Tenebrae (1982)

Generally regarded as one of Italian horror maestro Dario Argento's finest films, the terrifying Tenebrae marked the director's return to the "giallo" (mystery-thriller) genre in which he first made his name, after making two supernatural themed films, Suspiria (1977) and Inferno (1980). Banned on video in the UK until 1999, when it was released in a cut form, the film was finally passed uncut and uncensored in 2002. Now, this definitive version of Tenebrae comes to DVD and for the first time in the UK, Blu-ray, boasting a brand new HD restoration of the film and a host of extra features.

Shortly after American mystery-thriller novelist Peter Neal arrives in Rome to promote his new book (the "Tenebrae" of the title) an attractive young woman is murdered by a razor-wielding maniac who stuffs pages of Neal's latest novel into the mouth of his victim before slashing her throat. So begins a bizarre series of horrific murders, the details of which strangely resemble the fictional murders in Neal's book. Baffled by the killings, the local police believe the author may hold the key to solving the case and turn to him for help. Circumstances change, however, when Neal himself begins to receive death threats from the killer.

Speaking about Tenebrae, Argento said it was his intention to put on film a "gory rollercoaster... full of fast and furious murders". There is no question about whether or not he succeeded. As well as being a superbly orchestrated and inventive suspense thriller, Tenebrae is a shockingly horrific orgy of graphic violence, set to a pounding score by Argento regulars Goblin (credited as Simonetti-Morante-Pignatelli) and beautifully shot by "Suspiria" cinematographer Lucio Tovoli making the film a perfect showcase for Argento's inimitable trademark visual style.

Starring Anthony Franciosa (Death Wish II), John Saxon (From Dusk Till Dawn; Cannibal Apocalypse; Black Christmas; Enter The Dragon), Daria Nicolodi (Opera; Phenomena; Inferno; Deep Red) and the stunning Veronica Lario (the real-life estranged wife of multi-billionaire Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi), Tenebrae also features cameo appearances by cult directors Lamberto Bava (Macabre; Demons) and Michele Soavi (The Sect; The Church), both of whom also worked as assistant directors on the film.