered the genre known as "Giallo" (Italian for "yellow"), named after the yellow covers of the pulp mystery novels that inspired this unique horror sub-genre. This extravagant and stylish thriller features Cristina Marsillach, Ian Charleson, and Urbano Barberini, creating a web of mystery, terror, and attraction in an operatic environment.

The film truly captures an atmospheric vision of a nightmarish horror set against the backdrop of opera music. Spanning approximately 107 minutes, it presents a harmonious blend of suspense, drama, classic operatic arias, and cinematically graphic executions. Argento's striking cinematography, combined with the plot's intricately composed horrors, panders to a distinguishing audience who appreciates the beauty of artistic terror.

The film's plot revolves around a understudy opera singer, played by Cristina Marsillach, who suddenly gets her big break in a major production of Giuseppe Verdi's 'Macbeth.' Critics often refer to the curse of Macbeth, a belief that the play is marked by bad luck and misfortune, which extends into the narrative of this film. However, as she steps into her new role, a mysterious, murderous obsession commences.

Marsillach delivers a magnificent performance, embodying a character that's both strong-willed and vulnerable. Her sense of fear and disorientation, intensified by the opera house's dark and hypnotic atmosphere, is palpable throughout the film.

Ian Charleson plays the role of a seasoned British director hired to engineer the opera production. His portrayal of a creative genius conflicted by the inherent challenges of his work and the terrifying circumstances unfolding around him is commendable. Argento illustrates a unique take on the 'Falstaffian' director, a trope often seen in theater-based narratives.

Completing the trio is Urbano Barberini, an Italian actor who brings to life a police inspector investigating the gruesome murders. His journey, as he navigates through the macabre occurrences tied with the opera house, evokes a sense of both thrill and intrigue.

The chilling score, a striking dichotomy of classical opera and 1980s rock music, amplifies the suspense and terror, creating an eeriness that is both intense and captivating. The film's signature musical score composed by Brian Eno and the metal band Goblin (frequent Argento collaborators) blends with Verdi's 'Macbeth' pieces, further amplifying the atmosphere of tension and mounting dread.

Argento's meticulous approach to framing every shot comes to its peak in Opera. His creative camera angles present a stalk-and-slash scenario like never seen before. Close-ups on the face, zooming from great heights, high-speed chases are some techniques that intensify the narrative's sense of dread and claustrophobia, careful to not trivialize the grandeur of the expansive opera house.

A major trope in Argento’s oeuvre is his effective use of the color scheme. In Opera, the director crafts a universe with deeply contrasting hues to cast a shadowy and tense atmosphere. The lush interiors of the opera house and the vibrant fields of the exterior world, paired with Argento's ingenuity, presents an artful blend of beauty and fear.

Visual spectacle, especially in the form of macabre death sequences, is a unique feature of Argento's films, and Opera is no exception. Argento uses this attribute to its full potential, using innovative techniques to create a hauntingly beautiful cinematic experience. Gore is served in an almost artistic manner, amplifying the narrative's tension on every level.

In conclusion, Argento's Opera is a sculpted work of Giallo terror, combining gorgeous and elaborate sets, tense and startling visuals, an ingeniously conceived plot, and grand music. The film is an exemplary piece of cinematic art that embodies a sincere and accomplished ambition to blend horror and opera in an entertaining and gratifying narrative. Argento takes the audience into a whirlwind of terror, constantly confronting them with the agony and the ecstasy of the unfolding drama. A must-watch for the fans of the horror genre and Argento's craftsmanship.