Opera (1987)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Cassandra M

  
  If you're OK with the outlandish work of Italy's premier horror director-able to accept his outrageous story lines and flamboyant style-then you should have a great time with Opera. If you don't, then you won't. Cristina Marsillach plays Betty, a beautiful young… More
  If you're OK with the outlandish work of Italy's premier horror director-able to accept his outrageous story lines and flamboyant style-then you should have a great time with Opera. If you don't, then you won't. Cristina Marsillach plays Betty, a beautiful young opera understudy who is given a shot at fame (in an avant-garde production of Macbeth) when the star of the show is hit by a car. As any thesp who has 'trod the boards' will know, Macbeth is a production that carries a curse-and Betty soon discovers that the show in which she is now the star is no exception: a killer is systematically offing the staff at the theatre-and poor Betty is forced to watch by the sadistic murderer (who tapes needles under her eyes to prevent her from closing them!). With the help of a little girl who crawls through her air-conditioning ducts, her director and agent, and a few ravens who have seen the murderer's face (!!!), Betty discovers the killer's identity, and the truth about her mysterious past. Let's face it... Opera is one crazy film, with its preposterous plot-turns, convoluted death scenes, and an ending that beggars belief. And whilst director Dario Argento has never been one for, shall we say, conventional story lines, this particular giallo is so daft, and features so many of his trademark stylish touches (all ramped up to the max), that it's almost as if, with each successive film, he is seeing what he can get away with (at times almost parodying his earlier work). This is exactly why I find the film such fun!!! Argento's camera movements are absolutely incredible: gliding, creeping and, in one amazing scene, even swooping around the opera house above the audience; the power of Verdi's music is combined perfectly with the synth majesty of Claudio Simonetti's score, providing a suitably grandiose accompaniment to the sumptuous visuals; and several outstanding set-pieces (featuring Sergio Stivaletti's nauseating gore FX) go to prove that no-one does death better than Argento (check out one character's stunning demise, in which a bullet passes through a spy-hole in a door in slow motion, and straight into their eye!).

• AJ V

  
  I really couldn't decide whether or not I liked this movie. I mostly liked it: Argento's style is evident, there are a lot of great special effects, and cool music. The story starts out interesting, but then there are a bunch of crazy plot twists, most are confusing too.… More
  I really couldn't decide whether or not I liked this movie. I mostly liked it: Argento's style is evident, there are a lot of great special effects, and cool music. The story starts out interesting, but then there are a bunch of crazy plot twists, most are confusing too. Overall, it could have been better.

• Jeff "

  
  Dario Argento's Opera is a fine return to the maestro's earlier films such as Deep Red. Argento follows Tenebre, another Giallo Horror film with this tale of murder. Opera is considered by many diehard Argento fans, including myself to be the maestro's last great film.… More
  Dario Argento's Opera is a fine return to the maestro's earlier films such as Deep Red. Argento follows Tenebre, another Giallo Horror film with this tale of murder. Opera is considered by many diehard Argento fans, including myself to be the maestro's last great film. In the 1990's he's started to have a rocky career, Argento became hit and miss. Opera is an impressive film, and one that can sum the best of Argento's previous Giallo films. Opera is well crafted Horror film and Argento utilizes all his traditional elements to create this intense film. Of course like every Italian Horror film, the story lacks a bit, but the thing that sticks out the most are the visuals of the film. And for visuals, Argento has always been top notch and for this film, he delivers something chilling. In pure Argento fashion, the film takes its time to steafily build the pace and not too much is given away. The first murder happens about twenty minutes in. Opera is a well paced horror chiller, and it's a fine last "great" film for Dario Argento. His 90's work such as Trauma was good, but too Americanized, and it lacked the wit and style that Argento explored in earlier works such as Deep Red. In pure Argento style, the soundtrack is mainly Heavy Metal music (An Argento trademark by now) The cast do a great job at creating something truly terrifying on screen. This is one of the best Argento films of the 1980's.

• Tsubaki S

  
  As usual with Argento, the plot is pointless, and in this case it has a twist that made no sense at all. But also as usual with him there are some very creative camera angles and killing scenes. The needles in the eyes is probably one of the most evil torture methods ever put into… More
  As usual with Argento, the plot is pointless, and in this case it has a twist that made no sense at all. But also as usual with him there are some very creative camera angles and killing scenes. The needles in the eyes is probably one of the most evil torture methods ever put into film.

• Conner R

  
  While it is not the most well conceived story to come from Dario Argento, it's still an extremely good movie. There always seem to be the best villains in Argento's films and this is a prime example. It is the most experimental visual style i've seen Argento do and… More
  While it is not the most well conceived story to come from Dario Argento, it's still an extremely good movie. There always seem to be the best villains in Argento's films and this is a prime example. It is the most experimental visual style i've seen Argento do and it's really fun.

• Drew S

  
  This shit is THE dumbest. Dario Argento's vision of the movie he wanted to create was ruefully flawed, mired in utterly implausible plot points that are essentially impossible to foster in reality. Of course, he tries anyway, and what results is possibly the dumbest horror movie… More
  This shit is THE dumbest. Dario Argento's vision of the movie he wanted to create was ruefully flawed, mired in utterly implausible plot points that are essentially impossible to foster in reality. Of course, he tries anyway, and what results is possibly the dumbest horror movie heroine of all time: Betty. Ugh, THIS BITCH. I've never seen someone in a movie make so many poor choices. She could have ended the ordeal within twenty minutes of the movie starting, but no, she just has to wander the streets arbitrarily instead of calling the police. When someone asks her why she hasn't called then, she half-heartedly tells them she can't for no reason at all! She watches her friends get shot, stabbed and bludgeoned time after time, and is only incapacitated for two of them; for the rest of the deaths she's merely crippled by her own blinding stupidity. Making matters worse, Cristina Marsillach couldn't act her way out of a paper bag and it's clear that she was only cast because she looks sort of cool singing opera. She's not even that attractive, if you're into that kind of thing. You know, I wouldn't really have much of a problem with Argento stringing together some inventive kills with an abstract plot, but this is really trying to sell itself as a viable thriller. It did get me thinking about the studio/auteur divide, and whether or not Argento was told to add some sort of concrete substance to this film to make it more marketable (the hunt for the murderer, equally ridiculous and dull). Somehow, though, I don't think this is the case. It has all the hallmarks of a typical Argento plot, such as the imposition of high art in the narrative in a desperate attempt to class up the otherwise trashy proceedings. It's all right to anchor a movie to a plot that isn't too great if the rest of the content is worthwhile, but it's another thing entirely to stick it on something that is offensively dumb. Of course the movie looks great - it's the one thing that Argento can do consistently - but it all works in the service of a movie that is just numbingly awful.

• _kelly .

  
  As is usual with Argento, if you don't expect much in the story/character department, you will find a great film. Argento creates some of his best visuals with this film. From the beginning in the raven's eye to the bullet in the eye, this film is made for eyes. The pins… More
  As is usual with Argento, if you don't expect much in the story/character department, you will find a great film. Argento creates some of his best visuals with this film. From the beginning in the raven's eye to the bullet in the eye, this film is made for eyes. The pins taped beneath the eyes is a cruel and incredible plot detail (the murderer forces the opera singer to watch the murders using them). I really like how the score switches between opera and power metal because IMO metal is the modern equivalent of opera in terms of theatrics, emphasis on power in musicality, and social groups that surround the genre to praise and celebrate it. As I said, there's nothing special about the story and anyone will be able to guess the killer. Like any Argento I've seen, this is all about visuals and that's why this gets a 4 star rating.

• Ken S

  
  Worth seeing for the slow mo bullet through the eye shot alone. Overall very effective and enjoyable., but marred by a ridiculous ending. The acting and story are also a little shoddy at times, but that's par for the course in this sub genre. Argento's moving camera in… More
  Worth seeing for the slow mo bullet through the eye shot alone. Overall very effective and enjoyable., but marred by a ridiculous ending. The acting and story are also a little shoddy at times, but that's par for the course in this sub genre. Argento's moving camera in this film is stunning. Easily on par with Scorcese & Ballhau's and Coen & Levinson's work.

• Tim S

  
  Argento returns to form and truly frightens.

• Robert C

  
  My favorite Argento film. Some truely memorable (horror) movie moments and a not too shaby story line.

• Lafe F

  
  Dario Argento's grand opera-house murder mystery. The setting is amazing. There are spectacular set-piece killings there. The music and on-stage action was awesome, especially with the birds inside the theatre. This movie has a wonderful famous extended tracking shot with one… More
  Dario Argento's grand opera-house murder mystery. The setting is amazing. There are spectacular set-piece killings there. The music and on-stage action was awesome, especially with the birds inside the theatre. This movie has a wonderful famous extended tracking shot with one dancer's death. The story was a bit weird at times, with the bound girl being forced to watch her boyfriend being killed, with needles taped under her eyes. It was great how they found the killer. It had a silly ending.

• Kylie B

  
  Begins well, but the ending is a disappointment.

• Steve K

  
  Love it!

• Matt P

  
  Exquisitely filmed, well told, and disturbing in a beautiful way. Argento's Opera hits the high note.

• Matthew Y

  
  Now That's What I'm Talking About! Opera is a masterpiece of a Giallo film that has a fascinating screenplay an intoxicating killer and of course very gory, graphic and realistic homicidal violence. Most Dario Argento films have great cinematography and music but Opera… More
  Now That's What I'm Talking About! Opera is a masterpiece of a Giallo film that has a fascinating screenplay an intoxicating killer and of course very gory, graphic and realistic homicidal violence. Most Dario Argento films have great cinematography and music but Opera takes it to another level. Long and fantastic close-up shots of stage crows give a foreboding and unnerving feel to the film and the pay-off towards the films end is mesmerizingly engaging. Opera was made at the tail-end of the golden age for both Giallo films and Slasher films. I believe that if it had come out ten years earlier it would be regarded as one of the greatest Horror films ever made. As it is it's one well-crafted film with glorious production value and one of the most enjoyable films of its genre. High recommendation.

• Quinto W

  
  Argento doesn't know how to end his movies, and the last half-hour or so of this one varies from implaussibly over-the-top to somewhat dull, but everything that preceded is very well done with an apartment scene that is quite suspenseful.

• Marcus W

  
  Where to begin? Every time I review an Argento movie it becomes harder and harder to think of new ways to say how fucking brilliant he is. As a horror movie writer, he has no equal. His camerawork in this film - whether it be the sublime first-person shots or the sweeping shots. Every… More
  Where to begin? Every time I review an Argento movie it becomes harder and harder to think of new ways to say how fucking brilliant he is. As a horror movie writer, he has no equal. His camerawork in this film - whether it be the sublime first-person shots or the sweeping shots. Every second of this film looks glorious. His use of music - switching from opera to rock flawlessly. The way he lights each scene. And even after all that is perfectly mixed together he still has room for copious gore. If you consider yourself a lover of horror movies, you cannot afford to miss Argento.

• Patrick D

  
  This is an incredibly stylish flick with some beautiful and great direction, but you have to watch this with an eye for the genre. There are some inconsistencies and mildly laughable parts, but that's what come with a gialloish film. Overall it's got what you'd want… More
  This is an incredibly stylish flick with some beautiful and great direction, but you have to watch this with an eye for the genre. There are some inconsistencies and mildly laughable parts, but that's what come with a gialloish film. Overall it's got what you'd want from an Argento film though-and-though, maybe his best. It definitely shows an advancement from Suspira, which was also a great film.

• John M

  
  Not as good as I was expecting. It has some flaws but is still good. The best of this movie is the great camerawork and lighting.

Read all 19 featured audience ratings