twist of fait accomplis

Opera, 1987 (aka Terror at the Opera)
Director: Dario Argento
Availability: Easy (on DVD from Anchor Bay Entertainment)

As you might expect from Argento, Opera is both stylish and brutal, beautiful and disturbing, vicious and loving.

The story begins with a popular opera singer breaking her leg (har!), requiring that her understudy take over her leading role in an adaptation of Macbeth. This probably isn't a good thing, as Betty (the understudy) is attacked by a gloved assassin (Dario will always work those giallo elements in), has her eyelids held open by pins underneath her eyes (in one of the more squirm-inducing torture scenes I've seen), and is forced to witness the murder of her boyfriend. The murders continue, as does Betty's bad luck.

Though Opera is never mentioned in the same breath as Suspiria, Profondo Rosso, or Tenebre, it was the first Argento film that I ever saw. As a high schooler witnessing one of Italian horror's best directors for the first time, it was like getting kicked in the head. Since I've always had an "eye thing," I am particularly bothered by movies that have the least bit to do with eye gore. Of course, being bothered is one of the fun parts of horror movies, and the very reason I love Opera, any of Fulci's movies, and Anguish. Just please, please, don't ask me to try to touch my own eye or put in a pair of contact lenses.