MovieChat Forums > Tenebre (1984) Discussion > My Holy Grail movie

My Holy Grail movie

posted 17 years ago by mattdunn187
14 replies | jump to latest

Man, this is the Argento I have never seen. I bought most of his films at once in around 2003/2004, having read in many movie books how he is the master. The movies were previously unavailable to me and I went bat@#$% crazy with money earned from my first job out of college to buy as many of his films as I could.

I found Suspiria (numbered collector's edition), in an adult/extreme film store. This remains one of my best 'finds' to date. I don't watch pornography and walked in unawares to the store with then girlfriend (now wife). That was an awkward afternoon but my love for Argento was cemented once I took Suspiria home and reviewed those neato lobby cards and watched the movie.

I ordered Phenomena and Inferno online. I found Trauma, Phantom of the Opera, Opera, Bird With Crystal Plumage, Cat O' Nine Tails.

Tenebre has eluded me all these years. This is a rare movie I did not read about on wiki. I did not read the recap at Terror Trap. I did not read the chapter in Profondo Argento. I only listened to the theme song once on my Goblin CD.

It has taken on a life of its own. Due to my own pecuiliar DVD purchasing policy, I refused to pay $35-70 for an ebay copy. I am frothing at the mouth for this release.

THE PROHCY HAS BEEN FULFILLED!! SOON ANCHOR BAY WILL YIELD TENEBRE FROM ITS PERVERTED WOMB!

Man, I am stoked about AB's release May 27. IS anybody else this eager? Can anybody else relate? I just peed my pants with glee anticipating the first sarcastic reply to this trifling a-- novel I wrote!

[–] The-Green-Fuz 17 years ago

Hahaha, it took a full month for anyone to reply to your post.

I've pretty much felt the same as you since I first heard about the re-release, only I have been waiting for Phenomena (received it today!!). I purchased Tenebre years ago when Anchor Bay first released it. Excellent film. I'm sure you'll truly enjoy it!

Oh yeah, I must say: It is amazing to hear someone else with such love for these films. Just refreshing. Cheers!

[–] viddywell_78 17 years ago

I noticed you hadn't mentioned Profondo Rossso (Deep Red) Amongst your list of purchases...If you haven't seen that,Get it as soon as possible...It definately confrims his status as the Italian Hitchcock..The most terrifying,squeamish and suspensful horror film ever made. :)

[–] mattdunn187 17 years ago

Yeah, my posts are criminally unpopular apparently. Thanks for replying! I would weep grateful tears, but it turns out I wasted away to a skeleton waiting for ANYONE to reply to this sad little post. So, my my tears would likely be dust pouring from my empty eye sockets. And who has time for that?

Anyway, in cosmically funny news, our newly acquired dog, Klaus, took sick a week after we got him. Bye bye tenebre, hello $200 vet bill. So, maybe July I will finally see this film. Probably, a texas sized crater will hit earth first...

Funny coincidence about yer Phenomena situation. Looks like I bought it at the twilight of its availability. Man, that is a great movie. I like the Bill Wyman song in it a lot. And the scalpel wielding monky, of course.

Other guy who replied, I do have Deep Red and I see why it is a classic. It is not my favorite Argento, but it is fantastic. That damnable gigling puppet...

Thanks for the replies, both of you. Now maybe my geeky soul can leave this skeletal prison and get into horror movie geek heaven...

[–] AlanBryan2112 17 years ago

I got the new Anchor Bay Argento collection from an amazon marketplace seller for under $25. 5 Discs!

So I got 4 Argento Films plus his Made-for-TV "Do You like Hithcock?".

I already had the Card Player and Trauma but getting all 5 like this is a steal.
The films have commentary and all the nice bells and whistles.

I finally saw Tenebrae yesterday for the first time. Pretty Good!

My collection of BAVA AND ARGENTO is nearly complete!

[I do have Deep Red and Opera , Bird... and Suspiria.]

JettBlackBerryX

[–] mattdunn187 17 years ago

This just in! I know all you infinite number of people not reading this thread have been dying to know the status of my Tenebre Odyssey...

I just used a Blockbuster card my Mother in Law bought me for my birthday to purchase Tenebre online! It should ship in a few days!

I am so excited I am going to get myself trapped in an art gallery's glass door and witness a red headed woman being attacked by a black gloved killer!

Then I am going to chat with my drunk piano playing chum by a big Roman statue!

Follwoing that, I am going to go to ballerina class and get a nosebleed from tiny hemorraghes brought on by the more strenuous ballet exercises at my new school!

Then I will arm wrassle a plucky Italian reporter!

And then, when Tenebre arrives, I will watch it with my deformed tweenage monster son, his razor wielding chimp pal, and my creepy animatroinc robot.

I will also have some kettle corn I bought at my local Publix. Two for the price of one!

Heady times, my friends! Also, MOT opens Friday night! Good time to be alive...

[–] boulton1010 17 years ago

hah!

be sure to report back after you've watched it. can't wait to see what you'll think of it after all this anticipation :-D

[–] chrisasiama 17 years ago

I reckon you'll love it!

Look out for John Saxon in a Trilby hat!

[–] mattdunn187 17 years ago

Well, I watched it and I was not disappointed! All these years of saving myself for Tenebre were worth it! Tenebre was gentle and understanding...wait, what am I saying?!

Really though, I thought it was fantastic, really lived up to my expectations. What was weird though, was that the acting/dubbing/characters actually seemed 'real', unlike other Argento films (thinking specifically of Suspiria and Phenomena). The little comic asides were funny and I was really interested in exactly what the hell was going on with the plot.

John Saxon's hat was also fascinating, so thanks for the heads up.

All in all, I feel very fulfilled and pleased. I also saw MOT Friday night and was not disappointed with it either. Now, if they would only release 4 Flies in America...

[–] movieman-232 17 years ago

You seen Stendhal Syndrome? It's kind of my Holy Grail, as is Opera.

[–] chrisasiama 17 years ago

I'm glad you liked it.

After reading your topic I decided to watch it again myself recently and I've found that the film gets even better with age.

[–] mattdunn187 17 years ago

Never saw Stendhal, so I might have to upgrade it to Grail status, as last I heard a good edition of it is hard to find.

It's funny to me how distribution can really screw a fan over sometimes. For instance, has anybody under 35 seen Four Flies? That movie is not even a contender since apparently no domestic version exists on DVD.

I wish you good luck on your quest.

Opera was really great, maybe one of my favorite endings in an Argento. If you are in the US, go to dvdplanet (formerly Digital Eyes). They frequently put Anchor Bay movies on sale and I think Opera should be available.

Thanks for the response!

[–] danakate2502 17 years ago

Anchor Bay's new release of Stendhal looks amazing - far superior to all the previous crappy copies! Plus, it's uncut for the first time outside of Italy! And you can choose to listen to Asia in English or Italian (although the woman who dubbed her in English just doesn't sound quite right unfortunately). It seems that the distributors (or someone to do with the studio, I can't quite remember) had a problem with her Roman accent - the pricks!

[–] Weine 17 years ago

Here in Finland I managed to buy Il Fantasma dell'opera, La Sindrome di Stendhal, L'Uccello dalle piume di cristallo, Phenomena, Suspiria and Tenebre for 4€ each... (No English subtitles, but they had Swedish subtitles, so I'm happy anyway).

[–] mattdunn187 17 years ago

I was going to say, 'You are one lucky Finn for finding such bargains!' but then I hesitated. Maybe 'Finn' is not the correct term and I will be scolded for being a...how do you say..ah, yes... boorish American.

Then I considered, 'You are one lucky Scandanavian feller', which, again, might be an offensive term. Additionally, maybe you are not a feller, or 'feller' is Finnish for dirty #$%^er who #$%^ a @##$%^ with their @#$%'. So, that gets ruled out.

So, person of apparent Finnish origin, regardless of gender or &*$#$%^ing preference, accept my happy congratulations for your good luck.

But then, you might be a member of some Finnish 'Fate' cult who fatalistically sneers in the notion of luck and considers those who wish it...how do you say...ah yes, boorish Americans. Or perhaps a Finnish nihlist who finds no pleasure in anything, save cult italian giallo directors.

But you know, hey, buddy, think what you want.

From one Tennessee Argentophile to a Finnish Argentophile, good looking out for some Argento bargains. If you watch Stendahl, let me know if i should pick up Blue Underground's release. I have not seen it yet. Tell me what you think.